ALCOHOLIC Peter Wilton told police his van had been stolen after it was involved in a crash.

The 51-year-old made false reports in relation to the theft of a Ford Transit van.

Wilton, of Highfield Avenue, May Bank, was jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after admitting carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice.

He also pleaded guilty to driving without a licence, insurance and an MOT.

Prosecutor Philip Beardwell said the defendant bought the van on April 23 and at 2pm drove it to a scrap metal merchants in Keele Road, Newcastle.

He had a distinctive Mohican haircut and was wearing a T-shirt with a Union Jack.

At 4pm the van collided with a parked Astra in Sandy Lane, Newcastle. Wilton was not driving at that time.

But several witnesses saw one of the men getting out of the van fitting Wilton's description.

The court heard the defendant later attended Newcastle police station and reported the van as being stolen in Fenton.

He denied any knowledge of the collision, but pleaded guilty to the offences on the day of his trial last month.

Paul Cliff, mitigating, said Wilton reported the van as stolen to protect the person driving the van at the time of the collision.

He said the married father-of-five had no previous convictions of a similar nature.

"He has a long-standing problem with drink," said Mr Cliff. "He accepts he is an alcoholic. Drinking has been at the root of his offending for the last 20 years."

Mr Cliff asked Judge Simon Tonking to consider suspending any prison sentence.

But the judge said an immediate prison sentence had to be passed and jailed Wilton for eight months.

He also disqualified him from driving for two years.