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| Man jailed over speed camera lies | Man jailed over speed camera lies |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A man who tried to avoid a speeding conviction, by claiming someone else was driving, has been sentenced to two months in prison. | A man who tried to avoid a speeding conviction, by claiming someone else was driving, has been sentenced to two months in prison. |
| Terence Burke, 50, was convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice after police found the person he claimed was driving did not exist. | Terence Burke, 50, was convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice after police found the person he claimed was driving did not exist. |
| The 50-year-old, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court. | The 50-year-old, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court. |
| He told police he was not driving when his car set off cameras four times. | He told police he was not driving when his car set off cameras four times. |
| Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said thousands of motorists were going to extreme lengths to avoid points. | Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said thousands of motorists were going to extreme lengths to avoid points. |
| In 2004, the force set up Operation Cheetah to discourage otherwise law-abiding citizens from "starting a journey of deception with serious consequences". | In 2004, the force set up Operation Cheetah to discourage otherwise law-abiding citizens from "starting a journey of deception with serious consequences". |
| The details they give are checked against various databases and we look for suspicious nominations Ch Insp Hayden Roberts href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=4673&edition=1&ttl=20061109091323" class="">Send us your comments | |
| Ch Insp Hayden Roberts, who runs the operation, said motorists who go to extreme lengths were now being charged with the more serious offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice. | Ch Insp Hayden Roberts, who runs the operation, said motorists who go to extreme lengths were now being charged with the more serious offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice. |
| He said one successful prosecution had resulted in a fine of £11,000, while another person was jailed for three years. | He said one successful prosecution had resulted in a fine of £11,000, while another person was jailed for three years. |
| "These were extreme cases," Mr Roberts. | "These were extreme cases," Mr Roberts. |
| "The fine I mentioned, the £11,000, the person actually flew to Bulgaria and posted back a postcard from a fictitious person to create this web of lies." | "The fine I mentioned, the £11,000, the person actually flew to Bulgaria and posted back a postcard from a fictitious person to create this web of lies." |
| Mr Roberts said road safety was at the heart of the operation, which is targeting those who "undermine the system". | Mr Roberts said road safety was at the heart of the operation, which is targeting those who "undermine the system". |
| He said motorists caught by safety cameras in Greater Manchester were asked to sign a declaration of who was driving. | He said motorists caught by safety cameras in Greater Manchester were asked to sign a declaration of who was driving. |
| "The details they give are checked against various databases and we look for suspicious nominations and when we find them we pursue those cases," he added. | "The details they give are checked against various databases and we look for suspicious nominations and when we find them we pursue those cases," he added. |