A father spent 16 hours in a police cell after a DVLA admin error incorrectly told officers he had been banned from the roads.
47-year-old father Andrew Lees received a letter from the DVLA in November 2025, with the agency warning him that he was banned from driving. Andrew was told he had picked up 19 points on his driving licence, but was left confused after never having broken the rules. He tried everything to get to the bottom of the error but claims to have received no response and was not able to identify the court file which had led to the incorrect record.
Arrest and Aftermath
The ban had been imposed under the Single Justice Procedure which sees magistrates convict drivers for small motoring offences behind closed doors under fast-track hearings.
Andrew said: “I absolutely knew those points were not mine. I thought it was just an admin error that would be easily cleared up.”
As a result, Andrew continued to drive as usual but was stopped by police officers and arrested in February while behind the wheel of his wife’s car.
Andrew added: “They pulled me over, breathalysed me twice and then said 'let's just get in the back of the van and we can sort this out'. Suddenly I'm arrested and heading to the cells. It was terrifying. The officers just wouldn't listen to what I was telling them. I was locked up eight miles from home for something I hadn't done and facing a court case which could lead to jail. I tried to stay strong in the cells, but inside I was crying my eyes out.”
Andrew was released on bail, but Andrew explained that his ban had a huge impact on family life and prevented him from carrying out everyday tasks, among those was not being able to take his daughters to their extracurricular activities or birthday parties.
Resolution and Calls for Reform
After examining the records, a specialist motoring solicitor, Austin Anderson-Brettell at Olliers Solicitors discovered that driving offences committed by another defendant had been incorrectly assigned to Andrew’s driving licence number.
The case was eventually dropped just a day before Andrew was due to appear in court. His lawyer, Mr Anderson-Brettell, has used the case to call for urgent reforms to the Single Justice Procedure laws.
He said: "The system has significant flaws that cannot be ignored. The main flaw is the lack of transparency. Justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done. By allowing cases to be determined behind closed doors, the Single Justice Procedure at times risks undermining public confidence.”
The CPS said the accusations were of a category where police can authorise charges without consulting them. It was not until the case was reviewed by a Crown Prosecutor that the prosecution decided the matter should be discontinued.
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: "Officers acting on good faith with incorrect information from a clerical error made the arrest of a man in relation to a driving offence. Once this error was rectified, the matter was discontinued and the crime closed. The car has since been passed back to a third party pending final release."
Express.co.uk has contacted the DVLA and CPS for comment.
