A 35-year-old man attempted to commit fraud by asking another motorist to take his driving theory test for him.

At Leicester Magistrates' Court yesterday, Sarbjit Singh pleaded guilty to arranging for another person to take the examination in the city.

Prosecutor Ian Johnson said the ruse was uncovered when Singh turned up at the centre, in Halford Street, months later to take the same test.

He said a man purporting to be Singh had turned up at the centre on June 16 to take the examination in English.

Mr Johnson said the examiner became suspicious and asked a colleague for a second opinion.

They asked the man for his date of birth and postcode and he answered correctly after hesitating.

He said the men were still unconvinced and asked the man to go home and return with his passport.

Mr Johnson said: "The man left the test centre and never returned. He has not been traced."

Singh, of Wyvern Avenue, Northfields, Leicester, turned up at the centre on October 25 to take his theory test in his native Punjabi.

Mr Johnson said: "The same examiner was present and believed the man who turned up on October 25 was not the same man who had turned up on June 16."

Police were informed and when Singh was arrested later that day, he admitted his crime.

Bally Paul, defending Singh, said her client was a man of previous good character who had made a mistake.

She said Singh, who has been in the country for 12 months on a two-year work permit, thought the theory test had to be taken in English.

Mrs Paul said his English was not good so he spoke to a family friend who arranged for someone else to take the test on his behalf.

When the man turned up at Singh's house asking for his passport to take the test, his older brother stepped in.

She said: "His older brother said 'What are you doing? You must not carry this on. This is fraudulent'."

Mrs Paul said Singh was full of remorse and had brought shame on himself and his family, after moving to England to make money to send back to his wife and two children in India.

Mr Johnson said the offence was a very serious one as it could lead to an unqualified driver putting lives at risk on the roads.

Chairman of the bench Graham Read adjourned sentencing to enable the Probation Service to produce a report.

He told Singh: "We are leaving all our sentencing options open.

"This means the court which sentences you may send you to prison or send you to crown court for a greater punishment."

Singh was released on unconditional bail.