Speeding motorist 'faked death'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/6419195.stm

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A woman who pretended to be dead to avoid a speeding conviction has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Glenda Askew, 47, of Clase in Swansea, pretended to be her daughter and wrote to the court saying her mother had died in a car crash.

She had previously admitted perverting the course of justice and was before Swansea Crown Court for sentencing.

The court heard Askew did not have a full driving licence and "panicked" when being caught by a speed camera.

In March 2006, she was clocked driving at 41mph in the 30mph restricted Clasemont Road in Morriston in the city.

She panicked and in act of desperation, she wrote the letter to the court Catherine Richards, defending

Askew, who only held a provisional licence, ignored the first letter from the police.

Prosecuting Bryn Hurford said: "When a court summons arrived she filled it in in the name of her daughter Tracey Roberts, stating that her mother would not be able to attend as she had died in a car crash."

Mr Hurford said suspicions were raised and police called at her house.

In mitigation, Catherine Richards said Askew had "been driving on and off for many years without incident."

"She panicked and essentially, in act of desperation, she wrote the letter to the court. She's a lady who for many years has been of good character."

Judge Michael Burr said usually an immediate custodial sentence was warranted but he said he saw "little purpose" in jailing her.

As well as the six month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, she was given a 12 month supervision order.