Free Traffic Legal Advice

hi,
I hoping for some advice if possible.
Back in April, I was gifted a car by my friend - the car was broken and wouldn't turn over so it was sat on his driveway. I'm a flight attendant so I am way a lot so I didn't actually get round to arranging it be sorted by a garage mid - May. I did however register as the keeper of the car + get it insured on 19/4. I did go to tax it but my friend is disabled therefore the car itself was registered as this so I needed to call the DLVA to get this changed. I spoke to my friend and he said that because its off road not being used its fine to wait to see if it can actually be fixed first. The car was picked up by a tow truck (I have proof). Then in the garage for two weeks (I have proof). The head gasket had gone, then when that was fixed it was found the gear box was done too. It was then scrapped because it was unfixable (I have proof). Everything was done properly via the scrap yard etc.

I have received a letter from the DVLA to say that from 19/4 to 25/5 I was the keeper of the unlicensed car and I need to plead guilty or not guilty to the above offence etc etc. It does state that they sent me a letter on 25/5 but I have no recollection of this or I would have definitely completed anything as I'm not irresponsible and super organised.

Does anybody have any experience with this, and with all the evidence I have to support my claim, will this be enough? Thanks in advance for your kind help.

Ok, thank you for getting back to me. Do you think it would be best to plead guilty then but do so in court so I can maybe counter plea to pay the fine but not the conviction for a criminal record?

I have received a letter from the DVLA to say that from 19/4 to 25/5 I was the keeper of the unlicensed car and I need to plead guilty or not guilty to the above offence etc etc. It does state that they sent me a letter on 25/5 but I have no recollection of this or I would have definitely completed anything as I'm not irresponsible and super organised.

Does anybody have any experience with this, and with all the evidence I have to support my claim, will this be enough? Thanks in advance for your kind help.

Are you sure that's what the letter says?

DVLA normally offer an out-of-court settlement (presumably the 25/5 letter). A communication asking you to plead would normally come from a court, not the DVLA.

Whatever, I can see no reason for a court to reduce any fine, and in any case that would still leave you with a criminal conviction. However, it is not a recordable offence, so you would not have a criminal record.