A 70-year-old Suffolk man who was jailed for 15 months for providing false driving licence applications to the DVLA has been ordered to repay nearly £5,000.
Before Ipswich Crown Court on Monday (November 4) for a hearing under the Proceeds of Crime Act was Paul Ridden, of Aveley Lane, Alpheton.
He previously admitted conspiring to commit fraud by false representation, possessing an article for use in fraud and acquiring criminal property and was jailed for 15 months in February.
On Monday the court heard that Ridden’s benefit from his offending was £32,798.
However, he only has assets of £4,883 and a confiscation order was made in that sum.
Judge Emma Peters ordered that the amount should be paid within three months with a three month prison term in default.
Ridden admitted in a police interview he had been selling driving licences with false information for the last ten years, charging around £1,500 per person, although he was only charged with activity dating back to 2017.
During a police search of Ridden’s house officers found a clear plastic folder under a bed with eight applications for driving licences, which the prosecution say were fraudulent.
There was also a notebook including one particular piece of paper which had a list of names of people who had ordered driving licences from him.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here