A DRIVER who used a tax disc that had been fraudulently tampered with has been fined less than the cost of the car tax.

John Darnborough’s car tax was due to expire on June 30 last year. But it had been changed to say the expiry date was June 30 2008.

Darnborough, 61, of Tiverton Road, Gorse Hill, admitted fraudulently using a vehicle document, when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on August 26.

He also admitted that the Volvo he was driving had no MOT when he was caught in Barra Close, Highworth, on August 6.

Road tax costs honest driver’s between £120 and £165 a year, and some drivers could see massive increases when the new pricing structure from this year’s budget is implemented.

“But Darnborough was only fined £100.

The Taxpayer’s Alliance branded the sentence an insult to honest drivers.

Policy analyst Matthew Sinclair said: “Honest drivers pay their road tax on the understanding that it applies to everyone.

“Swindon Magistrates Court has failed to set penalties that will act as a deterrent, and will enrage honest people who pay their tax.

“This is an insult to law abiding people.

“The courts need to do a better job making it clear that it is absolutely unacceptable to cheat on your taxes.

“People who cheat and are not prepared to pay their taxes impose more of a burden on the rest of us who pay their way.

“A lot of people are very worried about what is going to happen to their car tax.

“People who bought people carriers a few years ago could see it go up hundreds of pounds and to think someone can change the date and be fined less is a low blow.

“Vehicle excise duty is a big concern for people in the current financial climate, and to see people getting away with cheating the system is particularly upsetting.”

Darnborough was fined £50 for driving a vehicle without a test certificate, £100 for the tax disc fraud, and £75 court costs, with the whole day out in court costing little more than the price of his tax.