A PROTECTIVE mum and her daughter who lied about car insurance have narrowly escaped going to jail.
Wendy and Sarah Turner both sobbed in the dock at Gloucester Crown Court after they admitted trying to pervert the course of justice.
The court was told that Sarah, 23, a mum of two, from Sage Close, Churchdown, had taken out car insurance for herself in her mum's name because it was cheaper.
When she was booked for driving while using a mobile phone she gave her mother's name and address – in Didbrook, Cheltenham – and then persuaded her mum to go along with the lies.
But police rumbled her and both were arrested.
Sarah, who also admitted offences of making a false statement to obtain insurance, having no insurance and using a mobile phone while driving, was given a four month jail term suspended for two years.
She was also banned from driving for six months and placed under supervision for a year. Her mother, 42, was given a three-month sentence suspended for two years with nine months supervision.
Judge Jamie Tabor told Sarah the only reason she was not going to jail was because she has two very young children, one of whom is thought to be autistic.
Prosecutor Lisa Hennessy told the court that on May 22, police on patrol in Cheltenham Road East, Churchdown, caught Sarah Turner using her phone at the wheel. She admitted the offence and was given a fixed penalty notice but gave the name Wendy and her mum's address.
But a mix-up over her date of birth saw police catch the pair.
Mrs Hennessy said when Wendy was arrested she admitted the car was not hers and she had no idea it had been registered or insured in her name.
For Wendy, solicitor Lloyd Jenkins said: "This is a case of an over-protective mother who went too far because of her love for her daughter."
