Bogus Portstewart driving instructor jailed
A Portstewart man who masqueraded as a driving instructor is beginning a 12 month jail sentence after pleading guilty to a catalogue of fraud offences.
James Butler, 45, from Meadow Gardens, Portstewart was sentenced after pleading guilty to 20 fraud offences. The frauds arose from a bogus driving school he ran in Portstewart and Belfast, teaching people to drive and even a number of people who hoped to become driving instructors.
At least 16 people were duped by Butler as he worked his driving school scam between June 2006 and January 2007. Some individuals lost over 2,000 and several found that despite extensive driving and theoretical training by Butler, they could not become approved driving instructors.
Butler was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment when he appeared at Antrim Crown Court in Coleraine today (Thursday). Judge David Smyth, QC, also imposed an 18 month probation order, ordered 15,000 restitution and ordered that Butler attend a course in psychotherapy.
The court heard that Butler had previous convictions for stealing police uniforms and personating police officers. Between 1998 and 2000 he used the uniform to act out his fantasy of being a police officer, duping real police officers and even 'promoting' himself to the rank of Superintendent in the Traffic Branch.
As Butler begins his sentence, his co-accused was recognised to have played a much smaller part in the offences. Brian Jordan, 32 from Strand Avenue in Hollywood was sentenced to 240 hours of community service.
For the full report see the next edition of the Coleraine Times
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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