Learner driver Wendy Hall, 45, claimed she was behind the wheel of her son's VW Golf when it was filmed breaking the 30 mph speed limit in Manchester and had three points added to her licence.
She also held up her hand to twice speeding in her husband Keith's Vauxhall Astra, which added another six points to her licence. But speed cameras clearly showed there was a man behind the steering wheel on each occasion.
Police had become suspicious because Hall only had a provisional licence and had racked up nine points without passing her driving test. In all, she had been fined £180.
Mother-of-three Hall, her husband Keith Hall, 45, and their son Keith James Hall, 25, of Hendon Road, Blackley, were arrested, Manchester Crown Court was told.
When Wendy Hall was shown the speed-trap pictures she admitted it was a man at the wheel, not her. She insisted that when she returned the notice of intended prosecution forms she believed she was driver.
Her husband told police he followed his wife's suggestion that she was at the wheel. She narrowly avoided prison when she admitted three counts of making a false statement.
Judge Anthony Hammond told her: "This sort of behaviour drives a coach and horses through the criminal justice system. You could not really complain if I was to think in terms of a custodial sentence."
She was given a three-month suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work. Unemployed Mr Hall admitted one offence of making a false statement and was also given a three-month suspended sentence and ordered to carry out 150 hours unpaid work.
Crown lawyers decided there was insufficient evidence to charge Keith jnr. The true identity of the motorist at the wheel in the three speeding offences had never been established.
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THIS WOMAN SHOULD HAVE LOST HER LICENSE FOR 12 MONTHS FOR LYING,
Just typical of the complete lack of honour that is sweeping the country. They should both have had their licences removed.
ha ha. busted. everyone is at it though.
Can't believe they got away with it for 3 offences? Don't they check the drivers details, I mean you can tell the difference between a man behind the wheel and a woman!
get rid of all the speed cameras, then this kind of thing wont be a problem anymore
Judge Anthony Hammond told her: "This sort of behaviour drives a coach and horses through the criminal justice system. You could not really complain if I was to think in terms of a custodial sentence."
Yes she could complain! When courts refuse to hand out custodial offences to violent thugs, persistant thieves and persistant anti-social idiots. Take away all 3 licenses for 12 months, reissue only after a re test and fine heavily for abusing the priveledge of being allowed to drive. A prison sentence would be a an insult to the victims of anti-social behavior and violence.
Peter , Absolutely right in all you say!
With policing on the cheap (road side camera's rather than police) you will get this sort of thing.
If a copper had pulled them no problem - if a dad/son/uncle/neighbour had taken the wrap we would be no wiser.
Did they check whether the mum was INSURED to drive both cars? - You can be banned with 6 points now - do those that send the notice check to see or do they just want the £60 or the £80 for the re-education driving course?
Whatever happened to perverting the criminal justice system and give them three months hard labour.I thought that the law was going to get tough on speeders?
This case would only have gone to Crown Court if the defendant pleaded not guilty or the case merited a jail sentence of more than a magistrate was allowed to give. Magistrates can give out 6 month sentences so she must have pleaded not guilty when this case was put in front of them. Thus lying and costing the tax payer more expense of appearing at Crown Court and then pleading guilty.
She should have been jailed for wasting the courts time.
If you car share how wud u remember who was driving at the time anyway!!!
all the lot of u r bulbs
She should be waking up in Styal this morning and not planning on a merry Christmas in Blakely.
Macca - where do you get off? Good, decent people do not lie or commit perjury in court. They got off lightly whether friends of yours or not. The MEN comments section should not be a platform for your racist rantings either - I have a good number of Asian friends and not one of them has any driving offences to their name, how dare you assume that they would? It is people like you who make this a very sorry world to live in. Please crawl back into your hole and study the English language
Macca,
you might want to take a look at this story before suggesting that it has only made the press because they are white.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/190/190032_speeding_cabbies_fake_id_scam.html
macca_mufc21, manchester
With comments like yours no wonder they were caught? You stupid man.It dosnt matter what colour or creed you are you idiot.Bloody stupid outlook you have.
RE: macca_mufc21, manchester
You have to earn respect and clearly cheating the law isn't the way to do this. Is it not playing the race card by stating that its only cause they are white?! And your comment about "All asians" committing this kind of crime is racist in its self!!
Well Macca, with friends like you, it's no surprise she's a convicted liar.
macca_mufc21,
Is English even your first language? You somehow managed to misspell almost every single word and your punctuation use was atrocious.
It's people like you that make me welcome immigrants with open arms.
macca, it's no wonder your clan are being left behind in modern UK society if your grasp of your native language is anything to go by. A lot of Asian people, by contrast, are very wiling to learn and further themselves, that's why they get on, you scally - get out there and stop ducking and diving like these clowns you're defending!
Macca MUFC's post must be one of the most stupid ever to be written, well done Macca, please now return to your bed.
I guess the MEN thought that posting macca_mufc21's comments would show him/her to be the racist fool he/she is. I hope that's the case.
Otherwise, I'd rather not see that kind of posting getting past the Moderator, thanks!
Blunt,Im in full agreement with you about his posting being racist.Disgusting,I voice my opinion about immigration but this guys opinion disgusts even me.
macca how dare you make the comment that its all asians that commit these offences you stupid person,a lot of my friends are asian and some have been driving for many years and dont have any points on thier licence,haven't had any accidents while driving,so you know these people so what,they were caught breaking the law and got what they deserved,as for you.
Irrespective of the fact that they have all put their hands up to committing the offences - since when have speed cameras taken photos of the occupants of a vehicle? Surely that is an invasion of privacy and is illegal ? Take it to the Human Rights Courts and get the conviction quashed - speak to Nick who got Sir Taggart off, he will sort it! But seriously, if the Police are now using the cameras to photograph the occupants is the camera there just to catch the speeding vehicle/driver - what else is the "evidence" being used for, catching us chaps with our illicit young ladies and telling our "'er-indoors" - heaven forbid !