An Armagh resident caught by police driving with fake licence has been handed six penalty points.
The 37-year-old’s barrister stated that the defendant had “until today believed the veracity of his licence, however, a police expert spotted eight or nine discreet issues with the document”
Mihail Simeonov, 37, of Culdee Street, pleaded guilty to using a vehicle without insurance, possessing a false identification document and making a false declaration to obtain insurance at the city’s Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Court heard that on November 13, at around 10pm, police had reason to stop the defendant driving a Ford Focus on the Mall, Armagh.
Simeonov handed police a Ukranian licence and a policy of insurance from AXA.
Enquiries made regarding the licence determined that it was a fraudulent document.
The defendant was subsequently arrested and made no reply to caution.
When interviewed, Simeonov said that he believed he held an official Ukranian licence and denied that it was a fake.
Defence barrister Scott McWhinney stated: “Mr Simeonov has until today believed the veracity of his licence, however, a police expert spotted eight or nine discreet issues with the document.”
He said: “Mr Simeonov had sent the licence to the DVA to be transferred to a UK licence but was told this could not be done as he was not an EU national.
“He claims he would not have done this or have been driving had he believed his licence to be fraudulent.”
District Judge Peter Magill stated: “This is an unusual case but he has pleaded guilty.”
Simeonov was handed six penalty points and was ordered to pay a fine of £350, along with the offender’s levy of £15, within 20 weeks.
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