Sadiq Khan says he's been scammed after London mayor convicted of failing to tax car

London mayor Lord Sadiq Khan has said he is a "victim of a scam" after he was convicted of failing to tax a car "he does not own".

The DVLA has launched an investigation after the 55-year-old politician was fined in a controversial fast-track court system after being accused of not taxing a 24-year-old Nissan Micra.

He was found guilty by a magistrate last month of keeping an unlicensed vehicle, in a criminal prosecution brought by the DVLA.

In a further twist, court documents show that DVLA letters addressed to the mayor about the unpaid tax bill were sent to Gordon Ramsay's east London restaurant, instead of to Lord Khan.

City Hall officials said the car does not belong to either the mayor or Transport for London (TfL), raising the possibility he has been wrongly convicted.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London has now said he is the "victim of a scam" involving false vehicle registrations.

"This is a scam, which is a crime," the spokesperson said.

"It's not the first time the mayor has been victim of a scam involving people falsely stating that Sadiq is the owner of a vehicle.

"Such behaviour is illegal, and the DVLA are aware."

The DVLA confirmed it is reviewing the case and investigating the circumstances of the prosecution after the case was flagged to its officials by the Press Association.

It is understood efforts are being made to urgently reopen the case.

Lord Khan currently faces the possibility of having to appear in court in person to try to overturn the conviction.

A magistrate, sitting in a private hearing of the Single Justice Procedure in Herefordshire on 18 August, convicted Lord Khan in his absence after no plea had been entered to the charge.

He was ordered to pay a £220 fine, £85 in costs, and settle the £35.84 bill for unpaid tax on the Micra.

It also comes after threats of action amid some criticism of Lord Khan's decision to expand the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) to cover the whole of London.

Some motorists said they planned to register their car in the mayor's name - supposedly to make him liable for the £12.50 daily charge.

The Single Justice Procedure was controversially established in 2015 as a cheaper method of dealing with low-level criminal cases and is currently under government review.

It allows magistrates to sit alone and in private to hand out convictions rather than sitting in open court.

Court records show Lord Khan was prosecuted by the DVLA after the annual tax on the blue Nissan Micra, which was first registered in 2002, ran out in September last year.

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The DVLA accused him of being the keeper of the vehicle and said a letter asking for confirmation of the identity of the car owner went unanswered in January.

Court papers show the DVLA sent its letters to 9 Endeavour Square, a two-minute walk from the TfL base, in a building where Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen, Bar & Rooftop occupies the top floor.

The court has also sent a record of the conviction to the Gordon Ramsay restaurant, ordering Lord Khan to pay the £340.84 court bill within 28 days or face the prospect of increased fines, bailiffs, or even "a warrant for your arrest to bring you to court".

(c) Sky News 2026: Sadiq Khan says he's been scammed after London mayor convicted of failing to tax car