Warning over penalty points

Scott Woodburn, 32, of Hill Crest Road, Rotherham, was jailed for five months at Sheffield Crown Court.

He had paid someone to take his speeding points after advertising on Facebook.

Enquiries carried out by the South Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership Enquiry Team revealed the man was paid £250 to take the points and both men were arrested.

Woodburn refused to co-operate with the investigation and only after the strength of evidence against him did he finally plead guilty. Police used forensics to prove that it was Woodburn driving.

On top of the five month prison sentence, he was also disqualified from driving.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership said: “Hopefully this case will send a warning to anyone who would consider anything so irresponsible.”

“It is a crime to admit an offence on behalf of someone else, if someone approaches you to admit an offence on their behalf you should inform the police.

He said that Woodburn had showed no regard for anyone else through is actions.

“He was prepared to drive at excessive speed, once caught rather than changing the manner of his driving he selfishly paid to have someone else to take the blame so that he could continue behaving as before,” he said.

“South Yorkshire Safer Roads Partnership aim to improve road safety on South Yorkshire’s roads by tracing and prosecuting serial offenders who provide false information in an attempt to avoid prosecution. These offenders are a danger to themselves and other road users.”