A model and former pop star was given a suspended prison sentence today for framing an innocent motorist when she was caught speeding.
Glamorous Hannah Lewis, who previously toured the UK as a model and had three top 20 singles in the band POP!, was caught doing 82mph in a 70 zone.
But after getting notice of the conviction she nominated another driver – using a real person’s name but falsifying the address.
As a result an innocent motorist called Anna Amos, 38, was convicted of the speeding in her absence and given penalty points by magistrates in Bodmin, Cornwall.
Glamorous Hannah Lewis was caught doing 82mph in a 70 zone. She is pictured with her mother outside Truro Magistrates’ Court today
Lewis, 38, who is also a former MTV presenter, was eventually identified as the driver when mobile phone records put her at the speeding scene on the A30 in Cornwall.
She admitted perverting the course of justice and was given a suspended sentence at Truro Crown Court plus penalty points.
It was not revealed in court why Lewis, of Windsor, Berkshire picked on Ms Amos, who lives in Whitstable, Kent.
Lewis, who is pregnant, refused to comment and Ms Amos refused to say whether the two women knew each other or why her name was used.
After the case Ms Amos said: ‘I don’t want to talk to anyone about that.’
Lewis, who has also appeared on many TV as well as featuring in adverts, magazine shoots and music videos during her 15-year career, had a clean licence at the time.
Prosecuting, Philip Lee said she was finally brought to justice when Ms Amos received a letter notifying her of her punishment.
He said the letter left her ‘in complete shock’ and she had never driven the vehicle in question.
Mr Lee said: ‘Police contacted the defendant and at first she maintained that her partner had borrowed the car for an employee but her partner was unable to assist officers with their enquiries.
‘Further enquiries showed the defendant had a connection to Cornwall, with her mother having an address in Newquay and her phone’s location placed her at the speeding offence at the relevant time.
Judge Simon Carr said the circumstances of the offence ‘are as mystifying as they are depressing’ and it is not known why Lewis decided to blame Ms Amos
‘When confronted with the phone evidence she said ‘it must have been me’.
‘It was persistent deception and she was still lying more than a year later until confronted with the evidence.
‘Miss Lewis’ actions resulted in the prosecution and imposition of penalty points on an innocent person.’
In defence it was heard that Lewis was a working mum and a sole carer of her 10-year-old son, with another child on the way due in February.
Judge Simon Carr said the circumstances of the offence ‘are as mystifying as they are depressing’.
He said: ‘You were caught, as many drivers are, by a speed camera and notified of the plans to prosecute you.
‘You had the opportunity to plead guilty and accept a small fine but instead tried to frame someone who was completely innocent.
‘You took some care to do so and selected someone who was a real person but created an address that wouldn’t come up.
‘It was partly by chance that you were caught when the person found out about a motoring offence they had nothing to do with. You then attempted to lie your way out of it.
‘I accept you have shown genuine remorse but any offence where an innocent person is convicted strikes at the very base of the justice system.’
Judge Carr went onto note how Lewis was heavily pregnant and effectively the sole carer of her son, describing the circumstances as exceptional.
Lewis was handed an eight month prison sentence, suspended for two years and told to pay Ms Amos £500 plus £500 court costs.