A SOMALI man who took scores of theory tests for other drivers has been jailed for 15 months.

Ahmed Muse, aged 39, of Holburn Gardens, Kidbrooke, pleaded guilty to nine offences of obtaining property by deception and two of attempting to obtain property by deception.

He asked for 38 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Muse was described as a "professional impersonator" by the recorder, after he took tests for people across the south of England and the midlands.

Muse walks with a stick after being partially paralysed in a 1994 grenade explosion in Somalia.

Prosecutor Laura Blackband told St Albans Crown Court Muse said he was paid between £80 and £100 for taking the tests, which cost £25 to sit.

However, his co-defendants have said it was between £300 and £350.

Muse once failed a test and made the man he was impersonating pay him to take the test again.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) launched an undercover operation after Muse was seen at many test centres.

He was eventually arrested in Watford after sitting a test the day before in Guildford, Surrey.

The DSA suspect the number of tests he sat could be in the region of 50.

Mitigating, Thandi Lubimbi said he was not motivated by greed.

She said he only received a total of £4,900.

The recorder Mr Gordon Catford told Muse: "What you have done is engage in conduct which amounts to being a professional impersonator.

"There is a possibility it could have resulted in damage, injury and sometimes death."

Four other Somali men appeared alongside Muse on March 9 after pleading guilty.

Salm Adhal, aged 30, from north London was sentenced for one offence of obtaining property by deception and one of attempting to obtain property by deception.

Ahmed Omar, aged 32, from north London, Omar Ismail Adnan, aged 46, from Birmingham, and Ali Tohow Dahir, aged 40, from High Road, Tottenham, were sentenced for one charge of obtaining property by deception.

They all received 100 hours' community service.