A father who tried to get his son out of a sticky situation after he was caught driving following a traffic accident had a suspended jail term confirmed on appeal.

Peter Argento, 69, was charged with making a false report, tampering with evidence and allowing his son Dale to drive his Peugeot 306 on April 8, 2006.

His 24-year-old son was also charged with causing involuntary damage to a car in the accident, driving carelessly, at speed and without insurance.

Mr Argento, the father, was found guilty and given a one-year jail term, suspended for two years, and a general interdiction, banned from driving for six months and fined €582. His son was banned from driving for six months and fined the same amount after being convicted of driving without insurance.

The court heard that the father had arrived at the scene following the accident and told two wardens he had been driving at the time because his son was too young to be insured.

In his appeal, Mr Argento said he had eventually told the wardens he was wrong when he said he was behind the wheel when the accident occurred but they refused to let him correct the statement.

Mr Justice Antonio Mizzi said the evidence produced clearly indicated that he had tried to get his son out of a problem with the insurance company.

However, it had not been proven that he had allowed his son to use the car.

The judge therefore reduced the punishment by revoking the fine and the driving ban.

He acquitted the son after taking into consideration that he was in fact covered by insurance.