A MOTORIST who gave police a false name to avoid prosecution ended up in jail because he was unaware the person he pretended to be was a disqualified driver.

A MOTORIST who gave police a false name to avoid prosecution ended up in jail because he was unaware the person he pretended to be was a disqualified driver.

Samuel Grandy, 19, told police his name was Nicky Montague because he had borrowed his friend's tax disc so he and his mates could drive to Ipswich on a shopping expedition.

He had only had the car a few days and had no MoT or insurance.

Adele Cook, prosecuting at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court, said police stopped Grandy's Ford Sierra near the Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich on April 19 last year. She said: “He told police he knew it was his friend's tax disc as he had asked to borrow it so they could come to Ipswich.”

She added that the warehouse assistant “having told the lie had got caught up with it.

“He gave the name Nicky Montague not realising there was someone with that name who was disqualified. He ended up in custody for some days because of that lie.”

Grandy failed to attend court when the police told him to and a warrant for his arrest was issued. Grandy, of Sea View Avenue, Little Oakley, Harwich, spent 19 days in custody awaiting his court appearance.

He pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a tax disc, having no insurance or mot and failing to surrender to court. Magistrates disqualified Grandy from driving for six months, fined him £50 and ordered him to pay £25 towards court costs.