A FRAUDSTER who used stolen cheques to buy vehicle tax discs has been jailed for two years.
Tom Owens, 44, was yesterday branded the leader of a gang that dishonestly purchased £132,000 worth of documentation.
Newcastle Crown Court heard how Owens was caught when police analysed stolen cheques and his fingerprints were found on 13 of them - relating to eight different books and totalling £29,392.
Owens was followed by police who caught him purchasing more tax discs from post offices.
Owens, of Malvern Street, South Shields, was jailed after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the DVLA.
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