**Unqualified Driving Instructor Charged Learners for Illegal Lessons in South Wales**
In a concerning case that has underscored the importance of proper driver training oversight, a man has been convicted after illegally offering paid driving lessons to students across South Wales and beyond. The instructor, Mobashir Gujar, 42, from Bristol, received payment from multiple learners despite not being registered or qualified to provide driving instruction, putting the public at considerable risk.
The deception first came to light late in 2023 after a student arriving at Llanishen Driving Test Centre in Cardiff was observed with Gujar, who was posing as a legitimate instructor. Witnesses reported that an MG vehicle arrived at the centre just before 8:30 in the morning, with Gujar in the passenger seat and another woman, believed to be his partner, in the back. This routine, however, was anything but ordinary.
Following the arrival at the test centre, an officer from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) surveilled the vehicle for around ten minutes. After the test candidate got out to attend her scheduled exam—cut short after a major fault—Gujar was seen departing the scene on foot towards a nearby Greggs. Afterwards, the car, occupied by the student and Gujar’s partner, left the site, while Gujar himself eventually reunited with them.
It was only after the car was pulled over by South Wales Police that the extent of Gujar’s fraudulent operation became clear. The student, believing she had employed a fully qualified instructor, revealed she had been paying £35 an hour since September 2023, along with additional fees for vehicle hire and insurance, totalling £550. Gujar’s claims of legitimacy quickly unravelled after officers learned he had previously been warned by the DVSA and was not licensed to instruct—having been disqualified from driving and letting his licence lapse in 2021.
Further investigations revealed Gujar’s illegal activity was not isolated to a single event. Less than a week after the first known incident, authorities found him accompanying two more learners in a Honda Jazz at the same Cardiff test centre. Both learners confirmed they had paid substantial sums—one up to £480 for 20 hours of tuition, and another a staggering £942—under the assumption Gujar was a certified driving instructor.
The scheme unravelled further when, in March 2024, Gujar was discovered in Bristol giving a lesson to yet another student. When stopped by local police, the instructor attempted to actively prevent her from answering officers’ questions, insisting: “I don’t take money from you.” Despite these claims, the student later confirmed she had paid him £70. Gujar also became confrontational with police, refusing to comply and responding with indifference to the gravity of the situation.
Prosecutors revealed that Gujar had been warned twice by the DVSA about offering paid tuition without proper registration, but failed to heed these notices. Instead, he persevered with his unauthorised, and often lucrative, lessons across several months, all while unauthorised to even drive himself.
In Newport Crown Court, Gujar faced a multitude of charges, including three counts of fraud by false representation, providing paid instruction without an appropriate licence or certificate, and driving without a valid licence. During mitigation, his defence suggested he had initially commenced instructing in good faith but had continued to profit dishonestly due to increasing demand. Additional personal circumstances were highlighted, including his role as a carer for his mother, disabled sister, and his own children.
Despite these personal responsibilities, the presiding Judge, Simon Mills, was unequivocal. He emphasised that Gujar’s actions had put students and other road users in considerable danger, stating: “You put people at risk as a result of your actions.” Consequently, Gujar was handed an 18-month prison sentence, which was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to complete 180 hours of unpaid work and participate in a 15-day rehabilitation activity.
The case raises pressing questions about the safeguards in place for learners seeking driving instruction and highlights the vital importance of verifying the legitimacy of driving instructors. Authorities encourage all prospective learners to ensure their tutors are fully certified and listed with the DVSA to guarantee both safety and quality in driver education.