'Dishonest driver' switched plates to avoid fine A man has admitted buying new number plates after he was caught speeding to pretend the cameras had caught someone else who had cloned his plates.
Nigel Roger Williams, 44, from Torquay, Devon, was photographed doing 47mph in a 30mph zone in Paignton in 2007.
Judge Francis Gilbert at Plymouth Crown Court described Williams, who admitted perverting the course of justice, as a "thoroughly dishonest person".
Williams was sentenced to eight months, suspended for two years.
He was also fined £1,000 and ordered to wear an electronic tag.
'Dealt with robustly'
Williams was photographed speeding in his MG ZR car on the A3022 in November 2007 by a Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership van.
He denied it was his car, later supplying photographs of his car which showed number plate differences and a silver rear windscreen wiper attachment.
But a police investigation revealed he purchased the new plate in Worcestershire after the offence. He was then arrested.
As well as his suspended prison term and fine, Williams is to be means-tested with a view to paying costs, tagged for four months and must obey an overnight curfew.
After the sentencing, a spokesperson for the camera partnership said: "Safety cameras are there to protect all road users.
"Those individuals who deliberately attempt to avoid prosecution by dishonest means will be investigated and dealt with robustly.
"The integrity of road safety legislation must be maintained for the protection of all road users and the judge has highlighted this today."
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) and stoppd off at a local shop to buy a replacement?!
Oops! Guess I'm not the criminal mastermind I thought I was after all! In fact, that's almost as daft as the bloke who owned two cars (both registered in his name to the same address) and swapped the plates from one to the other to avoid detection! 
