Bus manager jailed in driving test scam

05 February 2010

A HORNCHURCH pensioner was jailed for 18 months this week after raking in thousands of pounds selling dodgy bus licenses to untrained drivers.

First Group recruitment manager Lesley Ramsey, from Eyhurst Avenue, was a main player in a corrupt quartet who sold Passenger Vehicle Licenses, in the vast £200,000 scam.

The public was put at risk when inept candidates "who should never have passed" tests set by the transport company were helped to cheat for a fee of around £1,500 each.

Bespectacled Ramsey and ringleader Dennis Bodimeade, 54, the chief driving examiner, approached and recruited around 80 trainees, between 2003 and 2007.

Bodimeade, from Maldon, Essex, would help candidates with theory answers and rubber stamp practical tests, while Ramsey would forge documents - including references - to dupe bus bosses.

Meanwhile, driving teacher John Dinning, 58, from Wickford, Essex, would provide instruction to candidates he knew to be incapable.

However, during sentencing at Wood Green Crown Court on Monday, Judge, Francis Sheridan, accepted Dinning went along with the scam rather than blowing the whistle and did not gain financially from it.

The fraudsters worked out of Wood Green and Northumberland Park bus depots in north London.

Later, mechanic Muhammed Hashim, 37, joined the con, enlisting 30-40 family and friends over six months in 2006 - some of whom could barely speak English.

Judge Sheridan said: "[Bodimeade] was on hand to explain to the candidates. About 10 per-cent spoke sufficiently good English that they were able to undertake the tests. They were a real hazard on the roads."

He added that the group had generated an income by passing people who should never have passed.

Trainees would meet in twos and threes at Hashim's Ilford home where Bodimeade and Ramsey would be waiting with application forms, the court heard, and cash would be handed over.

"Bodimeade was the instigator and driving force of the conspiracy," said the judge, and Ramsey the "number two man."

The judge added: "[Ramsey] breached his position of trust in the bus company and was too weak to withstand Mr Bodimeade's strong personality."

Ramsey's barrister Mr David Phillips, said: "He is absolutely embarrassed, ashamed and in low self-esteem knowing he let his family down.

"He did not have the strength of morality, knowing his position, to say no and went along with it."

Ramsey retired from his £40,000 job two years early - in April 2007 - hoping to escape the repercussions of the scam.

But the foursome were snared after suspicions were raised and driving standards agency investigator Stephan Long found trainees passed theory tests in unfeasibly quick times.

Around 40 bus drivers in London, Leicester and Walsall had their licenses revoked over public safety concerns.

While all have subsequently passed retesting, many initially failed one or both parts.

All four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct by "improperly testing and passing Passenger Carrying Vehicle test candidates" before Christmas.

Bodimeade and Ramsey also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud.

Prosecutor Antony Swift admitted authorities were unable to fully untangle the reach of the con, nor how the money was divided, and feared the income from it may have been more than double the amount proved in court.

Bodimeade was sentenced 32 months in prison for his lead role, Ramsey, 24 months reduced to 18 and Hashim was jailed for 12 months.

Dinning was sentenced to four months suspended for two years, and is also banned from providing driving instruction for a year.

A First Group spokesman said: "These men have not worked for us since 2008". He refused to comment further.