A DRINK-driver who falsely stated that another man was behind the wheel of a car which crashed into two other vehicles has received a suspended jail term.
Police were called to Church Street in Frizington during the early hours of December 13 last year.
They found an abandoned Ford Focus which had crashed into a Honda Civic and a Peugeot 206 – both of which were written off.
Officer enquiries led them to the home of the actual culprit, 30-year-old Iranian national Saeyd Qadir, who failed a breath test. But he initially falsely reported that another man – also present at the address – had been the driver.
Qadir persisted with this tall tale when interviewed by police until daring evidence was put to him – that his DNA was found on an airbag inside the crashed Focus.
Car valeting company worker Qadir, of Birks Road, Cleator Moor, went on to admit perverting the course of justice, drink-driving, obstructing a PC and failing to stop after an accident.
He was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court this afternoon (FRI). A probation officer who had interviewed Qadir told how he “very much regrets this incident”.
His barrister, Brendan Burke, said the offence had been committed at the suggestion of the other man. “In the work of a moment, a bad decision was made,” said Mr Burke. “It was a drunken agreement to a stupid suggestion.”
Judge James Adkin suspended a six-month prison sentence for 12 months. Qadir must complete a six-month night-time curfew, and a year-long driving ban.
