Nikki Baker got her speeding ticket deleted by a friend who worked for the police. She was sent to jail for 10 months. The court said the jail time was fair, even though she argued it should have been less or suspended.
Key Facts
- •Nikki Baker pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
- •She conspired with Samantha Halden-Evans, a Staffordshire Safer Roads Partnership operative, to have a speeding offence deleted.
- •Halden-Evans accessed the system and deleted Baker's speeding offence, preventing prosecution.
- •Baker had contacted Halden-Evans on multiple occasions seeking assistance with potential speeding offences.
- •Baker had no prior convictions.
- •The judge sentenced Baker to 10 months' imprisonment.
- •Baker appealed the sentence, arguing misclassification of culpability and harm, and failure to consider alternatives to immediate custody.
Legal Principles
Sentencing guidelines for perverting the course of justice.
Sentencing Council's Definitive Guideline on perverting the course of justice (effective from 1 October 2023)
Considerations for suspending a custodial sentence.
Sentencing Council's Overarching Guideline on Imposition of Community and Custodial Sentences
Outcomes
Appeal dismissed.
The Court found the 10-month sentence to be within the reasonable range, given the circumstances and the sentencing guidelines. The judge's consideration of suspending the sentence was deemed appropriate.