Lies About Sussex Motoring Offences Send Driver To Jail

Friday, 11 December 2020 17:04

By John Warburton @Warblefly

Carl Duncan: Imprisoned For Lying To Police (Photo: Sussex Police)

A disqualified driver, formerly resident in Pevensey, who blamed three separate motoring offences on another person has been sent to prison.

Sussex Police said Carl Duncan used the details of a woman known to him in a bid to avoid prosecution.

The victim subsequently collected nine penalty points on her otherwise clean licence, causing her to experience stress and anxiety.

But investigations revealed Duncan, 61, now of Colvin Gardens, Enfield, was the driver on each occasion.

He had then used his own bank card to pay the fines.

His driving offences included one in East Grinstead, on the A22 London Road, on August 23, 2017.

Here, he had travelled in his Jaguar XF at 36mph in a 30mph zone.

Additionally, he was caught speeding on the A22 Godstone Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey, on 5 May 2016 (40mph in a 30mph zone), and he activated a red light on the A215 Norwood Road, London, on 21 February 2017.

Duncan received a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) for all three incidents, but nominated the woman known to him.

He then intercepted her mail, completing paperwork admitting the offences on her behalf.

On each occasion, a retraining offer was sent to the nominated woman — but a £100 fine and three points were accepted instead.

It was only after the woman reported a separate incident to police that these allegations came to light, and investigators were able to prosecute Duncan.

He was subsequently interviewed and reported for summons.

Duncan, who previously lived in Pevensey, pleaded guilty to three counts of perverting the course of justice at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday 8 December.

He was sentenced to 255 days’ imprisonment and further disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Police said Duncan was convicted as part of Operation Pinocchio, which was launched by Sussex Police in 2016.

It has these aims:

To improve safety on Sussex’s roads by tracing and prosecuting offenders who provide false information in an attempt to avoid prosecution;
And to prevent law-abiding motorists, who have been badly advised, from committing serious criminal offences by attempting to avoid speeding or red light offences.