A man who was jailed after he was caught speeding eight times tried to blame a "non-existent person" who worked for his non-existent company.
Saif Butt, 25, from Leeds, said "a self-employed car cleaner" was the one caught speeding eight times over a period of eight months at locations across West Yorkshire in 2019.
But when policed checked the details provided by car dealer Butt, they couldn't trace this person, or the car-valeting company the accused said owned the Vauxhall Astra, Leeds Live reported.
He eventually told the truth and pleaded guilty to a charge of perverting the course of justice last month and was today jailed for 20 months.
Speaking after the sentencing, Rachel Wainwright of West Yorkshire Police’s Prosecutions and Casualty Prevention Unit said: “Butt thought he could get away with providing details of a non-existent person in order to evade justice and his responsibilities for the vehicle.
“The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and shows that we will not tolerate poor driving on our roads as well as attempts to avoid the consequences.
“I hope it serves as a deterrent to anyone who thinks they can evade justice.”
Butt invented a self-employed car valeter from Kurdistan called Raza Ali to take the rap when he persistently triggered speed cameras, the Telegraph and Argus reported.
Even after his guilty pleas were entered he told his probation officer it was all down to the non-existent Mr Ali, the publication stated.
He went on to admit 11 counts of perverting the course of justice by making false statements in notices of intended prosecution.
