Taxi driver jailed for getting wife and friend to take his speeding points in Northumbria

A lying taxi driver has been jailed after persuading his wife and friend to take his speeding points – in return for “a few pints”.

Keith Brown, 64, has been jailed for 18 weeks after admitting two counts of perverting the course of justice at Newcastle Crown Court.

The taxi driver had been caught speeding on two occasions on the 30mph stretch of Stamfordham Road in 2018, first on 19 May and then again on 18 October.

But when he received a ‘Notice of Intended Prosecution’ (NIP) in the post he failed to admit the offence, and instead turned to his associates for help.

He first persuaded his friend Philip Carver, 56, to say he was the person behind the wheel in return for a “few pints”.

Carver agreed and was handed three points and a £100 fine after returning the form back to Northumbria Police.

However, just five months later Brown was again caught speeding and this time persuaded his wife Linda to say she was behind the wheel.

But while monitoring the recent NIPs, police spotted the camera had in fact captured a man behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Insignia – and quickly grew suspicious.

Officers in Northumbria Police’s Camera Enforcement Unit carried out further enquiries into both incidents and found Brown was driving on both occasions.

At court the cabbie admitted two counts of perverting the course of justice, while his wife and friend both admitted one count of the same charge.

On Wednesday (15 July), Brown, of Hill Top House, West Denton, was back before Newcastle Crown Court where he was handed the 18-week custodial sentence.

His wife, 62, of the same address, and Carver, 56, of Link Walk, West Denton, were each given a 14-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Following the case, Inspector Paul Allen, of Northumbria Police’s Motor Patrols Department, said the case should act as a warning to anyone caught speeding.

He said: “I am very pleased that a judge has deemed it fit to hand down a custodial sentence and believe it sends a strong message about this type of offending.

“Keith Brown chose to lie in a bid to keep his licence so he could continue to operate as a taxi driver but his driving history suggests it’s the last job he should do.

“He clearly did not understand the gravity of his actions and now his career lies in tatters because of his own selfishness and stupidity.

“His wife and friend are no innocent parties in this case and they have been complicit in his offending by agreeing to lie on his behalf.

“This prosecution just goes to show that you won’t get away with lying on one of these forms and we will pursue you through the criminal courts.

“People like Keith Brown have put the lives of other road users at risk by continuously breaking the speed limit and his bid to evade justice has now landed him behind bars.”

As well as their suspended sentences, Linda Brown and Pail Carver were also ordered to abide by a two-month curfew from 8.30pm until 7am.

If you suspect anyone of providing false information to police about a speeding offence then officers are asking you to report it online at the ‘Tell Us Something’ pages of the Northumbria Police website.

Image credit: Northumbria Police