A PROFESSIONAL man who negotiates contracts worth millions and is also studying for a masters degree was before a court for fraudulent use of an excise licence.

Peter Jonathan Brymer, 37, of Rockliffe Farm, Pennine Road, Britannia, Bacup -- who is also studying for a masters degree -- was before the bench at Rochdale admitting the fraud offence.

After hearing the story of a man who turned from offending to climbing the ladder of career success, the magistrates decided to fine Brymer £200 and ordered him to pay £69 court costs.

Brymer was the subject of a routine check in Albert Royds Street, Rochdale, last month when it was noted the excise licence on his Citroen Xantia in fact belonged to a Mitsubishi Shogun which had been stolen in Oldham on another day.

Brymer told officers he had bought the car without an excise licence and had lent it to another person while he was away. When he returned he found a tax disc had been inserted and he assumed this had been done by his friend. He did not bother looking too closely.

Craig Parkinson, defending, said it was possible until recently for someone else to get the car taxed and the writing on the fraudulent licence was so illegible even the police officers took some time to decipher it.

He added that some time ago Brymer had a record when he "went off the rails" following his father being diagnosed with cancer.

Since that time Brymer had turned his life around spectacularly. He had studied and become a "professional" in the construction industry. He was promoted several times with the company which employed him, had won awards associated with his work, and was responsible for contracts around the country running into millions of pounds. He was studying for a masters degree to further his career to new heights.