Hit-and-run crash liar escapes prison term

A woman who tried to frame an innocent man for car theft after she was involved in a hit-and-run road smash has escaped a jail sentence.

Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, heard how Louise MacDonald (25), of Beswick Drive, Failsworth, acted out of impulse when she sped off from a collision in July, 2008.

She was driving without a licence or insurance and panicked, the court was told.

MacDonald told police her partner’s car had been stolen — and gave a false statement to an insurance company when the other driver made a claim against her.

When police found Kevin Durkin asleep in her car, she falsely claimed he had stolen it.

However, officers soon caught on and MacDonald, who has a previous conviction for dishonesty, was arrested and admitted she had lied.

MacDonald pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Judge Jonathan Geake told her: “If you hadn’t told lies from the outset of this matter, no doubt you would have been before the magistrates, no doubt for careless driving and failing to stop and other such offences and ended up being disqualified from driving for six months which is what I am going to do.

“The fact of the matter is that you did act out of impulse and panic when you had this crash last summer.

“You caused a lot of inconvenience to all sorts of people. You also involved Mr Durkin — he didn’t deserve to be arrested for something he didn’t do.”

MacDonald was disqualified from driving for six months, and also given a 12-month supervision requirement.

She was given a 28-day prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, to run at the same time for failing to surrender to Oldham magistrates in August, 2008, over the matter.

Steven Sullivan, defending, said: “Miss MacDonald made an impulsive decision without thinking and effectively dug a hole for herself.

“When police eventually caught up with her, she made a full admission in interview.”