A mechanic has been found guilty of fraud for swapping numberplates to avoid ULEZ charges, claiming it was just a joke.
Bromley: So, there’s this mechanic named Stephen Cook who got himself into a bit of trouble. He thought it would be funny to switch the numberplates on his van to dodge the ULEZ charge. But, surprise, surprise, he got caught!
Cook, 45, was using plates from his friend’s van, which is exempt from the Ultra Low Emission Zone. Meanwhile, his own van would have racked up a £12.50 daily fee. Not the best plan, right?
When the police raided a place in Erith, they spotted his white van and noticed the numberplate didn’t match. Cook tried to play it off as a joke, saying he just wanted to send his friend some funny photos.
In court, he admitted to fraud but insisted it was all in good fun. He claimed he never actually drove the van with the swapped plates. The judge wasn’t buying it completely but did take into account that he hadn’t used the plates to gain anything.
With a history of 19 past convictions, including some serious stuff like car theft and burglary, Cook was fined £405 and ordered to pay costs. The ULEZ zone has been a hot topic lately, especially after it expanded to cover all of London, leading to protests and some vandalism against enforcement cameras.
