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Pilot jailed over speeding lies 
 
Drury claimed he was flying over France when the offence happened

An air ambulance pilot from Devon has been jailed for four months after lying to avoid being given a driving ban.

Joseph Drury, 27, of Citadel Road, Plymouth, already had points on his licence when he was clocked at 63mph in a 40mph zone in the city, in February.

However, he claimed another person was driving, saying he had been flying over France at the time before falsifying flying log books to back up the alibi.

Drury admitted perverting the course of justice, at Plymouth Crown Court.

Drury also asked for three Civil Aviation Authority offences to be taken into account - two charges of falsifying log books and a further count of failing to properly record flights within the UK.

'Stupid mistake'

In September the court heard Drury's lies were uncovered when police contacted the woman he had named as the driver.

They then discovered the plane the defendant alleged to have been flying at the time of the offence had actually been in a maintenance hangar at Exeter Airport.

Drury has since described his actions as a "stupid mistake" in a "moment of madness".

Recorder Michael Meeke QC said he was saddened to have to send him to prison but the sentence had to send out the right message.
 
BBC