Motorist lied to police over car accident

A motorist falsely reported his car had been stolen after he crashed it into a parked vehicle, a court heard.

Andrew Newton was promptly arrested because his distinctive looks, including fair, wavy hair, perfectly matched the description of the culprit who was seen fleeing the scene.

Leicester Crown Court was told the collision happened at 2am in Beeches Road, Loughborough, on September 28.

The defendant's Volvo V70 crashed into a Seat Leon, which was shunted down the road and written off.

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Gregor Purcell, prosecuting, said: "The defendant's car also sustained considerable damage."

The Seat owner came out of his house and Newton (54) told him: "I must have fallen asleep."

Mr Purcell said: "Newton got a bag out of his boot and something from the footwell before staggering across the road and throwing something into bushes. Police later discovered they were syringes."

The next day he reported the Volvo missing and was arrested, but insisted he was not the driver who crashed.

The couple who owned the Seat picked him out in identification procedures.

Newton, a builder, of George Street, Loughborough, admitted careless driving and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He also had no insurance, as his policy was cancelled three weeks earlier due to non-payment.

Newton was given a 12 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with supervision.

He was banned from driving for two years.

The court heard at the time of his arrest that he was separated from his wife, with whom he has three children, and was living in a converted ambulance in Loughborough.

It resulted in him mixing with people using heroin, said defence counsel, Felicity Campbell.

She said: "He fell asleep and crashed. He panicked and the next day made the most foolish decision of his life by reporting his car stolen."

Recorder Richard Jones QC said: "Anyone who perverts the course of justice undermines the whole fabric of the legal system. It's truly sad a man of your age is appearing for the first time before a court."