Driver jailed for giving a false name to police

MOTORIST John Matthews has been jailed after he gave police a false name after he was stopped for driving with no insurance.

Officers stopped a Honda Civic on Victoria Road, Fenton, after checking its details on the Police National Computer and finding it to be uninsured.

Prosecutor Heather Chamberlin told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court officers felt the driver was evasive.

Matthews gave the name of Jason Michael Reynolds and an address in Longton.

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But when police later went to the address they realised the person there was not the driver they stopped.

They then went to the vehicle keeper's registered address but that property was void. However, inquiries next door led them to Matthews.

The defendant, of Victoria Road, Fenton, accepted giving police the wrong details on September 30, saying he panicked.

He pleaded guilty to doing an act intending to pervert the course of public justice and using a vehicle without insurance.

The court heard Matthews has a previous conviction for attempting to pervert the course of public justice.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said Matthews knew the person he named and has apologised to him.

Judge Paul Glenn jailed Matthews for 12 weeks and banned him from driving for 12 months.

"You knew from personal circumstances the serious view courts take of offences like this," Judge Glenn said.

"Having been stopped you chose to give false details to try to get away with it.

"The person you named could have ended up in court.