On two occasions in early 2019, GoSafe mobile speed cameras caught Dogan Ozyurt, 34 from Carmarthen, speeding within the Dyfed-Powys Police force area. After receiving the NIPs (Notice of Intended Prosecution) the offender proceeded to falsely nominate an ex-employee as being the driver in both instances. PC John Whiles, dealing with the case, established through rigorous enquiries into these two offences that the person nominated had left the UK at that particular time and obtained evidence to support that claim.
The defendant was charged with Perverting the Course of Public Justice and pleaded guilty at the first hearing in Crown Court. In passing Sentence at Swansea Crown Court on the 1st July, 2020, Judge Paul Thomas considered a custodial sentence was inevitable stating:
''Anyone who gives someone else’s name to get away with a charge/motoring charge – you did that on two occasions, that person would have been under investigation and ended up losing his licence.
You deliberately gave his name unconcerned upon the impact it would have on him in order to save your own licence.
What you did also caused the Police and Prosecution a great deal of time and resources to prove it was you and not Mr Sali the driver''
Ozyurt was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, due to the fact a number of employees employed by the defendant would be adversely affected by his business being unable to employ them. Along with a fine of £5,000 and disqualification for a period of 18 months, Ozyurt will have to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work.
Sgt Ian Price, GoSafe Co-Ordinator for Dyfed Powys Police said:
“This is a fine example where PC Whiles has shown tenacity and good investigation skills to present a clear case where the defendant has lied to avoid losing his licence and sought to blame another person in the hope that the police would ultimately not follow up on as he had left the country at that time and would be Untraceable.
The sentence passed is a very fitting that will send a very clear message to others who want to take the chance.”