False identity driver jailed

8:40am Saturday 15th November 2008

A motorist who caused his brother-in-law to be fined after using his name when he was stopped by police has been jailed for lying about his identity.

Simon Charles Williams, aged 33, maintained the deceit and even pleaded guilty to motoring offences in his relative’s name.

But when his brother-in-law was fined £275 he complained to police and Williams was arrested.

Williams, of Maes Egryn, Tegrynfos, Llanfyrnach, admitted carrying out an act tending to pervert the course of justice and was jailed for 14 weeks.

Kevin Riordan, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court how police spotted Williams’ red Renault in Aberystwyth Road, Cardigan, on January 8th.

A check revealed the vehicle’s MOT certificate was out of date and Williams was asked for his name and address and told to produce his driving documents for inspection.

Williams gave his brother-in-law’s details and later wrote to a magistrates court in his name, admitting offences of driving without a current MOT certificate and without insurance.

His brother-in-law was fined £275 and ordered to pay £60 court costs, and his driving licence was endorsed with six penalty points.

Mr Riordan said the brother-in-law was aware that Williams had a red Renault. One of the officers who first stopped Williams went to his address and immediately recognised him.

Williams, who had never held a full driving licence, told police he had run out of nappies for his child and “took a chance” by driving into Cardigan.

The court heard Williams had a previous conviction for supplying a company with false details.

Judge John Diehl told him: “What a fool. All this for taking a gamble and taking your car into Cardigan.”

In jailing Williams, Judge Diehl said people could not simply flout the law and should co-operate with the police and tell the truth.