An innocent man was convicted of disqualified driving after police were given a false name.

When police stopped Jamie Scott in a car in Rhyl in November 2017 he knew he was banned so he gave the name and date of birth of someone he had been in school with.

But Scott gave his own address.

Mold Crown Court heard that the innocent man had been convicted in his absence.

But Scott then rang police and admitted what he had done.

Scott, 30, of Ffordd Idwal in Prestatyn, admitted a charge of doing acts intending to pervert the course of justice.

He was jailed for nine months.

Judge Niclas Parry said that it was as clumsy an attempt to pervert the course of justice as one could imagine because the defendant had provided the police with his correct address.

But the consequences were very serious and led to the conviction of a totally innocent man.

“This strikes at the very heart of the criminal justice system,” he said.

It was aggravated by an appalling motoring record.

After the offence took place he had been caught driving while disqualified and had to be prison twice.

He received a concurrent three month sentence for driving while disqualified.

Prosecuting barrister Karl Scholz said that when stopped driving an Astra the defendant Scott gave police the name of James Dean Roberts and Mr Roberts’ correct date of birth.

It seemed that they were friends and had been in school together, he explained.

Magistrates convicted Mr Roberts in his absence but the defendant, who received the notification at his address, then contacted police and confessed what he had done.

He provided false details because he knew he was disqualified.

Defending barrister Simon Killeen said that his client knew he had to go into custody.

He had since got himself a job and had not driven since he was released from prison.

The defendant was warned that a 27 month driving ban which he received in July of last year would remain in place.