Dad spent £14K on new car and ‘hasn’t been able to drive it’ after being ‘robbed of independence’! B
Anthony Sinnot, from Allerton, has been driving for 44 years, but after declaring he had type 2 diabetes to the DVLA was told he would have to renew his licence every 10 years
A dad has accused the DVLA of “robbing him” of his independence as he was declined to renew his driving licence.
Anthony Sinnot, 61, has 44 years’ experience behind the wheel and nearly 20 years as a social services driver but is currently unable to drive the new £14,000 car he bought in May.
The dad of two was told he had type 2 diabetes in 2013 and reported it to the DVLA, knowing he would have to update his licence every decade as legally required. His latest application was dispatched last December, but he argues that the DVLA keeps “moving” the goalposts he needs for him to be issued with a new licence.
Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)
Mr Sinnot, told the ECHO: “They’ve robbed me of my independence. I bought a car in May and haven’t been able to drive it since. It’s a brand-new MG3. It was £14,000 from Arnold Clark.
“I haven’t driven it once because of all of this. My driving is for my independence really. I go to the shop. I take my little Shih Tzu, Molly, to the park and I go see my friends. I don’t do any more than 20 miles a week, but it saves me getting on public transport because I’m disabled.
“I like cars, I focus on them as it helps my mental health. The car takes me out and about and by the time I wait for a bus it takes me hours, for a usual 20-minute journey.”
Managing his condition, Mr Sinnot wears special shoes to counteract peripheral neuropathy while driving, and has had his vehicles modified for his use, including his recent expenditure on the unutilised MG. The retired care assistant added: “My feet have been like this for 10 years and I’ve never had any problems.
“I’ve never had a crash because of them. My heart, my eyes and my diabetes – everything is fine. They just keep picking faults even though I have been given the all-clear by the doctor and everything has been finalised. My doctor sent a letter to say I’m fit and able to drive.”
A spokesman for the DVLA said: “When considering an application to issue a driving licence, DVLA aim to make a decision as quickly as possible. However, when we require additional information from a medical professional or from the driver themselves, we are wholly reliant on receiving this information before a decision can be made.”
