A man has been jailed for six months after trying to avoid prosecution for two years after his car was caught speeding at 104mph.

Philip Law, 34, of Danbury Road, Loughton, was driving his Mercedes in a 40mph zone on the A127 in Leigh-on-Sea in June 2017.

Essex Police sent out a notice to the registered owner, Law, where they received a response back giving the name and details of another man.

Attempts were made to trace him but he could not be found, and Law was voluntarily interviewed in January 2018.

Law claimed he had allowed the other man to drive his car on the night it was caught speeding, and that a passenger in the car could back up his account.

But the passenger said Law was driving and there was no-one else in the car at the time.

The 34-year-old was summonsed to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court in April last year to face a charge of perverting the course of justice.

He denied the charge and stood trial at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday, May 29.

He was convicted by a jury on Monday, June 3, and sentenced today, Friday, July 5.

Sgt Martin Allen said: “Law made protracted attempts to avoid prosecution and lied to the police, resulting in him being convicted of a criminal offence and jailed.

“If he had not lied, the likelihood is he could have faced a potential driving ban.

“Speed limits exist for a reason – to keep people safe – and driving at 104mph in a 40mph zone is dangerous and reckless.”