An 82-year-old pensioner living in sheltered housing has been convicted over an unpaid £35 car tax bill following his wife’s death, sparking renewed concerns over Britain’s fast-track justice system.
The man, who resides in Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch’s Saffron Walden constituency, was prosecuted after the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) flagged that his Ford B-Max had not been taxed in September last year.
When the case reached court last month, the pensioner wrote in to explain the tragic circumstances that led to the oversight:
“My wife died on August 6, 2024, and I was preoccupied. I paid the tax as soon as I became aware that I had forgotten.”
Despite this, the prosecution proceeded under the controversial Single Justice Procedure (SJP)—a fast-track system for minor offences that has been widely criticised for failing to take individual circumstances into account.
Flaws in the fast-track system
Under the SJP, cases are handled by a single magistrate in closed proceedings, often without the defendant present. The process is designed to streamline low-level criminal cases, but critics argue it leads to unjust outcomes, particularly for vulnerable individuals.
A key flaw in the system is that mitigating letters from defendants are not routinely seen by prosecutors unless specifically flagged by the magistrate. This means cases are rarely withdrawn, even when defendants provide legitimate reasons that suggest prosecution is not in the public interest.
Court papers reveal that the pensioner’s previous car tax expired on 21 July 2024, and a notice was sent to his sheltered housing accommodation on 7 September—just a month after his wife’s passing. When he failed to respond, the DVLA pursued a criminal prosecution.
He pleaded guilty in writing to a charge of keeping a vehicle without a valid licence.
A magistrate sitting in Teesside sentenced him to a three-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay the £35 tax arrears. However, the conviction means the pensioner now has a criminal record.
Growing concerns over SJP prosecutions
The case has reignited criticism of the Single Justice Procedure, which handles approximately 800,000 cases a year. The system has previously been exposed for prosecuting vulnerable individuals, including elderly people with dementia and those in 24-hour care.
In December 2023, an investigation by The Standard revealed multiple cases where individuals with serious medical conditions were convicted over minor infractions.
Despite growing concerns, the previous government failed to act on these injustices. Meanwhile, the Labour Party has launched a consultation on reforming the system, with a review set to conclude in early May.
Even magistrates have raised alarms. In March 2023, the Magistrates’ Association declared the SJP system “broken” and recommended that prosecutors be required to read mitigation letters before cases proceed. However, the government did not implement any changes.
DVLA’s response
The DVLA has defended its enforcement process, stating that prosecution is only pursued after multiple warnings are ignored.
A spokesperson said:
“We urge anyone who receives a letter about potential enforcement action to get in touch with us if there are mitigating circumstances we need to know about.
“A Single Justice Procedure notice will only be issued when we have exhausted all other enforcement routes, including issuing multiple items of correspondence, to which the customer can respond.
“Once progressed to SJP, any defendant can request a hearing in open court. For those pleading guilty via SJP, any mitigation is considered by a magistrate, who may refer the case back to the DVLA—but that decision rests with the magistrate.”
Calls for reform
Legal experts and campaigners continue to call for urgent changes to the fast-track justice system, arguing that it disproportionately affects the elderly, disabled, and bereaved individuals who may struggle to respond to official correspondence.
The case of the 82-year-old pensioner prosecuted after losing his wife serves as yet another example of how the system prioritises efficiency over fairness.
As the Labour consultation nears its conclusion, campaigners hope it will lead to much-needed reforms to prevent further miscarriages of justice.
