Woman admits taking speeding points for her ex

SHE CONFESSED AFTER THE PAIR SPLIT UP - BOTH PROSECUTED FOR PERVERTING COURSE OF JUSTICE

CARE worker dishonestly accepted six penalty points on her driving licence to avoid her then boyfriend being banned from the road, a court heard.

Emma Wallace, 43, confessed her wrongdoing to the police after her relationship with 36-year-old John Brackenridge broke down.

They both pleaded guilty to two counts of perverting the course of justice in relation to wrong information given on notices of intended prosecution for speeding.

Wallace falsely declared herself to have been driving at the time of both offences, on March 17 and 18 last year.

Michael Cranmer-Brown, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court Brackenridge already had six points on his licence and faced being banned under the totting up procedure – which would have put his new job in jeopardy.

Wallace, of Ostlers Drive, Barleythorpe, made the confession when the police visited her because Brackenridge was allegedly harassing her, following their break-up.

She owned up to taking the penalty points for his speeding offences, when he twice exceeded 50mph limits in Lincolnshire, doing 58mph and 65mph, on consecutive days.

In a police interview, Wallace said she willingly accepted the six points on her licence and Brackenridge had paid both £100 fines – but expressed regret over her actions.

Brackenridge, of Dalby Road, Melton, gave a no comment interview, but his barrister said text messages at the time showed it was Wallace’s idea to take his points when he told her he might lose his job.

Grahame James, mitigating for Brackenridge said: “The offer was made by her and wasn’t forced on her by him.

“He foolishly accepted the offer. He doesn’t seek to blame his co-defendant, it was an act of kindness on her part when his job would have been at risk.

“This (the fraudulent paperwork) was during the period when the lockdown was beginning to bite.

“He’s currently signed off work due to depression.

“He was employed as a pest exterminator and needed to drive in order to do that.

“References speak of him in glowA ing terms. He has children he helps to provide care for and supports a former partner.”

The court heard Brackenridge is now in a new relationship. Sarah Cornish, mitigating for Wallace, a mother of four, said she was a full-time care worker for the elderly and was “very well thought of”. Sentencing, Judge Keith Raynor said: “Both of you colluded together and made a decision to pervert the course of justice.

“It didn’t come to the notice of the authorities and would not have done at all, but for Emma Wallace’s confession.” Brackenridge was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 120 hours of unpaid work. Wallace was given a three-month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 80 hours of unpaid work. Each defendant was ordered to pay £250 costs.

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Both of you colluded together and made a decision to pervert the course of justice

Judge Keith Raynor