Illegal immigrant who 'entered country on a lorry' jailed at Sheffield court

Drilon Praka, aged 31, had been driving along Wakefield Road, Barnsley, when police forced him to stop and discovered he was using a false Bulgarian driving licence, according to a Sheffield Crown Court hearing on May 12.

Judge Sarah Wright told Praka: “You tried to avoid detection as an illegal immigrant by producing this document to a police officer.”

Stephanie Hollis, prosecuting, said police spotted a Vauxhall Corsa on Wakefield Road which was believed to have been speeding and they stopped the vehicle on nearby Newstead Road.

Ms Hollis added Praka told police the car belonged to a friend and he produced a Bulgarian driving licence but he gave a date of birth that did not match the licence and checks discovered it was fake.

Praka, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to possessing a false identification document with an improper intention, obstructing a police officer, driving without a licence and without insurance after the incident on March 16.

The defendant told police he had entered the country illegally on a lorry and he had purchased the licence – which had his photo - in London to mislead police of his driving and immigration status.

Vanessa Saxton, defending, said Praka, who has been detained, said he wished he was not guilty as an expression of his remorse.

Judge Wright sentenced Praka to 12 months of custody and disqualified him from driving for 12 months. The ban was also extended for six-months to reflect any time spent in custody.