A north London father has been sentenced for using an impostor to pass his driving theory test, a court heard. Drilon Hasaj, 30, recruited someone he met on Instagram to sit the exam on his behalf, handing over his provisional licence. The ruse was uncovered after CCTV footage from the Uxbridge DVSA centre showed that the person taking the test was not Hasaj.
Hasaj later admitted to supplying his driving licence for use in fraud. At Highbury Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, November 5, he received a 12-month community order and was fined £1,653. The court heard he sent “a couple of messages” to an Instagram account arranging the plan. The DVSA counter fraud team identified the discrepancy and informed him, and he chose not to appeal.
The fraud offence is over three years old. Prosecutors had urged for a custodial sentence, but defence solicitor Ghulam Sohail emphasised that Hasaj had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Mr Sohail noted that Hasaj had no significant criminal history beyond a road traffic conviction and six-month driving ban in January 2024. He added: “He works, he’s clearly the breadwinner in his home address. His partner has twins 16 months of age now, he provides for them. It’s been a massive turning point in his life, arguably the most significant development in his life since October 2022.”
Hasaj works long hours, sometimes up to 12 hours a day, six days a week. His solicitor stressed that unpaid work would heavily affect his family life, as he is the main provider. Considering these factors, magistrates opted for a community order instead of custodial or extensive unpaid work requirements.
Presiding Justice Geraldine Richards, alongside magistrates David Quinton Henning Shaw and David Evans, stressed the seriousness of the offence. “It’s make or supply an article to be used for fraud. It’s not something that the court can take lightly. For us, the offence is so serious that we think a community order is to be applied,” she said. Hasaj is also required to complete 15 rehabilitation activity days, including eight days focused on improving thinking skills, as part of his sentence.
The case highlights the legal consequences of attempting to cheat driving examinations through fraudulent means. Despite the offence, Hasaj’s early guilty plea and family responsibilities influenced the sentencing decision. His sentence aims to balance accountability with practical considerations for his household, while reinforcing the seriousness of using others to commit fraud. The court’s decision demonstrates that attempts to bypass testing procedures are treated as significant offences, even if no criminal inclination is otherwise present.
The father-of-two can now serve his sentence through community rehabilitation measures rather than a custodial term, maintaining his role as the primary provider for his young family while addressing the wrongdoing.
