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UK: Cop Caught Lying to Avoid Camera Ticket

UK police officer creates false story to get out of paying a speed camera ticket.

TheNewspaper.com
4/18/2008

A police officer in the UK faces jail time for lying in order to get out of a speed camera ticket. Richard Holding, 45, is one of the rare armed officers with the Devon and Cornwall force. He appeared before Plymouth Magistrates Wednesday on charges of perverting the course of justice.

On March 28, Holding had been driving 89 MPH in a 70 zone on the A38 highway. He saw a mobile speed camera unit on the side of the road and immediately flipped on the police lights of his Range Rover so that it would appear that he was responding to an emergency. Later, he checked incident reports on the computer and found that someone had called in a possible reckless driver in a Citroen. Holding claimed he had been out looking for this car. The fatal flaw in this story was that, although the incident was in the computer, it was not broadcast on the police radio. Holding could not have known about the Citroen.

"This was a moment of madness from a man who is suffering the classic symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder," Holding's attorney, Simon Laws, told the court, as reported in the Daily Mail.

Laws cited Holding's wartime service in Iraq as a reason to be lenient. Holding pleaded guilty to the speeding and obstruction of justice charges. He will be sentenced May 14.

Source: Policeman invented bogus car chase and turned on flashing lights to avoid a speeding ticket (London Daily Mail (UK), 4/17/2008)

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Just like Martha Stewart was jailed for "obstruction of justice" for an unsworn statement. Cops are required to lie to defendants, but defendants are never allowed to lie to cops, even when defendants are cops. Ha.


How to Kill Robocops

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"The MAINTAIN TOP SAFE SPEED sign may be used on highways where conditions are such that it is prudent to evacuate or traverse an area as quickly as possible." - US Dept of Transportation, Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Section 2I.06

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Plymouth have a strong record of jailing those convicted of PCJ (usually by giving a ficticious name in response to a NIP) so it will be an 'interesting' result.

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=28989

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No jail term for speeding officer

The court was told Holding had seen colleagues die in Iraq

BBC News
14 May 2008



A lying policeman who invented a bogus car chase to avoid paying a speeding fine has been spared jail.

Richard Holding claimed he was pursuing a dangerous driver when he was caught on camera doing 89mph in a 70mph limit.

Plymouth Magistrates were told Holding's "moment of madness" in March 2007 was caused by stress.

He was fined £450 plus £500 costs with a £15 victim surcharge. He received a £60 fixed penalty and a three point licence endorsement last year.

Magistrate David Libby told him: "We accept your actions can be described as totally irrational and out of character."

Diamond heist

The court heard Holding suffered post traumatic stress after seeing colleagues killed while he was serving with the Royal Military Police in Iraq.

He had also been affected by years of service as a firearms officer with the Metropolitan Police's elite SO 19 unit, where he had tackled IRA killers and had been involved in the Millennium Dome diamond heist.

Magistrates heard how Holding was on his way to police headquarters in Exeter from his home in Barras Cross, Liskeard, Cornwall, on 28 March last year.

When he realised he was going through a speed trap on the A38 near Saltash, he switched on the blue lights of his Tactical Aid Group Range Rover.

After searching the police computer to find a suitable incident, he claimed to have been chasing a Citroen car driving erratically.

'Bad decision'

But when colleagues checked his story they discovered the information had never been broadcast on the police radio.

Holding admitted falsely claiming to be taking part in a police chase at the time.

Magistrates said they would not impose a prison sentence because he had no previous convictions and was a positive character who had given great service to his country and his community.

Holding will now face police disciplinary action.

After the case Det Insp Simon Selley said the chief constable expected the highest standards of professional behaviour from his officers.

"Pc Holding is suspended from duty and this matter will now be taken to an internal misconduct hearing."

Mr Simon Laws, defending, told the court Holding would not have risked his job and his reputation for the sake of a speeding fine and three points if he had been thinking straight.

"This was a moment of madness from a man suffering classic symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder," he said.

"He made a very bad decision and one which he has already had great cause to regret."

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LA LA LA LA LA I can't hear you.

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Your right Chappers: theres a strange farty noise around again

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Its not fate itself that is so frightening
Its the expectation of fate that frightens

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