Huddersfield speed charge widower spared jail

A man who used his dead wife's name to avoid speeding offences has been banned from driving but spared jail by a judge.

Christopher Bingley, of Allison Drive, Huddersfield, was caught speeding four times between August 2010 and April 2011 Bradford Crown Court heard.

The 44-year-old had been driving his dead wife's car and paid the fines for tickets that were issued in her name.

He previously admitted three offences of perverting the course of justice.

Judge Peter Benson sentenced Bingley to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and banned him for driving for nine months.

The court heard when the fourth speeding offence triggered a court appearance for his wife, Bingley took police advice and attended with a coroner's letter to prove his wife's death.

Each of these acts involved you forging details and that was a deliberate course to take”

After Bingley's court appearance, police inquiries began and he was shown on CCTV speeding in his wife's car on all four occasions.

The court was told Joanne Bingley killed herself in April 2010 - 10 weeks after the birth of the couple's first child.

Judge Benson said: "It is said by various people that you were so distraught by her death that you were acting in a state of confusion.

"I am sorry but I do not accept that. Each of these acts involved you forging details and that was a deliberate course to take."

Speaking before the sentencing, Bingley said he has been dealing with a catalogue of issues surrounding the death of his wife and he claimed he had not deliberately misled the police.

He earlier told BBC Look North: "I did do it, and I accepted that I did do it and I accepted from the very beginning that I've done it and I'll accept whatever ruling the judge gives me, but it still feels wrong.

"I'm ashamed about what I've done, but it wasn't done with intent."