A COUPLE were found guilty of perverting the course of justice after lying about who was at the wheel of a speeding car in an attempt to avoid a driving ban. 

The husband and wife were handed suspended sentences, a hefty fine and community service following the hearing at Carlisle Crown Court.

Simon Tate, 33, was caught speeding at 89mph in his Audi TT at Junction 36 of the M6 at Farleton on June 19 by a camera safety van, the court heard.

When he returned his notice of intended prosecution he claimed his wife, Sophie, 30, was driving and that he had been in Newcastle - but a clear picture of the driver gave him away.

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Tate, from Newcastle, already had nine points on his licence after a speeding offence in 2012 and for failing to provide identification following a driving offence in 2013.

Judge Peter Hughes found them both guilty of perverting the course of justice at the trial and handed Simon Tate a five month suspended prison sentence. His wife received a three month suspended sentence.

Simon Tate was also ordered to complete 250 hours of community service and his wife got 200 hours. The pair were also fined £1,500.

Vicky Atkinson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Mr and Mrs Tate conspired together to pervert the course of justice and obstruct the police in order to avoid Mr Tate receiving a driving ban as he already had nine penalty points on his licence at the time he was caught speeding.

“The photo of the driver of the car was clear and the claims made that they were unable to tell who the driver was at the time of the speeding matter are not at all credible.

“The CPS and Police take offences of this nature extremely seriously and will continue to work closely together to bring before the courts those who attempt to evade the law.”

Judge Hughes said: "There is a widely held perception among people who otherwise are totally respectable and law abiding that it's not a serious matter to switch penalty points between husband and wife. 

"Any such perception needs to be corrected.

"Such conduct amounts to a perversion of the course of justice.

Judge Hughes decided not to ban Tate from driving because he "has been punished in other ways".