The director of an accident claims company has been fined for inventing a crash in order to trace the owner of a private number plate he wanted to buy.
The owner of the private plate – lived 200 miles from where the fake crash was said to have happened.
The defendant sent official forms to the DVLA requesting the identity of the registered keeper of a 4×4 which he claimed had been involved in a collision.
The owner of the 4×4 subsequently received a letter at his home from the defendant, offering to buy his private registration plate
He complained to the DVLA and an internal investigation revealed had used subterfuge in order to obtain his name and address.
Police ANPR cameras later confirmed the vehicle was not in the area at the time of the alleged crash. The DVLA reported the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The defendant admitted a charge of breaching Section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998 by unlawfully obtaining personal data when he appeared at Magistrates’ Court. The defendant was fined £335 and was ordered to pay £364.08 costs and a victim surcharge of £33.