Beautician jailed for paying stranger £300 to take her speeding points after she revealed ploy on Facebook

Sheree Siddall, who pleaded guilty to perjury, would have got away with her plot to avoid a driving ban had she not appealed for help on social media
Sheree Siddall, who pleaded guilty to perjury, would have got away with her plot to avoid a driving ban had she not appealed for help on social media Credit: Ben Lack 

A beautician was jailed after she paid a stranger to take her speeding points and revealed the ploy on Facebook. 

Sheree Siddall, who pleaded guilty to perjury, would have got away with her plot to avoid a driving ban had she not appealed for help on social media, a court heard.

The 30-year-old, from Yafforth, North Yorkshire, was caught speeding in her Audi TT in a 30mph zone on the A684 near Morton-on-Swale on July 10 last year.

York Crown Court heard she pleaded for help on her Facebook account to avoid being punished for her fourth speeding conviction in two years, but the post was spotted by a police officer, who was one of her clients.

Siddall posted: "Who wants cash for taking three points? Been done again." The self-employed beautician then lied about who was driving when she was asked to confirm the person behind the wheel.

A friend approached her and he arranged for another man to be paid £300 by Siddall to take the points.

In mitigation, she said her actions were a result of being drunk and her bipolar disorder, which made her act on impulse. However, no medical evidence was presented stating Siddall had the condition.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC said: "A man collected the points and the punishment in the magistrates court that were due to you.

"This would never have come to light as no doubt so many other cases of this nature would have come to light, except for a Facebook post that was seen by one of your clients who is a police officer.

"You put the job out to tender so when you were approached by a friend to do this you handed over £300 to avoid the disqualification that was waiting for you."

Siddall was jailed for four months and banned from driving for eight months.

Following the hearing, a post on Siddall's business Facebook account stated: "Due to unforeseen circumstances Sheree will be unable to work for the next two months.

"All appointments for the coming two months will need to be rescheduled/cancelled."

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