04/07/2006
Driver jailed for moving road sign
A motorist who moved a 40mph sign to a 30mph zone in an attempt to dodge a speeding ticket has been given an intermittent custodial sentence.
John Hopwood, 44, from Hazel Grove in Stockport, admitted moving the sign from a road in Manchester to one in Rochdale, ten miles away, after he was caught by a speed camera twice in two days.
Hopwood pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at Manchester Crown Court and was sentenced to an intermittent jail sentence of 56 days.
This means that he will report to a custody centre on Fridays and remain there until 5pm on Sunday.
The incident happened in April last year. Hopwood was caught on a speed camera travelling at 48mph in a 40mph zone on Princess Road in Manchester. The following day, he was spotted doing 41mph in a 30mph zone on Albert Royd Street, Rochdale.
Hopwood moved the sign from Manchester to Rochdale and took a photo of it in an attempt to fool police in thinking that he was barely over the speed limit in the second incident.
However, Hopwood was caught out when lawyers brought in a facial mapping expert to study marks on the signs.
At sentencing, Judge Anthony Ensor told Hopwood that he had committed a "serious offence", which he described as a "stupid act, bound to fail".
(KMcA/SP)
John Hopwood, 44, from Hazel Grove in Stockport, admitted moving the sign from a road in Manchester to one in Rochdale, ten miles away, after he was caught by a speed camera twice in two days.
Hopwood pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice at Manchester Crown Court and was sentenced to an intermittent jail sentence of 56 days.
This means that he will report to a custody centre on Fridays and remain there until 5pm on Sunday.
The incident happened in April last year. Hopwood was caught on a speed camera travelling at 48mph in a 40mph zone on Princess Road in Manchester. The following day, he was spotted doing 41mph in a 30mph zone on Albert Royd Street, Rochdale.
Hopwood moved the sign from Manchester to Rochdale and took a photo of it in an attempt to fool police in thinking that he was barely over the speed limit in the second incident.
However, Hopwood was caught out when lawyers brought in a facial mapping expert to study marks on the signs.
At sentencing, Judge Anthony Ensor told Hopwood that he had committed a "serious offence", which he described as a "stupid act, bound to fail".
(KMcA/SP)
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