A COUPLE who lied to police following an A66 “road rage” incident have been sentenced.
Carlisle Crown Court heard today (MON) how Hannah Thomson, 27, allowed then-boyfriend Robert Blore, 43, to drive her Vauxhall Astra after becoming “very distressed and physically unwell” following a prison visit to see her brother – Carlisle killer George Thomson.
On the Temple Sowerby dual carriageway bypass, between Penrith and Appleby at around 6pm on May 26 last year, provisional licence holder and uninsured Blore undertook another male motorist, and then struck his Toyota as he tried to overtake. Dashcam footage from the Toyota captured the “road rage” incident, and the two men encountering each other in a layby before Blore drove off.
Hannah Thomson initially reported the collision to police. During interviews, the now-married couple, of Dale End Road, Carlisle, falsely stated she was driving, that the other motorist had a 12in knife and was travelling dangerously. Hannah Thomson later conceded she was wrong about the knife, admitted that Blore was behind the wheel and confessed she hadn’t wanted to get into trouble for letting him drive her company car. The other motorist was arrested before the truth emerged.
Both admitted doing an act tending and intended to pervert the course of justice, while previously convicted Blore – now known as Robert Thomson – also admitted dangerous driving.
He was jailed for 18 months, must serve an 18-month driving ban when released and sit an extended re-test.
Hannah Thomson’s eight-month jail term was suspended for a year, and she must complete 200 hours’ unpaid work. Judge James Adkin told Hannah Thomson, a woman of previous good character: “I’m absolutely sure you were influenced by Robert Thomson, acting the way that you did, generally speaking a respectable woman who told lies to the police.”
