ID theft driver walks free

An identity thief from Wolverhampton who used another man's driving licence to avoid a road ban after being caught at more than twice the speed limit has escaped a jail term.

David Bowering triggered speed cameras three times in 30mph zones, the city's crown court heard. The 20-year-old, who is about to start a job as a groundsman with Wolverhampton City Council, was sent notices of intended prosecution.

But he named another motorist as the driver.

The victim, who said he had misplaced his licence, has not been named but twice had to appear before a court after Bowering alleged he was the driver clocked at 71mph, 61mph and 39mph.

The court heard yesterday how the ID fraud caused the victim a "great deal of stress" and he was annoyed at having to attend court to clear his name.

Mr Mark Phillips, prosecuting, said Bowering had eventually admitted to police that he had eight points on his licence and did not want to accumulate any more.

Bowering admitted three counts of perverting the course of justice and accepted it was a "stupid thing to do", the court heard.

Judge Robin Onions said Bowering's deception had been seriously wrong and unpleasant.

"You've put an entirely innocent man through the trouble of having to convince a court that he's innocent," he said.

Judge Onions gave Bowering, of Springfield Road, Springfield, 12 months' detention in a young offenders institute, suspended for two years.

He also banned him from driving for 18 months, imposed a three-month cur-few and ordered him to 150 hours unpaid community work. He must also pay £500 costs and the victim £200 in compensation.

Pc Jon Rankin, from the camera enforcement unit at West Midlands Police, said today: "This sentence gives a clear message to the motoring public who fabricate evidence in connection with motoring matters that it will not be tolerated."

By Crime Correspondent Mike Woods