A MAN with a "withered hand" who illegally took driving theory tests for other people across the country was jailed for 15 months on Friday.

Although 39-year-old Ahmed Muse sat the exams across the country, his first offence in July 2003 and his last in March 2006 both took place in Watford. Muse, of Holburne Gardens, south east London, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of obtaining property by deception in the face of overwhelming evidence.

The court heard Muse would charge £200 for taking the tests, which he took in many locations across the country, including Watford, Guildford, Luton, Aldershot and Staines.

Detective Sergeant Ian Siggery from Hertfordshire Constabulary said: "This was part of a national inquiry, conducted by Hertfordshire police in partnership with Outforce Corporate Investigations, who had been instructed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) to investigate driving theory test fraud.

"Muse was arrested and charged with two offences in Watford and the investigation into these led to the discovery of other offences across the country.

"The main issue raised by this investigation was people driving, having fraudulently obtained driving licences, and the fraudulent use of such documents by foreign nationals."

He said Muse had used the same credit card to book a number of the tests and his distinctive "withered hand" also gave him away. He praised the work done by the DSA and said the case had been solved by "old fashioned detective work".