Man lied about speeding on A23 at Bolney

Benjamin Ludlow, 43, who pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, at Lewes Crown Court on October 4, police said.

On May 28, last year, a black Audi A6 was recorded as travelling at 92mph on the A23 at Bolney – which is a 70mph limit.

A Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) was sent to the keeper – Ludlow’s wife, of Manor Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire – however she handed it to Ludlow as he was driving on the day in question, police said.

Ludlow, 43, an osteopath, of the same address, returned the NIP to the police and said a woman from London was driving the car as she had borrowed it. Attempts were made to contact the woman but were unsuccessful, police said.

Offence photographs were then examined by officers and clearly showed a man driving the Audi.

Further documents were sent to Ludlow’s wife again and these were again returned by Ludlow, who again nominated the same woman from London, police said.

Ludlow was then interviewed by police at the Central Ticketing Summons Unit at Shoreham Police Station, where he fully admitted to making a false nomination in order to avoid the excess speed offence, police said.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Ludlow added that he had passed the papers to an associate in London, who told him he could make the offence ‘disappear’.

“It transpired his wife – the keeper of the Audi – had no knowledge of this.”

The investigation was launched as part of Operation Pinocchio – an ongoing operation set up by Sussex Police in 2016 with the following aims; to improve safety on Sussex’s roads by tracing and prosecuting offenders who provide false information in an attempt to avoid prosecution; and to prevent law-abiding motorists, who have been badly advised, from committing serious criminal offences by attempting to avoid speeding or red light offences.

Police said Ludlow was also ordered to pay a £115 victim surcharge.