A former DVLA worker who altered vehicle records to spice up automotive values and create recent identities for stolen and written-off vehicles has been jailed after a judge described the scheme for example of organised crime.
Matthew Holloway, who worked within the DVLA’s special registration team, abused his position to control vehicle records on behalf of Swansea automotive dealers and other individuals across the UK, Swansea Crown Court heard.
Wales Online reports that the court heard how Holloway altered computer and paper-based records between January 2021 and July 2022, helping to extend the worth of affected vehicles by almost £1.3 million.
His actions included removing registered keepers from logbooks, changing vehicle identification numbers, deleting write-off markers, removing certificates of destruction and issuing recent identities for cloned, reconstructed and stolen vehicles.
Following the case, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority says it has strengthened its processes.
DVLA records manipulated
Prosecutor Craig Jones said Holloway exploited a position of trust throughout the licensing agency by carrying out a “systematic campaign of car document tampering”.
A number of the alterations were made on behalf of Swansea automotive dealers Ashley Harris and Joshua Sawyer, while other requests got here from individuals and organisations elsewhere within the UK.
Examples included removing seven previous keepers from the record of an Audi RS5 and concealing the write-off history of an imported Ferrari 458 Italia.
For Harris, Holloway altered the histories of a BMW M4 Competition and a Mercedes-AMG to cover previous crash damage. The court heard the Mercedes-AMG’s identity was modified 3 times, which prosecutors suggested could indicate criminal use.
Holloway also created false identity documents for a stolen Range Rover Sport value £65,000, which was subsequently sold to an unsuspecting buyer.
The court heard the fraudulent record changes increased vehicle values by roughly £1.3m. Harris benefited by around £90,000 and Sawyer by £75,000, while Holloway received £23,400 for carrying out the alterations. DVLA was also said to have lost roughly £27,000 in unpaid fees.
Judge condemns organised fraud
Matthew David Holloway, 32, of Birchgrove, Swansea, Joshua John Sawyer, 31, of Morriston, Swansea, and Ashley Keith Harris, also generally known as Keith Wayne Lewis, 44, of Llansamlet, Swansea, had previously admitted conspiracy to commit fraud.
Sentencing, Judge Huw Rees said the offending had compromised the integrity of car records relied upon by motorists, motor traders and law enforcement and that “greed was at the center” of all three defendants.
After receiving one-quarter reductions for his or her guilty pleas, Holloway was sentenced to 5 years and three months in prison, Harris to 2 years and eight months and Sawyer to 2 years and 4 months.
Speaking after the hearing, Lisa McCarthy, district crown prosecutor for CPS Cymru-Wales’ complex casework unit, said: “Holloway held a trusted position throughout the DVLA and exploited that role, as did Harris and Sawyer, for financial profit. Their offending risked corrupting the UK’s vehicle registration system, which the general public, motor trade and law enforcement depend upon for accurate information.”
A DVLA spokesperson said: “This was a serious breach of trust by a former worker, who was dismissed immediately once the fraud was identified. Since then, we’ve strengthened our internal controls to assist prevent such a activity and we proceed to work closely with the police and partners to tackle vehicle fraud and protect the integrity of our records.”
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