Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has been convicted and fined in a fast-track magistrates court process after prosecutors alleged he kept an untaxed vehicle, despite his office saying the case involved a “scam” and that the car did not belong to him. The Labour politician, 55, was found guilty last month by a magistrate sitting in Herefordshire under the Single Justice Procedure, and was convicted in his absence. Conviction And PenaltiesThe court heard the issue related to a 24-year-old blue Nissan Micra, first registered in 2002. The magistrate ordered Khan to pay a £220 fine, £85 in costs and £35.84 for unpaid vehicle tax, bringing the total bill for the conviction to £340.84. The order also warned that, if the payment was not made within 28 days, further enforcement steps could be taken, including increased fines, bailiffs or a warrant for arrest to bring him to court. DVLA Letters Sent To Gordon Ramsay RestaurantAccording to court documents, letters sent by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about the unpaid tax were addressed to a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in east London rather than to Transport for London (TfL) offices nearby. City Hall said the Nissan Micra was not owned by Khan or by TfL. A spokesperson for the mayor said the case was a “scam” and that false claims about who owned vehicles had been made before. The mayor’s adviser told BBC London that the DVLA was “urgently” looking into reopening the case, including seeking to withdraw the prosecution. The adviser said the agency would also investigate the alleged false registration. Background To The DVLA ProsecutionThe DVLA said the vehicle was identified as untaxed on 24 January. It added that Khan’s name and date of birth appeared against the car on government records. Court documents state that the annual tax had expired in September last year. The DVLA told the court that a letter asking for confirmation of the car owner’s identity was sent to the wrong address and went unanswered in January. It was followed by a criminal prosecution brought on 18 August after no plea had been entered. The DVLA said it was reviewing the case and investigating the circumstances in which it was brought. ULEZ Protests And Possible MotivationKhan expanded the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) to cover all of London, a move that triggered widespread protests. Some motorists said they would register cars in his name in an attempt to make him liable for the £12.50 daily Ulez charge. The court paperwork also shows the record of conviction was sent to the Gordon Ramsay restaurant, and Khan was required to pay within the stated deadline or face the prospect of further action. Defendants who believe they were wrongly convicted in their absence can apply to have the case reopened. This is typically done by appearing in person and making a statutory declaration before a judge. The mayor could argue that he did not know about the criminal case because the letters were sent to the wrong building. Once reopened, he could ask the DVLA to withdraw the prosecution if the accusation is shown to be incorrect, or enter a not guilty plea. The DVLA could also seek a reopening itself. Join the discussion? 2 September 2026
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