A 77-year-old pensioner suffering from severe dementia has been convicted for failing to insure a car he has been unable to drive since his diagnosis, sparking outrage over the handling of his case through a fast-track court system.
Case Details and Court Proceedings
The man, who resides in Middleton, Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with dementia in December 2024 and immediately advised to cease driving his Peugeot. Despite this, he faced prosecution for not having insurance on the vehicle on August 12 last year, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
Court documents indicate that the pensioner is now "confused much of the time" and incapable of managing his own affairs. He has no recollection of receiving a penalty notice from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in August 2025 regarding the uninsured car. When the fine went unpaid, the DVLA pursued criminal proceedings.
Brother's Intervention and Legal Challenges
His brother only became aware of the issue when the DVLA initiated proceedings earlier this month. He submitted a letter to the court explaining the circumstances, including the dementia diagnosis and the pensioner's inability to handle his matters, but this correspondence was insufficient to halt the prosecution.
"He is a 77-year-old pensioner who is suffering from severe dementia," the brother wrote. "He was officially diagnosed in December 2024. He was advised not to drive from then on." The brother added that he had agreed to buy the vehicle in Spring 2025 and arrange a fresh MOT, but the pensioner had not driven at all in 2025.
However, the pensioner mistakenly informed a doctor during a medical assessment that he "is still driving," highlighting the memory loss and confusion caused by his condition. "The severity of his dementia causes memory loss resulting in him being confused much of the time," the brother said. "He is now incapable of managing his affairs to any degree."
Single Justice Procedure Controversy
The case was handled under the Single Justice Procedure (SJP), a streamlined court system introduced in 2015 as a cost-saving measure where magistrates convene privately to swiftly address minor criminal matters. In this framework, prosecutors like the DVLA cannot access correspondence from defendants submitted to the court, leading to concerns that cases no longer serving the public interest are frequently overlooked.
Magistrate Louise Hammond accepted a guilty plea submitted on the pensioner's behalf by his brother and issued a six-month conditional discharge instead of a fine. Despite this, the DVLA retains the right to request the case be reopened, adding to the uncertainty.
Government Review and Broader Implications
The Government has acknowledged concerns surrounding the Single Justice Procedure and is continuing to review feedback from a consultation on potential reforms, which closed in May 2025. This case underscores issues with the system, particularly regarding vulnerable individuals like those with dementia.
The brother is now attempting to secure Power of Attorney to manage the pensioner's affairs, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future. This situation raises questions about the adequacy of legal protections for people with severe cognitive impairments and the efficiency of fast-track court systems in handling such sensitive cases.
