Speeding driver blamed man who hadn’t been to Wales in 50 years

A driver attempted to avoid a speeding offence by falsely nominating a person who when contacted said he "hadn't been to Wales in 50 years". The real driver gave false details to the authorities as he was afraid of losing his licence. Mohammed Ali, 22, of Newport [1], was caught speeding in a Vauxhall Corsa on the B4591 Newport Road, in Risca [2], on December 11, 2021.

As a result of him being registered on the speed camera a notice of intended prosecution was sent to him on December 15. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court [3] on Thursday heard Ali returned the notice two days later denying he was the driver and nominating a man named Donald Patrick Simmonds. Ali's phone number was also on the returned form.

The notice of intended prosecution was resent to Mr Simmonds' address in Essex and a reminder letter was sent. In January 2022 a completed and signed form was returned to the safety camera unit in which Mr Simmonds appeared to accept being the driver but he did not include the details of his licence. A further letter was sent to Mr Simmonds in January 2022 but in May he informed the authorities he was not the driver.

Prosecutor Ruth Smith said: "Mr Simmonds said he had not been to south Wales for over 50 years." He also said he had not been in possession of a licence for 10 years and on the date of the offence he was working from home. Mr Simmonds said he lived in a house of shared occupancy and his post could be accessed by other people. Investigations were carried out by police into the phone number, which was linked to Ali.

Cell site analysis revealed the phone had travelled to Risca and near the site of the speed camera in Newport Road. Further inquiries were carried out into Ali's licence and he was found to have three penalty points for speeding and six penalty points for driving without insurance. Ali, of Bedford Road, was interviewed and claimed he had loaned his car to his uncle, who had a restaurant, to be used by one of his drivers who had then returned the car afterwards.

He said his friend Mohammed Jalal, 25, had given the name Donald Simmonds to put on the form. The defendant was further challenged further about his mobile phone and he accepted he was the driver and knew he had been caught by the speed camera. He said he was afraid of being disqualified and sought help to avoid the conviction.

Ms Smith said Ali found Shuhayed Munim, 43, on Instagram, who was Jalal's brother-in-law. Munim offered to sort out the documentation and was paid GBP250 by Jalal on behalf of Ali. Munim, who has since absconded, was found to be a neighbour of Mr Simmonds and had access to his mail.

Ali and Jalal, of Rosslyn Road, Newport, both pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. The court heard both were of previous good character. Ed Mitchard, mitigating for Ali, argued his client's sentence could be suspended.

He said the defendant will lose his job as a result of losing his licence and had "brought great shame" upon his family who continue to be supportive of him. Ben Waters, for Jalal, said his client acted as a "middle man" between Ali and Munim. He said the defendant didn't appreciate the seriousness of the offence and had shown "naivete".

Sentencing, Recorder Simon Hughes said offences such as those committed by the defendants "struck at the heart of the justice system". Ali was sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 24 months and was ordered to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work, pay GBP270 in costs, and GBP250 in compensation. Jalal was sentenced to nine months imprisonment suspended for 24 months and ordered to carry out 250 hours unpaid work and pay GBP450 in costs and GBP250 in compensation.

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References

^ Newport (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Risca (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Cardiff Crown Court (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Paedophile sent explicit picture and said sex like 'kissing Harry Styles' (www.walesonline.co.uk)
^ Police officer lived in silence as husband physically attacked and strangled her (www.walesonline.co.uk)