AN AMBULANCE driver caught speeding in his private car lied to police about who the driver was ... and was not found out for two years.

Alex Poyser tried to avoid having any points on his licence and losing his job by having his ex-partner claim that she was the driver of the Ford Focus.

The 29-year-old of Little Lullaway, Basildon, was driving the car when caught speeding on two occasions on May 27 and June 2, 2017, in south Essex.

An agreement was made with his then partner Rebecca Ayres that the couple would tell police she was driving the vehicle at the time.

The crime did not come to light until Ms Ayres reported Poyser to the police in January 2019.

When interviewed by police Poyser accepted he had perverted the course of justice and was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court.

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Prosecuting, Richard Paton-Phillip said: “Both were ambulance drivers and had he taken those points he would have lost his licence and one expects his job, and certainly that was a risk.

“It should be said he was interviewed about this on January 31 and he did accept his guilt and said that in effect he feared losing his licence and employment, and the two had agreed to undertake this course of action.”

Ms Ayres, 39, of Silverdale Avenue, Westcliff, stood trial earlier this year for perverting the course of justice, where she claimed Poyser had forced her to do it.

A jury eventually acquitted her.

Mitigating for Poyser, George Carter-Stephenson said: “It’s always been Mr Poyser’s case that he and Rebecca Ayres agreed this course of conduct between them.

“His references paint a picture of a good man.

“He took some qualifications and has a BTEC Level Two, and started work in a private ambulance firm.

“He was happy in that work and he enjoyed it.”

Mr Carter-Stephenson said Poyser now works in a Wickes store and is hoping to become an operations manager.

Recorder Paul Sharkey, who oversaw Ms Ayres’ trial, told Poyser: “I don’t have any regard to what was said by her and treat it as a joint agreement between you both.

“You may not have understood the seriousness of it when agreeing to do it but you realise how serious it is now.”

Poyser was given ten months jail suspended for 18 months and 200 hours of unpaid work.