A 66-year-old widow has been convicted of failing to insure her late husband's car after he died from cancer. The case was processed through the controversial Single Justice Procedure (SJP), a fast-track court system that has faced widespread criticism.
The woman, from York, was prosecuted by the DVLA after her husband passed away in August 2024, just two months after being diagnosed with a rare aggressive cancer. She wrote a letter to the court explaining that the car remained on her driveway and was not driven during his illness, and that she was unaware of the insurance status due to her grief.
Despite her mitigation, the case proceeded to a criminal conviction. The SJP system allows magistrates to deal with low-level offences in private, and prosecutors do not routinely see mitigation letters. The Ministry of Justice is currently consulting on potential reforms, including a requirement for prosecutors to review mitigation before proceeding.
The widow pleaded guilty and received an absolute discharge, meaning no financial penalty, but a conviction remains on her record. The DVLA had offered a fixed penalty settlement in October 2024 but did not receive a response. The agency stated that it encourages individuals to contact them with mitigating circumstances before cases are escalated.
