London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has been convicted and fined as a result of failing to tax a 24-year-old vehicle that officials say he doesn’t own.
Lord Khan of Tooting was found guilty by a magistrate last month over claims that he kept an unlicensed vehicle in a controversial fast-track court system.
A criminal prosecution was brought by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), leading to a magistrate in Herefordshire deciding the outcome in the Single Justice Procedure case.
The Mayor was ordered to pay a fine of £220, as well as £85 in costs and to settle a £35.84 bill in unpaid tax for a 24-year-old Nissan Micra.
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Despite the judgement, City Hall officials have argued that the car does not belong to the Mayor or Transport for London, PA reported.
Court documents show that DVLA letters about the unpaid tax bill were addressed to the Mayor and were sent to a Gordon Ramsey restaurant, rather than the TfL offices.
Mayor Sadiq Khan may now need to appear in court in person if he wishes to attempt to overturn the conviction.
The DVLA proceeded with the prosecution after the annual tax for a blue Nissan Micra ran out in September last year.
The agency accused Sir Khan of being the keeper of the vehicle after it was spotted untaxed on January 24 earlier this year.
Documents stated that Sir Khan’s name and date of birth appear against the car in official Government documents.
A criminal prosecution was brought forward after the DVLA did not receive a response to letters asking to confirm the identity of the car owner in January.
Sitting at Herefordshire Magistrates’ Court, Magistrate Surinder Gidda convicted the London Mayor on August 18 after no plea was entered.
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The court sent a record of the conviction to Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen, Bar & Rooftop, which is located around two minutes away from the TfL offices.
It stated that the Mayor had 28 days to pay the £340.84 court bill, or he could face increased fines, bailiffs, or even “a warrant for your arrest to bring you to court”.
The Single Justice Procedure court system has been criticised in recent years for handing down convictions without a court having to hear the matters.
There have been various instances of pensioners with various ailments, including Parkinson’s and dementia, being prosecuted for failing to tax or insure a vehicle that they are not fit to drive anymore.
People prosecuted through the SJP system can appeal to have the conviction overturned, although this would require them to appear in front of a judge in court.
PA outlined that the London Mayor could argue that he didn’t have knowledge of the proceedings because letters were sent to the wrong address.
DVLA officials are reportedly reviewing the case and investigating the circumstances of Sir Khan’s prosecution.
In this instance, Sir Khan could appeal to the DVLA to withdraw the prosecution, or the DVLA could apply to the court to have the case reopened.
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