Motorist wrongfully arrested after clerical error wrongly bans driver

Andrew Lees, a 47-year-old IT consultant from Greater Manchester, was wrongfully arrested and held in a police cell for 16 hours due to a clerical error that falsely identified him as a disqualified driver.

The error occurred when driving offences committed by another individual in Greater Manchester were incorrectly transferred to Mr. Lees's DVLA record. The disqualification, involving 19 penalty points, was issued through the Single Justice Procedure at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court—a fast-track system where magistrates handle lower-level offences in private hearings.

Despite Mr. Lees making repeated attempts to correct the mistake by contacting the DVLA, the Cumbrian Magistrates’ Court, and the Single Justice Service starting in November 2025, he received no resolution. The situation escalated in February when police stopped him while driving, leading to his arrest after official records incorrectly showed his disqualification.