A speeding A66 motorist who tried to deny his guilt by claiming his number plate had been cloned was spared jail by a judge who observed that he was “fortunate” to retain his liberty.
Paul James McKenna, now 33, was returning from a music festival in Derbyshire with his partner when his Ford Fiesta was clocked at 53mph in a 40mph zone of the A66 at Kirkby Thore, between Penrith and Appleby, in June 2019.
That led to McKenna being brought before a judge after he was charged with attempting to pervert the course of public justice.
“When police tried to trace the driver,” prosecutor Alaric Walmsley told Carlisle Crown Court today, “the defendant denied it was his vehicle and suggested that his number plate must have been cloned.”
However, enquiries revealed that McKenna’s mobile phone was in the same area as the speed camera when it was triggered.
He denied attempting to pervert the course of justice but was convicted by jurors following a retrial, after an earlier crown court jury had been unable to reach a verdict.
He had committed no other offences either before or since.
McKenna, of Queen Street, Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow, worked in the digital communications department of a local authority, the court was told.
But if sent to prison, he would lose his job and both he and his partner would lose the home they shared.
Lawyer Jeff Smith, defending, said during his address to Judge Nicholas Barker: “He hopes and prays you will suspend the (custodial) sentence today.”
As he passed sentence, Judge Barker said he had also taken into account the fact that there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation, and a period of almost three years since the offence had been committed.
McKenna was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years. He must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay both a £1,200 fine and a £1,200 cost contribution.
As McKenna left the court dock, Judge Barker told him: “You are fortunate not to be going into prison today.”
McKenna was banned from driving for 12 months.
