Stefanov, Stefan

Stefan Stefanov was convicted in April 2022 of driving without a licence at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court in April 2022. He received a disqualification from driving until the appropriate test was passed, a fine of £200, and an offender levy of £15.

Mr Stefanov was pulled over by police in January 2022. He identified himself and gave them his Bulgarian driving licence which was issued in September 2020.

Mr Stefanov was prosecuted for driving without a licence on the basis that his Bulgarian driving licence only entitled him to drive in Northern Ireland for a year after he became a resident.

Mr Stefanov applied to the CCRC in April 2023. His submissions included that he held a valid Bulgarian driving licence at the time of the offence and was incorrectly advised that this only entitled him to drive in Northern Ireland for 12 months after becoming a resident.

He also submitted that after his conviction he was told by the Driver & Vehicle Agency that his Bulgarian driving licence authorised him to drive in Northern Ireland until the licence expired.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that as a matter of law, an individual with a valid EU driving licence was authorised to drive in Northern Ireland. The entitlement to drive did not cease after 12 months.

Consequently, there was a real possibility the County Court would find that had the correct legal position been appreciated, Mr Stefanov would not have been prosecuted.

The CCRC referred the conviction in June 2024.

The County Court quashed the conviction in September 2024.