Officers in Cumbria have prosecuted a number of drivers for perverting the course of justice following speeding and other traffic offences.

Cumbria Constabulary has a team dedicated to identifying and prosecuting those who try to avoid prosecution for speeding and other traffic offences. These offences place members of the public at risk on our roads.

Sergeant Callum Young said “We urge any drivers who are tempted to provide false details or information to think otherwise.

“many of these offences could have been dealt with by means of speed awareness course or points and a fine, but their actions have escalated into a much more serious crime.

“Perverting the course of justice is a serious criminal offence which attracts much harsher penalties than the initial road traffic offence.

“We will look to prosecute and bring those who do so to justice.

Some of the recent successes include

• A man from Lincoln was found guilty of perverting the course of justice at Carlisle Crown Court after he tried to convince police that he was merely the passenger of a vehicle travelling at 47mph in a 40mph zone.  He was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

• A woman from Newmilns, East Ayrshire has been found guilty of perverting the course of justice after she provided police with false statements and a doctored photo to try and evade prosecution for a driving at 46mph in a 40mph limit, after activating a static speed camera.  She was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment (suspended for 12 months), must undertake rehabilitation activity and must pay £622 in costs and fines.

• A man from Newcastle-upon-Tyne falsely nominated his wife as the driver of a car that was captured travelling at 37mph in a 30mph limit by a static speed camera near Carlisle.  He was found guilty of perverting the course of justice at Carlisle Crown Court in December.  He received 80 hours community service and £485 in fines.

• A man from Doncaster activated static speed cameras on two occasions over a three month period.  On both occasions he nominated someone else as the driver in an attempt to escape the penalties. Following an investigation, it was proved that he was in fact the driver and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

• A man from Cleveland nominated his partner’s mother as the driver of his car to escape a speeding penalty. It was proven he was the driver which resulted in him being found guilty of perverting the course of justice and he was given four months imprisonment suspended for 18 months, 200 hours unpaid work, a curfew and a victim surcharge of £115.

• A man from Lincoln was sentenced to six months imprisonment for perverting the course of justice. He claimed he was not driving the vehicle another man was when it activated a speed camera on the A66 Kirkby Thore, Cumbria however following an investigation it was found he was in the location at the time of the speeding offence.

Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said “Speeding is a choice and drivers need to understand the devastating effects and risks they put on people by choosing to ignore national speed limits.

“Laws are there for a reason, to protect all people and make offenders face the consequences of their actions. So to abuse this, give a false alibi and pervert the course of justice is, to put it simply, breaking the law and compounds the original crime, it will not be tolerated in Cumbria.

“Drivers who are tempted to provide false details to the police when caught for speeding offences, not only are wasting valuable policing and court time, but also make matters worse for themselves.