Fake driving instructor sentenced

A man who pretended to be a qualified driving instructor after failing exams to do the job has been ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community work.

Mervin Mercer, from Sleetmoor Lane of Somercotes, Derbyshire, admitted fraud, obtaining property by deception and driving without insurance.

He had taught about 25 students over two years and ignored warnings about continuing to teach.

Mercer, 44, was also ordered to pay the court costs.

He had passed the first two parts of his exams to qualify, but had failed the third test three times.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) had written to Mercer warning him against teaching since he was unqualified, but he had continued to do so.

Andrew Rice, head of fraud and integrity at DSA, said: "I am pleased that we have got a conviction in this case.

"It is a serious issue that the public need to be aware of and I think the fact that we have got the conviction today, the judges sent a message out to people."

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Mervin Mercer failed his final exam three times