Overview
- The 51-year-old from near Chesterfield received a six-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay £85 in costs plus the £35.84 tax.
- DVLA brought the prosecution through the Single Justice Procedure, and the woman entered a written guilty plea.
- In a mitigation letter, she cited recent bereavement, that she does not drive, limited English, confusion over tax and SORN, and said the car was not used on public roads.
- Magistrate Dawn Towart chose to convict rather than refer the case back to DVLA to reassess whether prosecution was in the public interest.
- Lady Chief Justice Sue Carr said a top judge has reviewed the SJP, DVLA backs changes so prosecutors see mitigation letters, and a government consultation has yet to result in reform.