Speeding driver banned after giving false details

A man who tried to avoid a speeding conviction by claiming somebody else was driving his car has been banned from the roads for six months.

Ansar Ali was caught speeding on the western bypass at Carlisle last April, but on receipt of the notice of intended prosecution claimed the vehicle was being driven by someone from London.

Checks by Cumbria Police found no record of the person.

At Carlisle Magistrates' Court, Ali, 52, from Small Heath, Birmingham, was convicted of failing to identify as the driver and fined £1,000.

The London address he had given was linked to 22 other speeding offences.

Officers say they believe the case was an example of so-called Notice of Impending Prosecution (NIP) Farms, which see fraudsters sell innocent people's details to drivers who want to avoid punishment for an offence.

Ali was also ordered to pay a £400 victim surcharge and £110 in costs.

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