DVLA failed to spot licence was a fake

Judge Lester Bootham had heard how Christopher Channell had driven for more than 20 years on a provisional licence and worked for Southampton City Council as a courier after falsely declaring he had a full one.

However, Channell's luck ran out when he was stopped for driving without wearing a seat belt.

The officer carried out a computer check and learnt he had only had a provisional licence.

The officer contacted the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) which confirmed he had only got a provisional licence that had been issued in 1985.

He then arranged for a summons to be taken out against Channell, but the CPS later received a letter from his solicitors enclosing a copy of a full licence.

However, when it was sent to the DVLA for confirmation, the agency reported it was fake.

Judge Bootham said: "I hope the DVLA are looking into this. It's a bizarre situation."

With the forgery, Channell had worked for the city council, earning more than £60,000 before resigning.

The court heard that the council had been complimentary about Channell's work and he had been reliable and well liked.

Channell, a 52-yearold father of three, of Yeovil Chase, Southampton, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice, possessing a document with intent to deceive and obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.

Ordering him to do 250 hours' community work, the judge said it was an extraordinary case and after securing the licence 20 years ago, he had in effect been stuck with it.

"I have come to the conclusion it would not be in the public interest to send you to prison. You are not a danger to the public and apart from these matters you are a respectable man with no previous convictions. You have led an honest and decent life," he added.

Joseph Templeton, defending, said Channell had bought the licence from a former colleague for a fee. He had taken his driving test but failed.