Banned driver lied that his van had been stolen

A man who told police his van had been stolen to hide the fact he had been driving while disqualified has been handed a suspended prison sentence.

Adam Jones, 53, was seen driving a silver van in the Mount Murray area at about 16:20 BST on 29 July. The police officer then followed him.

The officer then pulled up next to the van, which was empty, and Jones was spotted running along the side of the nearby Comis Hotel. Jones then called police to claim his van had been stolen.

Passing sentence at Douglas Courthouse, Deemster Graeme Cook said it was a "silly thing to do - it was clearly going to be found to be untrue" and handed Jones a 10-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months.

The court heard Jones, of Fairways Drive in Mount Murray, told police his van had been missing since about 15:00.

He was called later that evening and asked to attend the police station, when he was arrested at about 20:00.

The police officer had attended the address of Jones that day after receiving reports that he had been driving while disqualified, the prosecutor told the court.

He had one month left of a two-year drink-driving ban, the court heard.

Jones admitted acts against public justice, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

Perverting the course of justice was a "serious offence," Deemster Cook added, noting that under new legislation the maximum sentence would be five years rather than the current two.

Jones was also disqualified from driving for a further two-and-a-half years and ordered to pay £125 in costs.

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