Love cheat lied about driver to avoid speed fine
MAN SAID MOTHER-IN-LAW WAS BEHIND WHEEL NEAR EX-MISTRESS’ HOME
A LOVE cheat who blamed his mother-in-law for a speeding offence was rumbled by his wife’s colleagues at Greater Manchester Police’s ticket office.
Raymond Haslam, 48, was driving his wife’s car near his ex-mistress’ home on Liverpool Road in Salford when it was clocked doing 38mph in a 30mph zone in August 2014.
Worried his wife Amanda Haslam would think the affair was still going on, he tried to cover his tracks by blaming his mother-in-law.
A Notice of Intended Prosection (NIP) was sent, requiring Mrs Haslam as the vehicle’s registered keeper to declare who was driving the car at the time of the offence.
Mr Haslam filled it in, stating Margaret Shaw had been behind the wheel. Ms Shaw was living in Tenerife at the time.
Manchester Crown Court heard Mrs Haslam had worked at GMP’s central ticket office in Newton Heath for a ‘long period of time.’ Her colleagues became suspicious when the NIP was returned with Ms Shaw’s name as they knew she lived abroad.
After another NIP was handed to Mrs Haslam, she returned it, stating her husband had been driving her Ford Focus at the time of the offence.
He went on a speed awareness course before being charged with perverting the course of justice, which he admitted in court.
Mrs Haslam and daughter Victoria were acquitted of perverting the course of justice in relation to the offence earlier this month.
Prosecuting, Chris Richards told the court: “In interview he [Mr Haslam] said he knew he had been flashed and waited for the ticket to arrive. He got the ticket and sent it off in his mother-in-law’s name. He did so to try and stop himself getting into trouble with his wife.”
Mr and Mrs Haslam separated in November last year. Mitigating, Robert Smith said Mr Haslam, formerly of Marks Street, Radcliffe, Bury, was a ‘hardworking man who takes family commitments seriously.’
Judge Michael Leeming told Mr Haslam, who has now moved to Essex: “You explained that in the past you had an affair that had ended. But you had been driving in the area where the woman had lived, so you were concerned that if your wife found out she would believe the affair was still ongoing. “So you intercepted.” Mr Haslam was handed a three month sentence, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work and pay £535 in costs.