Driver who caused crash claimed car keys stolen in mugging
Michael Bond, 29, reported the keys to his Audi had been stolen when he was the victim of a street robbery in King’s Lynn. His claim came after the car was involved in a crash on Dereham Road in Scarning on April 23 last year. But his plot to try to avoid blame was revealed after his DNA was found on the steering wheel airbag, Norwich Magistrates’ Court[1] heard.
Holly Postle, prosecuting, said he had called the police 101 non-emergency line to report that he had been mugged and had suffered head injuries. Police were called to a crash involving an Audi owned by Michael Bond in Scarning (Image: Geograph/Habiloid) The father-of-two told call handlers his wallet and car keys had been amongst the items that had been stolen.
He later claimed he had not known about the crash until told by police and that he had travelled home after the supposed mugging by taxi. Police had launched investigations into the street robbery and seized the Audi as part of a probe into the road accident. Almost 60 hours of police time were taken up before DNA analysis had proved that he had been the driver at the time of the crash, said Ms Postle.
Bond, of Harvest Drive in Swaffham, pleaded guilty to obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duties and wasting police time. DNA on the deployed air bag proved Michael Bond was the driver at the time of the crash (Image: Newsquest) Matt Diss, mitigating, said he had been injured in another road accident two months before and had subsequently contracted meningitis that had caused memory loss.
“In the last 12 months the impact of this has been huge and speaks to his state of mind at the time,” he said.
Bond was “incredibly remorseful” and had made a “very bad error of judgement”, he added.
Magistrates ordered him to complete 20 rehabilitation days as part of a 12 month community order and mental health treatment requirement.
References
- ^ Norwich Magistrates’ Court (www.edp24.co.uk)
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