STEVE9982
New Member
I was stopped by the police on 20/08/2015 for driving without insurance. I was shocked at the time because I knew that I had taken out insurance. The car was taken and impounded, on returning home and checking my policy details I found that I had 1 digit incorrect on the registration mark. I spoke to my insurer immediately who informed me that they still would have covered me in the event of an accident (as the other details of the vehicle were correct) and even though it was my fault as I had purchased the insurance online and keyed in the wrong digit. I have a letter to prove this from my insurer. They emailed me an amended certificate which I took to the Police station along with the old certificate and explained what had happened, that it was a totally honest mistake. They released the car back to me and I thought the matter had been resolved. Then on the 02/10/2015 I received a Postal Requisition which stated I would have to attend court for the charges of driving without insurance on 22/10/2015 or plead guilty by post. I am obviously worried about this, I have never broken the law in my life, and would never knowingly do so. This was a totally honest mistake, but the police have refused to back down and have told me that I drove without insurance which is illegal, simple. I am a carer for my partner full time, on an income of £60 a week. I am also on medication for high blood pressure, anxiety and depression and recently suffered the loss of a close family member which has hit me hard. This matter has caused me to lose a lot of sleep and rest, and so much stress on top of what I am dealing with at the moment. What I really need some advice with, is what I should plead and whether or not I should attend court and the likely outcome of this case. I do not have a letter of indemnity as it was my fault, I should have checked the paperwork closer when it arrived and I admit that. However, I have never committed any type of offence before, driving or otherwise and have been driving 10 years with not so much as a point on my license. It was a genuine mistake, and given the circumstances surrounding it and my personal life at the moment, I'm sure stress has played a part. If I put all of this information in a letter of mitigation would that be my best bet?