A man was driving in Cardiff when it suddenly became clear why he had been receiving mysterious parking fines in the post. The realisation came when he spotted a Ford Fiesta displaying his own car's registration number.
The Fiesta driver David Stiff was later arrested in Riverside but denied any knowledge of the fraudulent plate. He told WalesOnline he had bought the car three days earlier from "some guy I met on Ninian Park Road". The 44-year-old appeared at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Friday and admitted driving without a licence, insurance or an MOT certificate — but a fraud charge was dropped.
Prosecutor Kevin Withey said: "It is an unusual case stemming from the fact a member of the public was driving through Cardiff and was concerned to see another car bearing his own vehicle's registration number. He understands it's not a coincidence he had been receiving parking tickets for his vehicle which he knew nothing about. It was reported to police and the defendant's vehicle was stopped."
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Stiff, of Cowbridge Road East, was in the Fiesta on October 22 last year when police approached. His lawyer Declan McSorley told the court: "He admitted the relevant offences to police at the scene and quite properly denied knowledge of the vehicle's mis-identity. There was some honesty in his behaviour at the scene, albeit some criminality because he was driving illegally at the relevant time."
The defendant relies on benefits, getting around £56 per week. Passing sentence District Judge Steve Harmes said: "I appreciate you have very little income so these fines may seem minimal to members of the public but they will mean something to you."
The judge fined Stiff £95 and ordered him to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £34 victim services surcharge. The defendant was also banned from driving for nine months.
Speaking to WalesOnline after the sentencing, Stiff said he was glad the fraud charge had been dropped. He added: "I went to pick my daughter up and I was parked up outside her house, then the next thing I know I'm surrounded by police. Like I said to them, I'd only had the car three days. I didn't know anything about the plates."
