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Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has recently been convicted and fined through a fast-track legal process concerning the failure to pay tax on a 24-year-old Nissan Micra. The Labour Party politician, aged 55, was found guilty by a magistrate last month for keeping a vehicle without valid tax, following a prosecution initiated by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).
According to court documents, the correspondence from the DVLA about the unpaid tax was mistakenly sent to the address of a restaurant owned by Gordon Ramsay in east London, rather than to the Transport for London (TfL) offices, which are located nearby. City Hall representatives clarified that neither the mayor nor TfL owned the car in question. The hearing took place privately under the Single Justice Procedure in Herefordshire, where Khan was convicted in absentia. The court ordered him to pay a £220 fine, £85 in costs, and the outstanding tax amount of £35.84 on the Micra.
Court records reveal that the DVLA prosecuted Khan after the car’s annual tax expired in September of the previous year. The vehicle, a blue Nissan Micra first registered in 2002, was observed untaxed on the 24th of January. The DVLA stated that official government records listed Khan’s name and date of birth as associated with the car. After a letter requesting confirmation of ownership was sent to the incorrect address and received no response, the case advanced to a criminal prosecution in August, when no plea had been entered.
The court also sent the conviction notice and payment demands to Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant, instructing Khan to settle the full £340.84 within 28 days or face the risk of increased penalties, bailiff action, or potentially an arrest warrant. The DVLA is currently reviewing the case and investigating the circumstances surrounding the prosecution. It is possible for individuals who believe they have been wrongly convicted in their absence to request the case be reopened by attending court and making a statutory declaration. Khan could contend that he was unaware of the legal action because the letters were misdirected. If the case is reopened, he could either have the prosecution withdrawn by the DVLA or enter a not guilty plea; alternatively, the DVLA may also ask the court to revisit the matter
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