Saturday 30 September 2017

“My dear boy, why don't you just try acting?”

An actor who appeared in acclaimed prison film Starred Up crashed his Mercedes into a wall while chasing two men who had stabbed him, a court heard.
Former inmate Basil Abdul-Latif, 31, pursued the men after being slashed across the arm during a confrontation with them in Tooting. He was flouting a driving ban, Kingston crown court heard, following a 2010 conviction for aggravated vehicle taking.
So, not really an 'actor', then?
Abdul-Latif met the screenwriter, Jonathan Asser, as a prisoner at HMP Wandsworth. He has said that being cast in the film helped to turn his life around.
Clearly, that went well!
The court heard Abdul-Latif was first banned from driving in 2010 and ordered to take an extended test when he flouted the ban 18 months later.
He passed an ordinary test in 2015 and even landed a job with the Highways Agency.
He said he did not realise he was still banned from driving.
And nor, it seems, did the Highways Agency. You'd think they'd check, wouldn't you?

2 comments:

Pcar said...

"He passed an ordinary test in 2015 and even landed a job with the Highways Agency. He said he did not realise he was still banned from driving."

And nor, it seems, did the Highways Agency. You'd think they'd check, wouldn't you?"


Expect: Yes. Surprised they (public sector) didn't: No

All those diversity, equality & rehabilitation boxes ticked was more important than suitable & qualified.

Rather like health sector: I have never seen an MSM article about Walter Mitty Nurses/Doctors/Surgeons in Private Sector Hospitals.

JuliaM said...

"All those diversity, equality & rehabilitation boxes ticked was more important than suitable & qualified."

Sadly, I suspect you're right.