Enniskillen Court House
A MOTHER and daughter who admitted perverting the course of justice by providing false details to police following a car crash, which in turn led to a false insurance claim, have been sentenced at Dungannon Crown Court.
Together in the dock were Maureen Lewis (60) and her daughter twenty-one-year-old Emma Lewis (21) both of Aghagay Meadows, Newtownbutler, who each admitted perverting the course of justice.
Mrs Lewis further admitted driving without insurance while her daughter also accepted fraud by false representation.
Prosecution counsel explained the mother was driving a Peugeot car on 23 October 2015, which was involved in a minor collision.
At the scene, she told the injured party her name was Emma Lewis. She also made this claim to police.
The injured party was suspicious and when matters where later checked the identity was confirmed as false.
In addition it transpired Mrs Lewis was not at the time insured to drive the car in question.
Meanwhile Emma Lewis became involved when she submitted a claim form to RSA Motability on 1 December 2015, asserting she had been the driver of the Peugeot when it was involved in the accident, with intent to make personal gain.
She then perverted the course of justice on 15 July 2016, by falsely representing to police that she was the driver of the Peugeot at the time of the collision.
Both women initially pleaded not guilty to their respective charges, but later admitted all.
Defence counsel for the pair pointed out neither had any previous convictions for any offences and both deeply regretted their actions.
Whilst Judge Stephen Fowler QC said the custody threshold was met, he took on board the extreme regret of both mother and daughter, and the fact neither had “darkened the door of the court in the past.”
However he told Mrs Lewis: “You brought your daughter into this situation, causing her like you to commit a very serious offence.”
The mother was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years.
She was also fined £50 and six penalty points were imposed on her driving licence.
In respect of Miss Lewis, Judge Fowler ordered her to complete 50 hours of community service.
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