Huddersfield Driver Avoids Penalties in Dead Wife’s Car

1 May 2012, 16:38 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A man, who was caught speeding and used his wife’s name to avoid the penalties, has been spared jail.

44 year old Christopher Bingley, was caught speeding four times between August 2010 and April last year.

Because he was driving his dead wife's car, speeding tickets were issued in her name and Bingley paid off the fines in her name.

When the fourth offence triggered a court appearance for his wife, Bingley went with a coroner's letter to prove his wife's death.

Joanne Bingley killed herself in April 2010 - around four months before the first speeding offence. She had been suffering from severe post-natal depression and committed suicide 10 weeks after the birth of their first child, Emily.

Bingley previously pleaded guilty to three counts of perverting the course of justice.

Judge Peter Benson sentenced Bingley to six months in prison, suspended for two years so he could look after his two year old daughter.

He was banned from driving for nine months and given a four-month curfew.

His lawyer Claire Moran said since his wife's death Bingley has set up a charity which he has resigned from, suffered severe health problems and is now bankrupt and facing eviction from his home.