Car dealer ran scam to help drivers evade law

When notices of intended prosecution were sent to those involved they passed the forms on to car hire dealer Tejamal Hussain who simply filled them in naming another driver so they could evade prosecution.

But Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday although he gave different fictional names, each time he used neighbouring addresses of flats in Brudenell Grove, Hyde Park, Leeds, and eventually the con came to light.

His handwriting was also confirmed on the documents, the court heard.

Hussain, 42 of Carr Manor Crescent, Leeds, who admitted acts tending to pervert the course of justice was given 11 months in prison suspended for two years, ordered to do 250 hours' unpaid work and to pay 1,500 costs.

Sentencing Hussain, who appeared beside six of the drivers he had helped, Judge Scott Wolstenholme said between September 2008 and February last year when taxi drivers and take-away proprietors who did not want the inconvenience of points on their licences or disqualification approached him, he deliberately filled in the statutory declarations with false details "so they could get away with it".

John Bull, prosecuting, said if a driver committed an offence at traffic lights or speed cameras the details of the registered keeper were obtained from the DVLA and notice of intended prosecution sent to them.

In the cases before the court, that form was returned naming a fictional driver as responsible.

Farooq Ahmed was twice recorded over the limit but each time a bogus driver was blamed. When later questioned Ahmed said he had been going through a "mid-life crisis".

On January 4 last year Mustafa Noorani was seen doing 40mph in Kirkstall Road, Leeds, but his form was returned blaming a fictional resident in Brudenell Grove.

When questioned he said he had passed it to a friend to deal with because he did not speak or write good English but then turned out to have studied English and have a BA degree.

The judge said it was appropriate the six should receive driving ban.

Noorani, 31, of Lovell Park, Leeds, was disqualified from driving for three months, given a 12 months community order with 100 hours unpaid work and 750 costs; Tariq Hussain, 48, of Montagu Avenue, Leeds, was given a 12 months community order with 100 hours unpaid work, four months disqualification and 750 costs; Farooq Ahmed, 38, a take-away owner, of Hill Top Avenue, Leeds, was disqualified from driving for four months, given a 12 months community order with 200 hours unpaid work and 1,500 costs; Wahid Hussain, 30, of Manor Grove, Leeds, disqualified for three months, given a 12 months community order with 100 hours unpaid work and 1,500 costs; Imran Rafiq, 28, of Lunar Terrace, Leeds, given a four months disqualification, a 12 months community order with 100 hours unpaid work and 750 costs and Azad Miah, 42, of Warwick Road, Carlisle, disqualified for four months, a 12 months community order with 100 hours unpaid work and 1,500 costs.