A former West Ham United youth player who forged documents to make himself 20 years older to get cheap car insurance for his £30,000 Range Rover was today spared jail.
Nathan Mabi-Mavila, 22, told insurers at RSA Group he was old enough to be his own father to get a cheaper premium for his luxury Range Rover Evoque.
The talented young left-back and midfielder, who played for The Hammer’s youth team from 2012-2014, also claimed he lived outside London in Kent in a bid to save £2,000.
But Mavila was caught when he took his girlfriend for a spin and was asked to pull over and produce his documents at a police checkpoint in Grosvesnor Place, Belgravia, on August 7.
Nathan Mabi-Mavila, 22, (pictured) forged documents so he could pay less for his car insurance
He admitted one count of fraud by false representation and one count of using a motor vehicle without third party insurance at Westminster Magistrates’ court today.
Malachy Pakenham, prosecuting, said: ‘Both these matters go back to the first week of August.
‘The initial offence was discovered by police at a stop checkpoint in Grosvenor Place at 1.06pm.
‘The vehicle the defendant was driving was a black Range Rover, he was waved into a check area.
‘The vehicle contained the defendant and a front seat passenger, his girlfriend.
‘He was asked to provide documents. All appeared to be in order except for the insurance which showed a date of birth different from the driving licence.
‘In fact the insurance document would make him 20 years older than he was.’
Mavila admitted lying about his date of birth and address after police contacted the Motor Insurance Bureau and RSA Group.
The left back and midfielder (pictured in a West Ham training kit, left) admitted one count of fraud by false representation and one count of using a motor vehicle without third party insurance
Mr Pakenham added: ‘It won’t be beyond the comprehension of this court that young people’s premiums are substantially cheaper.
‘This was proffered for the sole purpose of getting cheaper insurance.’
Mavila signed for West Ham in 2012 but was released last year after struggling to establish himself with the Premier League outfit.
The south Londoner said he will never forget taking a private jet to sit on the bench for the club’s Europa League qualifier against Romanian side Astra in 2015.
He currently earns £75 a game playing for Wingate and Finchley FC in the Isthmian League’s Premier Division following brief spells at Wealdstone FC, Maidstone and Cambridge City.
Mavila, of Brixton, south London, was given a community order and told to carry out 40 hours of unpaid work.
Magistrates also ordered him to pay £170 in costs and charges.