Speeding led to conspiracy charge
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A TRUCK DRIVER and a member of staff employed by Garforth, West Yorks-based Whitkirk Produce Co have received suspended prison sentences after admitting conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
Paul Moate and Tracey Solomons attempted to deceive Wiltshire Police into believing Solomons was the driver of a speeding truck when in fact Moate was behind the wheel.
Prosecuting, John Edwards said that the vehicle driven by Moate was caught by a speed camera in January. When Whitkirk Produce Co was contacted, a form was returned naming Solomons as the driver. Solomons paid a i60 fine and her driving licence was endorsed with three points. However, a check on the tachograph records revealed that Moate had been on a three-day journey at the time. Moate's driving licence had 12 penalty points and he had asked Solomons to -take the points for him".
She had done it out of pity, to prevent Moate being disqualified from driving and losing his job.
Sentencing Moate to four months' imprisonment and Solomons to two months' imprisonment, suspended for two years in each case. Judge Ibbotson at Leeds Crown Court said they had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to what was an extremely serious offence.
He felt that it was just possible to draw back from imposing immediate custodial sentences.
Moate is one of a number of drivers employed by Whitkirk Produce Co facing a series of drivers' hours and tachograph offences (CM 2 September).