A Fartown man has been jailed for three months after blaming his mum for a speeding offence.
Leeds Crown Court heard today in the early hours of February 12 last year a speed camera on the M1 near Rotherham recorded a car doing 82mph in an area that was restricted to 50mph because of roadworks.
The Motability vehicle was registered to the uncle of Sarmad Khawaja who was a named driver for it. A notice was sent to the uncle’s address to determine who was driving at the time but it was intercepted by Khawaja who filled in the form saying it was his mother.
Christopher Jackson prosecuting said in due course Khawaja also intercepted the notice sent to his mother when proceedings were begun but when the case was adjourned for trial he confessed she was not responsible.
He admitted completing the form but refused to name who had been the driver that night.
Khaleeq Zaman representing Khawaja said another family member had been driving at the time and had approached him to take the penalty points.
He did not want to do so and “stupidly” used his mother’s name instead when she was innocent. “He did not realise the seriousness of what he was doing.”
He said Khawaja felt genuine shame and remorse and had owned up when he realised the situation. A father of four he had recently broken his ankle and an immediate jail sentence would be difficult for him and his children.
Khawaja, 29 of Alder Street, Fartown, admitted two charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Jailing him for three months Judge Guy Kearl QC said he had blamed his mother in order to avoid the real driver being traced and still refused to say who that was.
He said whether that was Khawaja himself or not “there is a persistence about your offending.”
There had to be an immediate jail sentence because “it has been said many times offences such as this undermine the fabric of the administration of justice.”
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