A fraudster who impersonated learner drivers to take theory tests for them was jailed today.

Illegal immigrant Palwinder Johal - who police said was part of the country's biggest driving test fraud - sat theory tests at centres across the UK before selling on the certificates for £300 each.

Oxford Crown Court heard the 24-year-old was caught by police in Oxford in April while attempting to sit a Construction Industry Board test in Blackbird Leys.

Johal, of Warwick Crescent, Hayes, West London, admitted dishonestly trying to obtain property by deception and two counts of fraud.

He asked for a further charge of conspiracy and one of possessing a false UK driving licence to be taken into consideration.

Alex Durran, prosecuting, said Johal took tests 21 times in 20 different places across the south of England.

Jerome Silva, defending, said: "He was not a major player in this conspiracy. He was a small fish."

Jailing him for two years and recommending that he is deported to his native India, Judge Anthony King said: "You have pleaded guilty to significant and important frauds.

"It strikes at public safety because those who appear to have passed tests when they are not entitled to have done so are a potential danger."

Speaking after the case, Insp Jim Strachan said Johal had tried to take a driving test in Oxford in October 2006.