A LEARNER driver was caught cheating during his theory test in Taunton.

Abdallah Al-Okla, 24, inserted a small blue tooth earpiece into headphones he was using and connected it to his mobile phone, which he had hidden in his sock.

He had paid another person to tell him the answers to the questions.

The test was stopped when an observer became suspicious and Al-Okla was subsequently charged with fraudulent contact during a driving test.

Al-Okla, of Avon Close, Weston-super-Mare, pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared a Taunton Crown Court today (Friday).

Derek Parry, prosecuting, had previously failed the theory test six times before deciding to take the phone into the exam room - even though it is on a list of banned items.

Mr Parry said: "In the course of the defendant's test, the observer became suspicious.

"He (Al-Okla) was spoken to...and initially said he only had his phone in his sock because he was worried he would lose it."

In mitigation, the court was told that Al-Okla, had struggled to work due to having a metal rod inserted into his knee due to injuries he sustained while being tortured in Syria.

He is now working in security in Bristol, earning £82.10 a week and also receiving Universal Credit.

After the court heard he had no known previous convictions, Al-Okla said through an interpreter: "I apologise for my mistake."

Sentencing, Judge David Ticehurst said: "This is a potentially very serious offence.

"For someone to drive on the roads without knowing all of the theory, without knowing what the road signs mean, could create considerable danger to other road users."

Al-Okla was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

He must pay £500 immediately and then £10 a week for the next 60 weeks.