Linda Mkhosana from Newport was sentenced to 12 months in prison after misleading authorities with false identities to avoid prosecution for speeding offences committed while banned from driving.
Linda Mkhosana, a 49-year-old man from Newport, was sentenced to 12 months in prison after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice following a series of speeding offences committed while he was banned from driving. The case was heard at Newport Crown Court.
Mkhosana was caught on camera driving his BMW 3 Series over the speed limit on the SDR near his home on multiple occasions in late June 2023. He committed these offences despite having been banned from driving for drink-driving just around two weeks earlier.
Prosecutor Nuhu Gobir explained how Mkhosana was caught speeding twice on 26 June 2023, and then again on the 27th and 28th of June. When notices of intended prosecution were sent by post, Mkhosana attempted to conceal his identity by submitting false names and addresses of fictitious drivers. These included individuals supposedly living in Birmingham and at student accommodation in Cardiff. “There was no sign of any persons with names given living there,” Mr Gobir said, describing the offence as “a relatively sophisticated or at least planned offence” with “a significant impact on the administration of justice.”
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Mkhosana initially claimed to officers that he had allowed four prospective buyers to test drive the car and that his partner was managing the sale of the vehicle. However, the prosecution dismissed these statements as fabricated.
In addition to the perverting the course of justice charge, it was disclosed that Mkhosana was also involved in a fraudulent use of a vehicle licence dating back to 2011.
Represented by Sol Hartley, Mkhosana’s defence highlighted his struggles with financial difficulties and depression at the time the offences were committed. Despite this, Judge Celia Hughes criticised his efforts to avoid prosecution, calling them “blatant,” and noted the considerable police resources spent investigating the matter. The judge expressed concern that Mkhosana was currently employed as a car mechanic.
Following the guilty plea, Mkhosana was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge upon his release from prison.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.gov.uk/driving-licence/drink-driving-penalty – This webpage provides information on penalties for drink-driving, which is relevant to Mkhosana’s case of being banned from driving for drink-driving.
- https://www.cps.gov.uk/legal-guidance/perverting-course-justice – The Crown Prosecution Service explains the legal framework for perverting the course of justice, which aligns with Mkhosana’s charge.
- https://www.police.uk/news-and-appeals/driving-offences – Police.uk discusses driving offences, including speeding and the consequences of such actions, which are pertinent to Mkhosana’s speeding violations.
- https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/vehicle-licence – This UK government webpage explains vehicle licensing, relevant to the fraudulent use of a vehicle licence mentioned in the article.
- https://www.courtserve.net/other-courts/sentencing-guidelines-council – The Sentencing Council provides guidelines for sentencing, which can offer context for Judge Celia Hughes’ decision in sentencing Mkhosana.
- https://www.findlaw.co.uk/law/criminal/defendantsrights.html – FindLaw UK discusses defendants’ rights, which includes information on legal representation and the role of defence lawyers like Sol Hartley in court proceedings.
- https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/25121009.newport-driver-jailed-trying-dodge-4-speeding-fines/?ref=rss – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The event described occurred in June 2023, which may not be considered recent given the current time. However, the narrative itself appears to be current since it reports on a specific legal outcome.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The quote from Mr Gobir is presented as part of the legal proceedings, but there is no indication of it being previously cited elsewhere. This suggests it might be an original source, although further verification is challenging.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from South Wales Argus, which is a regional newspaper. While it is not a globally recognized source like the Financial Times or BBC, it is reputable within its region.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The story involves a plausible sequence of events related to legal proceedings, with details of the charges and sentencing. The narrative aligns with typical legal outcomes for similar offences.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears fresh and plausible within the context of legal proceedings. The source, while regional, is generally reliable. Quotes as presented seem to be original and part of the legal record, contributing to a high confidence in the overall assessment.
