A woman from Bradford, West Yorkshire, has received a suspended four-month prison sentence for perverting the course of justice in an attempt to evade a speeding ticket.
Sobia Iqbal, 39, was recorded travelling at 43mph in a 30mph zone on the A661 Wetherby Road in Harrogate on 8 May 2022. Rather than admit to the offence, Iqbal falsely named an innocent person as the driver of her vehicle. As a result, the victim faced prosecution, received penalty points on their license, and ultimately had their license revoked, impacting their employment.
Following suspicions of a fraudulent nomination, North Yorkshire Police launched an investigation. Footage from the safety camera van confirmed that Iqbal herself was driving the vehicle at the time of the offence.
Iqbal pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was sentenced on 25 October at York Crown Court to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months. She was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the victim and a £128 surcharge.
Commenting on the case, Police Constable Michael Ray said, “This case shows our commitment to taking action against those attempting to evade justice through deceit. The consequences for innocent victims are serious, as this case demonstrates.”