UK pensioner fatally struck by Nigerian national who had previously been unable to pass British driver's exams

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A Nigerian migrant who twice failed his UK driving test killed a pensioner in a horror crash after exploiting a learner licence loophole, an inquest has heard.

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Timothy Kusemi, 41, was driving unsupervised on a provisional licence when he hit 70-year-old Susan Whittles in 2023. She died at the scene and her husband was seriously injured.

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Kusemi admitted causing death by dangerous driving last month and was jailed for six years.

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The case exposed a legal loophole allowing some overseas drivers to remain on UK roads while holding foreign or provisional licences.

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Coroner Lorraine Harris said: “If a national of a non-designated country fails any number of driving tests within the 12-month period, they are still able to revert and rely on their 12-month limit to drive on their foreign/international licence in the UK, despite not meeting the safety standards.”

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She warned there was no system to stop repeat test failures from continuing to drive unsupervised and called for urgent law changes.

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Kusemi arrived in the UK in 2022 and failed his driving tests twice before the fatal crash, the inquest heard.

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He later went on to fail more tests before eventually getting a UK licence in 2025.

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