A WOMAN who legally changed the registration plates on her Land Rover to avoid points on her licence for speeding has avoided jail.
Debra Picken also stuck animal paw print stickers in the window to trick police into thinking it was not her car, and she admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice
Officers had clocked the vehicle doing 45mph in a 30mph zone on Knutsford Road in Latchford at 8.50am on June, 9, 2021.
The 53-year-old received several letters and reminders from police in June and July asking for details of the driver at the time of the offence, which she ignored.
She eventually wrote back on July 14, claiming not only was she not the driver, but that it was not even her car.
In the meantime, she had applied to the DVLA to legally change the registration plates on her Land Rover, which was approved on June 13.
What is more, she said colleagues could confirm her car was parked at her workplace when police believed they had caught her speeding.
On September 10, 2021, she was interviewed on suspicion of giving false information and was later charged, but she continued to deny the allegations.
Picken was given six points and a fine for the speeding offence in June 2022, but still maintained she had done nothing to deceive the police.
She was set to stand trial in May this year, but on October 19 last year, she changed her plea to guilty.
Picken appeared at Chester Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday for a single count of perverting the course of justice.
Defending, Rosemary Proctor told the court her client knew she was facing a prison sentence, but hoped it could be suspended in view of her mental health, which she described as ‘fragile’, adding: “Miss Picken would be vulnerable in prison.”
Passing sentence, judge Steven Everett said whether or not Picken believed it was her car caught speeding at the outset, there came a point when she could no longer doubt it, yet she continued in her deception.
He said: “You did this for the most stupid reasons. I’m not even sure why.
"Nobody is suggesting your speeding offence was the most serious. Yet, for reasons I don’t fully understand, you decided you were going to try and avoid it.
“You may or may not have genuinely believed it was not your car caught in the speed trap, but there came a time when you undoubtedly realised that it was your car, and then carried out a number of actions like putting a paw sticker on the vehicle.
“I'm not sure if changing the registration was to try and put police off the scent. It was just so stupid.
"It is really important everyone understands, those who pervert our system of justice deserve punishment.
“If people lie in court, or bring false evidence, the system of justice is going to be affected.
“Without a decent system which works well, we are going to fall into anarchy.”
Judge Everett sentenced Picken, of Weaste Lane, to six months in prison suspended to 12 months.
She must also complete up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and pay a statuatory victim surcharge.
The judge added: “You deserve a chance today, but there is no second chance."
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