A FATHER-of-two caught speeding on a north Cumbrian road 'doctored' a photo of his Mercedes car in a bid to avoid prosecution.

When police rejected the photo as fake, 55-year-old Michael Bromley took his deception one step further - by telling police that a completely innocent man was at the wheel on his wife's car when it was seen breaking the speed limit on the A69 at Low Row near Brampton.

Finance worker Bromley was jailed after he admitted perverting the course of justice.

Gerard Rogerson, prosecuting at Carlisle Crown Court, set out the background.

A police speed camera photographed the blue Mercedes belonging to Bromley's wife as the car was driven westwards through Low Row early on May 10, 2020.

It was caught on camera again - also speeding - driving in the opposite direction just before 3pm on the same day. As a result, police sent a formal notice to Bromley's wife asking for the name of the driver.

Mr Rogerson said: "The notice wasn't returned but two days later the defendant rang the central ticket office, telling them the vehicle was not his [wife's]."

When asked for a photo of the car, Bromley emailed pictures which showed apparent differences between his wife's car and the one in the police photo - including a different design of number plate.

"Officers concluded the image had been photo-shopped," said Mr Rogerson.

A final warning was sent out but Bromley continued to insist the speeding car in the police photo was not his wife's until September 29.

Mrs Bromley was told the case would go to court.

"Again," said Mr Rogerson, "Mr Bromley contacted the central ticket office, saying he now knew who the driver was and he named that person on the completed [police] form he sent to the ticket office."

The man who was named was surprised to learn of this, saying he was not in Cumbria on May 10, 2020.

He also said Bromley had done the same thing previously, falsely naming him as the driver of the speeding car.

When arrested, Bromley finally admitted being the driver of the speeding Mercedes. Asked why he named an innocent man, he replied: "To cause him hassle and inconvenience."

He said that on May 10 he wanted to confront a man who defrauded him and to recover lost money.

"He concluded the actions he'd taken... were totally irrational and incomprehensible because of his deep depression and state of mind," said Mr Rogerson, adding that there was a no medical diagnosis of a mental health condition.

Raj Chopra, for Bromley, of Hadrian Court, Ponteland, Newcastle, said the defendant was a role model for his two adult sons and what happened was "totally out of character."

Bromley - who was in debt - thought stress lay behind his offending.

"A custodial sentence would destroy him," added the lawyer. Judge Nicholas Barker said people from all walks of life committed speeding offences.

"They accept their wrongdoing and take it on the chin and get points, typically," said the judge.

Yet the defendant issued two denials, submitted on false image, and falsely named as the driver a man he was in dispute with. "You were utilising this as some form of revenge against someone you had an issue with," said the judge.

"It's a well understood principle that these offences are easily commissioned and committed by individuals. There therefore must be a significant deterrent sentence to prevent others from doing it."

The judge jailed Bromley for six months.