Graham Woodham, who passed his test 40 years ago, has been told he will be breaking the law if he gets behind the wheel because a parish official accidentally cancelled his licence ten years ago.And to make matters worse, he has learned he has been driving illegally ever since, so his insurance would have been invalid had he claimed.Even though the Constable, Simon Crowcroft, has accepted that the clerical error was made by an official, he says the law does not allow him to issue a new licence.Mr Woodham has been told that there is no option but for him to take his test all over again – and to stay off the road until he does.The 63-year-old self-employed bricklayer is having to rely on friends to take him and his tools to jobs around the Island each day and he is no longer able to take his wife to work.’The law is a total ass,’ he said.
‘It’s unreal, it’s not justice and it isn’t fair.
It should not be allowed.
It’s just scandalous – this is my livelihood.’The problem dates back to 1994, when Mr Woodham renewed his licence and asked for his HGV qualification to be removed, because he no longer wanted to have to go through the annual medical examination.But rather than simply removing the HGV category, the official wiped the whole licence, leaving Mr Woodham eligible only to ride a motorcycle.Mr Woodham didn’t notice the fault and no one spotted it five years later when he renewed his licence a second time.’I feel that I am being victimised,’ said Mr Woodham.
‘They are saying they cannot do anything about it because it’s the law, but it’s their mistake and I’m the one suffering for it.
I have been driving since 1964.
I haven’t been able to drive for three weeks now because I am not insured and I will be breaking the law if I do.’Mr Woodham was even able to produce a copy of an out-of-date UK licence showing that he was qualified to drive several types of vehicle, but it made no difference.He added that the parish had offered to pay for a new test and for any lessons, and that he had spoken to Driver and Vehicle Standards to fast-track the process.
