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A man who changed his name to Mr X and spent five years trying to dodge a £60 speeding fine through a series of phony stories has been jailed.

Ashley X has been sentenced to nine months in jail after he admitted perjury and perverting the course of justice after he was caught speeding on a section of motorway.

The 35-year-old, who changed his name by deed poll in 2006, was caught racing along in his Honda sports car at 67mph on a 50mph stretch of the M11 in Essex in 2009.

After being sent letters informing him he had been hit with a fixed penalty fine, X ignored attempts by Essex Police to confirm who was driving the car at the time.

He finally got in touch with police but then attempted to shift the blame to other people - beginning a five-year-long battle with police at six different courts.

X, of Ealing, west London, concocted a series of different stories in a bid to not pay the fine and prevent himself from having three penalty points on his licence.

(Image: Albanpix)

Among the claims were that his cousin was driving the car at the time and that the fine had already been paid.

X also faked a letter from his 'cousin' - who turned out to be a friend who never owned the car and denied writing any letter.

After being found guilty of failing to provide a driver's details he challenged the verdict at Chelmsford Crown Court and the Court of Appeal but both claims were rejected.

X finally admitted perjury and perverting the course of justice at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday.

Pc Roy Keyes, from the force's casualty reduction team, said: "Ashley X was determined to avoid paying the £60 fine and having three penalty points on his licence.

"But for five years he tried to deny the offence and committed two serious offences which ultimately led to him being sent to prison."

Judge Martyn Levett sentenced X to nine months imprisonment . He was also ordered to pay costs of £1,200.