Bradford Man Jailed for Speeding Ticket Scam

A Bradford man has been jailed for orchestrating a speeding ticket scam.

Khuram Yaqoob, 35, of Westlands Drive, Bradford, admitted 25 offences of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months' custody at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday, 3rd December 2024.

The court heard that police had cause to seize Yaqoob's phone in April 2019 in relation to other matters. On examining the device they discovered evidence of a so-called NIP farm.

The scam involved Yaqoob providing false names and addresses to drivers who received a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) in relation to speeding offences.

The false information, for which Yaqoob charged a fee, was then used in response to the notices, which meant the real drivers escaped prosecution.

Some paid up members to the scam were advised to nominate entirely innocent family members.

Fifteen other men were jailed earlier today for their participation in the scam:

• Qaiser Rehman, aged 31, of Woodside View, Bingley, sentenced to 14 months.
• Mohammed Macmour, aged 31, of Bentcliffe Drive, Leeds, sentenced to 12 months.
• Russell Bland, aged 46, of Waterwheel Rise, Huddersfield, sentenced to 11 months.
• Haroon Mushtaq, aged 28, of Woodland Crescent, Mixenden, sentenced to 10 months.
• Usman Suleman, aged 37, of Princeville Road, Bradford, sentenced to 10 months.
• Seth Mahmood, aged 26, of Alvanley Court, Bradford, sentenced to 10 months.
• Safyan Sarwar, aged 32, of Lindley Moor Road, Huddersfield, sentenced to 10 months.
• Ibrar Hussain, aged 28, of Bronshill Grove, Allerton, sentenced to 9 months.
• Waqas Hanif, aged 33, of Lilycroft Road, Bradford, sentenced to 9 months.
• Nosheen Ashraf, aged 31, of Rushton Road, Bradford, sentenced to 7 months.
• Mohammed Yunis, aged 28, of Chapel Lane, Allerton, sentenced to 7 months.
• Billy Thomas-Hopwood, aged 34, of Yewdall Way, Bradford, sentenced to 6 months.
• Idris Yousaf, aged 45, of Sycamore Avenue, Huddersfield, sentenced to 6 months.
• Shakeel Shazad, aged 32, of Church Street, Heckmondwike, sentenced to 6 months.
• Mohammed Bhatti, aged 26, of Grange Drive, Allerton, sentenced to 6 months.

Three others received suspended sentences:

• Shazad Ul Hamid, aged 46, of Emm Lane, Heaton, Bradford, sentenced to 8 months suspended for 2 years.
• Safina Iqbal, aged 34, of Scholes Street, Bankfoot, Bradford, sentenced to 6 months suspended for 2 years.
• Akib Mahmood, aged 30, of Wimborne Drive, Allerton, sentenced to 6 months suspended for 2 years.

Rachel Wainwright, of West Yorkshire Police's Prosecutions and Casualty Prevention Unit, said: "Yaqoob convinced his customers that they would be able to escape speeding offences by following his advice and sending him money.

"Instead, they have found themselves before the same court as him, where they have been dealt with for a serious offence.

"Speeding is a major factor in road traffic collisions in West Yorkshire, and it is only right that those who are caught speeding are dealt with in the proper way.

"Perverting the course of justice is a serious offence and I hope this outcome sends out a warning to anyone who thinks they can evade detection for offences committed on our roads."

This result should serve as a good reminder of the perils of trying to hoodwink the police or the court.

Further information about speeding offences in my earlier article.