A north-east chef has been fined £1500 after getting someone else to take his driving theory test for him.
Chen Lin decided last year that he wanted to learn to drive, but felt his grasp of English was insufficient to pass the test.
He then saw an advert in a Chinese newspaper – printed in the UK – offering to do this for him in exchange for money.
He handed over £300 to an individual who carried out the examination at the centre on Cloverhill Road in Aberdeen.
An investigating officer as the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency became aware of it and marked Lin meaning he would be picked up as soon as he turned up to take a full test.
The 42-year-old eventually showed up at the test centre in Bridge of Don in January this year to sit a test and was apprehended by the police.
Lin, of Castle Road in Ellon, confessed to the offence straight away and appeared in Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday to be sentenced.
Representing him, defence agent Ian Woodward-Nutt said he had gone to considerable lengths to learn to drive after getting the theory test.
He said: “My client came to the UK in 2000 and is a full UK citizen.
“He made the decision that he wanted to learn to drive, but didn’t feel he had enough English to pass the test.
“Before 2013, the test could be done in Cantonese.
“After getting the test, he had 32 driving lessons.”
He added: “After he was apprehended he made a full admission.
“Any risk to the public has been mitigated by the fact the he took so many driving lessons after this offence.”
Sheriff Christine McCrossan, imposing a sentence, said: “You yourself paid money in this scheme and had some reason for doing this which was all bad and you went out and took a great many driving lessons.
“Weighing against that is the fact that the court has to ensure that individuals realise that to try and avoid public safety measures in this manner cannot be tolerated.”
