This is a very old story. DSA is now DVSA.
This story came in on the newsfeeds. It reports that ex-driving examiner (he’s an “ex” because of the case), Richard Cwierzona, took bribes from candidates in exchange for test passes.
He also attempted to obtain “dates” from female pupils in exchange for test passes. One woman claimed that he offered to pass her in return for oral sex.
Police believe that there could be “hundreds of illegal drivers” on the roads as a result of his actions. However, only 57 people with suspicious results could be traced. The DSA revoked 39 of those and apparently sacked him when his actions were discovered.
Cwierzona apparently made at least £4,500 in bribes between September 2009 and September 2010, at which point he was sacked. But it seems that this had been going on since 2002. He was suspended in 2007 for offering to take a bribe, but as it was his word against the candidate and her driving instructor he was reinstated in 2009 (you can imagine union involvement in there somewhere judging from the time span).
Cwierzona was jailed for two and a half years.
Andy Rice of the DSA said:
Fortunately these cases are very few and far between but I am pleased with the sentence as it acts as a deterrant (sic) to anybody else thinking of acting this way in the future.
The DSA is as disgusted as anyone else – but I notice that there are some people – instructors included – out there already trying to twist it otherwise with their racist twist on the subject.
You’d be surprised how many people find this site as a result of Google queries on how to bribe examiners. It should be pointed out, however, that several of Cwierzona’s victims – it was always Cwierzona who initiated the offer – refused.