A married mother-of-three from Greater Manchester has been convicted of fraud after pretending to be a fully qualified driving instructor, despite helping dozens of learners pass their tests.
The Deception Uncovered
Joanne Sharples, 40, from Cadishead, operated as a trainee driving instructor legally from November 2022. However, her trainee status officially ended in February 2024, meaning she could no longer lawfully charge for lessons. Despite this, Sharples continued to teach and take payments from new pupils for a further nine months.
Her illegal activities were exposed when a learner driver became suspicious of her credentials and reported her to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). An investigation identified six victims in the Manchester, Irlam and Warrington areas who had paid Sharples between £668 and £1,300 each after her authorisation had lapsed, totalling £6,464.
Court Sentencing and Mitigation
At Warrington Magistrates' Court, Sharples admitted fraud by false representation relating to two male and four female students. She was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 120 hours of unpaid work and given six months to repay the full £6,464.
In mitigation, her defence stated she was of previous good character and deeply remorseful. The court heard she continued teaching out of "necessity and not greed" due to financial pressure from hiring a vehicle for lessons. Her barrister added that Sharples had been "frightened to leave the house" after her actions became public knowledge.
The DVSA Crackdown on Illegal Instructors
The prosecution, brought by the DVSA, described the offence as an "abuse of a position of power or trust conducted over a sustained period of time." The agency is currently running a major crackdown on illegal instructors, warning they pose a danger to learner drivers and other road users and can face imprisonment.
While anyone over 21 can give free driving practice, it is illegal to accept payment without being an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) or a licensed trainee working under a school's supervision. Trainees cannot operate independently for payment.
Interestingly, Sharples' online profile boasted of a "passion for teaching" and being "patient, calm and understanding." The Facebook page for Let's Learn School of Motoring, where she previously worked legally, showed at least 48 learners, including her own son, passed their tests under her tuition, though most lessons occurred during her legitimate trainee period. The school's owner confirmed Sharples was dismissed upon discovery of the fraud and stated the business had always operated within the law.
