Bearded man told police he was his mother after being pictured driving while disqualified

A speeding South Holland motorist claimed it had been his mother – despite police having photographic evidence of a man with a beard.

Gary Church had been disqualified two months earlier for driving while unfit through drink or drugs, Boston Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday.
Then he was clocked doing 35mph in a 30mph speed limit on Bridge Road in Sutton Bridge on June 7.
Police sent him a notice of intended prosecution and the 48-year-old defendant responded that it had been his mother at the wheel.
Prosecutor Ruth Stirland said: “Correspondence was sent again asking him to reconsider as the driver was a male with a beard.
“The defendant admitted to being the driver at the time of the offence. It was subsequently discovered that he was disqualified.”
She added: “He’s very lucky that he’s not being charged with perverting the course of justice. I don’t know why he’s been able to get away with that.
“He needs to be aware that it’s a really serious thing to do and you can go to prison for it.”
Church, of Wharf Street, Sutton Bridge, pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified, having no insurance and speeding.
In mitigation, solicitor Michele Elvin said he had thought it had been his mother driving.

She said he had “panicked” and used his mother’s car to drive to his parents’ house due to a medication emergency.
Church was fined £666 and ordered to pay £266 victim surcharge and £85 costs.
He was also given a fresh disqualification of 14 months.