A FORMER Britain's Got Talent contestant who conned learner drivers out of more than £4,600 by falsely claiming to be a qualified driving instructor has narrowly avoided going to jail.

A judge sentenced Michael Machell to six months imprisonment but suspended it for 18 months and ordered him to pay back all the money to his 19 unwitting victims.

Machell, 66, of Woodstock Road, Liscard, was also ordered to carry out 15 days rehabilitation activities.

He had pleaded guilty to 19 offences of fraud by false representation after placing an advert on Facebook offering driving lessons at low rates – when in fact he had not completed all his qualifications.

Andrew Sinker, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court that Machell had passed two exams needed to become an instructor, but started his own driving school without taking the third and final test.

He advertised himself as a fully-qualified driving instructor with a 100% pass rate.

But he was not fully-qualified and he did not have a 100% pass rate.

At an earlier hearing the prosecution said that he police found at least 40 learner drivers who had paid money to Machell, some of whom took the test and failed.

They had given him money in good faith for driving lessons and believed he was fully qualified.

The amounts he earned as Machell's Driving School from each client from January 2015 to March 2016 ranged from £44 to £660 and totalled £4,612.

Police and the DVLA had begun investigating and on March 10 he was seen by police out giving a driving lesson and was subsequently arrested, said Mr Sinker.

John Weate, defending, said that Machell, previously described as "not the brightest", had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and recognised his wrong doing.

He has no relevant previous convictions and when he has sold his home, which is on the market, he will pay back all the money to the 19 victims, he said.

Sentencing him Judge Anil Murray said that they were serious offences with a number of victims which affected public confidence.

Machell was thrust into the spotlight in 2008 when, aged 57, he reached the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent by playing the Star Wars tune on an organ.

Simon Cowell described his performance as perhaps the "most atrocious he had ever seen" but fellow panellists Piers Morgan and Amanda Holden, sent him through to the semi-finals.

He was later dumped out of the competition, which was eventually won by Warrington break dancer George Sampson.