A Briton tried to escape a speeding fine by blaming the offence on his grandmother who lived more than 3,000 miles away, could not drive and had never visited the UK.

Dillon Coke, 26, was snapped by a speed camera while doing 51mph on a 40mph stretch of the A127 in Laindon, Essex, in January.

He told police he was not driving his VW Polo at the time, saying his grandmother was responsible.

But police investigations established that she lived in Sierra Leone and could not have been behind the wheel.

He admitted perverting the course of justice when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court, Essex Police said.

Coker, of Central Park Avenue, Dagenham, was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for 12 months, told to carry out 100 hours of work in the community and ordered to pay £500 in costs.