The Herald, Plymouth, UK Friday, March 12, 2010, 15:17 34 readers have commented on this story. A WOMAN taxi-driver who repeatedly lied to avoid three penalty points and a fine after running a red light has been jailed for trying to pervert the course of justice. Tracey Stevens ran a light on Outland Road on September 17 last year. Caught by an automatic camera, her punishment would have been three points on her licence and a fine of £60-£100. Instead, she constructed an elaborate alibi which was eventually exposed as a tissue of lies. Stevens, 41, told police the brakes on her Citroen people-carrier had failed and she was unable to stop. She had then left the signwritten Star Cars cab at the side of the road to be picked up and repaired by local garage Evans Halshaw, she said. She eventually produced a letter-headed invoice from the garage detailing repairs costing £135.44. But her plan unravelled because she made a series of mistakes: A police expert examined the cab and found the brakes had not been repaired. Three times in the hour following the incident, when Stevens claims the cab was abandoned by the side of the road, it was caught driving round Plymouth by cameras with a number plate recognition system. The invoice had no receipt. In her second police interview, carried out a day after the first at Stevens’ request, she admitted she had got a friend who worked at the garage to supply her with a blank invoice which someone had helped her fill in. Jason Beal, for Stevens, said in the weeks before the incident, Stevens had suffered an incident in her cab which had distressed her so much that she had to take two weeks off from her job as a self-employed Star Cars driver. This had strained her finances so she took a chance to avoid a fine. Mr Beal added: “She is not a bad woman; there is good in her and she wants to give something back.” Judge Francis Gilbert QC told Stevens her intention had been to avoid prosecution, but she had made matters much worse for herself. Judge Gilbert jailed Stevens, of Cecil Street, Stonehouse, for eight months and imposed three penalty points on her licence. A spokeswoman for the Devon and Cornwall Safety Camera Partnership said: “It is disappointing to find that people are still going to great and calculated lengths to avoid prosecution despite extensive media coverage highlighting similar cases and their resulting sentences. “We urge offenders to think seriously about the possible outcome of embarking on this course of action. “Our enquiry officers will investigate all matters such as this and identify, and prosecute, those drivers who attempt to pervert the course of justice. “Motorists must be aware that, if caught, they will face serious consequences; in this case an eight-month prison sentence as opposed to a £60 fine and 3 penalty points.” Comments (34) * For God's sake how many more times SHE WENT TO PRISON FOR ATTEMPTING TO PERVERT THE COURSE OF JUSTICE not for running a red light. Mary, Mannamead Report abuse commented on 12-Mar-2010 22:27 * A relative was telling me that someone they know had an accident at traffic lights, I think they told me that their mate went through a red light. Their mate didn't get done. They just had to do a driver improvement course. I'm not defending the red light jumping or the wringling to escape the points and fine but the punishments seem inconsistent. She gets this, but someone that has an accident at a traffic light controlled junction gets sent on a course? Confused Dot, Com commented on 12-Mar-2010 20:37 * Maggie the stupid system put in place is there to save lives people like this woman could have killed someone which is not stupid and trying to lie about it just makes it worse, thank god this woman is off the road. Reality, Safe commented on 12-Mar-2010 20:34 * YEP !! no doubt it !.. it sure pays to be a thug .kick someone's head in. or carry a blade. mike, plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 20:27 * If we didn't have a stupid system whereby statutory fines double if you don't pay within a few days maybe this lady wouldn't have felt the need to lie and would have paid up as soon as she was able to. As for her sentence - it is way out of proportion to the offence(s) and I hope she launches an Appeal. Maggie, Plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 20:08 * Olly, the point here is that she would have got less for having pornographic images of children on her computer. Surely that is not right. Since when has perverting the course of justice over a driving offence been more serious than pedophilia? The Locksmith, Barbican commented on 12-Mar-2010 19:08 * I thought it was a Paul Weller impersonator - Jokes aside, 8 months is steep but you reap what you sow! Upon hearing a report of over crowded prisons; why does our country continually persist in jailing violent offenders? The simple act of lethal injection would be far less costly on an already over burdened tax payer. Just a thought.... Look both ways, Tavistock commented on 12-Mar-2010 19:05 * She didn't get it for jumping a light but because she made a deliberate and concerted effort to construct a deceitful defence and 'pervert the course of justice'.She was lucky not get two years. Olly, Millfields commented on 12-Mar-2010 19:00 * To everybody claiming that running a red light could kill somebody... Although you are absolutely correct, the same could also be said for speeding. In fact I think the latest advertising campaign was based on the fact that 10mph over the 30mph limit could mean the difference between a serious injury and death. Are you saying that those caught speeding should also be jailed? If so, I think you might find we could end up jailing a great majority of the population. Whilst you might still think this is acceptable, I am sure the strain on the drastically reduced number of taxpayers could prove a little too much to bear for the perfect ones among you. The Locksmith, Barbican commented on 12-Mar-2010 18:36 * Integrity as defined by Collins Concise English Dictionary - " adherence to moral principles; honesty". Wouldn't have been my first choice for a discription of this persons actions.... nor my last.... tinks, plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 18:34 * Zena & Rob, heard of irony? Harry, Plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 18:21 * Hey The Locksmith, Barbican - just start posting a campaign on facebook that should get the idiot out Geoff, Saltash commented on 12-Mar-2010 18:16 * My four year old knows red means stop and green means go. Basic and easy. Doesn't matter what speed she went through it the fact is she did. GUILTY. Gilbert probably didn't get any last night (his hand must be in plaster) to give a sentence which was more than a telling off in a harsh voice Geoff, Saltash commented on 12-Mar-2010 18:13 * The law is supposed to represent the views of the public which is why Judges have guidelines to work to. So why then does the Attorney Generals office create these guidelines based on that principle and then tolerate an consistently incompetent Judge to interpret them??. He regularly issues unduly lenient sentences to Pedophiles and then jails somebody for committing a far less serious Crime. We need to start a petition to sack this fool as soon as possible!! Plymouth will be a far better place for it. The Locksmith, Barbican commented on 12-Mar-2010 18:12 * Any idiot driver that runs a red light is within less than a second of killing the innocent... I see them every day.. Stupid white van men... Fixated women in people carrier. Mobile phone in my hand all the time!, plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 18:08 * Zina and Bob - you took Harry literally. Can't you see he was poking fun at dear "judge" Gilbert. Basically sarcastically saying if she was like that she would have received no sentence at all as he is just a joke. Someone to be laughed at Bill, Plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 18:07 * good i hare taxi drivers there are a danger to other road users they do what they want and the police do nothing about it it makes me smile that one of these numptys has been cought booo, plym commented on 12-Mar-2010 17:45 * i really cant believe some of you are on here slaggin someone off for a mistake they have made, look at your own lives as i bet your not any saint you just ant been caught out. tracy is one of the best taxi drivers around. people do things in the heat of the moment, get over it and get a life. ricky, devon commented on 12-Mar-2010 17:44 * Sahah, Ford Plymouth, Please stop writing a load of utter crap! All EU licence holders are prone to getting points for all sorts of trafic offences, i know this because i live on the EU fest land and i have an EU licence issused to me in Germany. And by the way ,i did my driving lessons and test in England. Plymouth lad, away from home commented on 12-Mar-2010 17:42 * She got what she deserved, thank God she didn't kill anyone being a total FOOL! Plymouth lad, away from home commented on 12-Mar-2010 17:35 * i feel so sorry for this lady,she is only trying to earn a living,being jailed for 8 months is a complete joke,some taxi drivers with eu licences dont get any points on there licence and therefore drive with no respect on our roads. sarah, ford plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 17:34 * Zena & Rob, Plymouth; serves her right! There was no logical need to jump the light and it doesn't matter what time of day you break the law you are still breaking the law! At the end of the day though she will be given three good meals a day be able to put her feet up and rest watching TV socialising and playing games etc on a luxurious holiday whilst we pay for it. When she comes out all nicely refreshed she will jump back in her taxi and work hard remembering to stop at traffic lights!!! Lee, Devon commented on 12-Mar-2010 17:21 * This Lady comes from an excellent Background Harry, Taxi Drivers in Plymouth aren't real Taxi Drivers anymore, Think to your self when was the last time you got in a cab and had the driver talk pleasently to you, also knew where he or she was going to without driving without due care and attension with their eyes in a sat nav ? Tracey was one of the last good taxi drivers, had good knowlege, talked to the customers and was a safe driver, by the way the camerea recorded her speed at 12mph through the light, she made a stupid mistake by lying agreed, there were no customers on board, and it was the early hours of the morning, so no pedestrians. 8 months for this is an absolute joke, she was not one of the wreckless drivers referred to by DJ, but myself as a taxi driver know and agree totally with some cab drivers, being horiffic drivers. Shame This woman made a mistake and now she is paying for it. So perhaps all your nasty comments should be kept to yourselves. Zena & Rob, Plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 16:57 * There's a big difference between lying and perverting the course of justice. About an eight month difference. Benny Factor, Old Bailey commented on 12-Mar-2010 16:56 * this lady lied , and was sent to prison , I know some councilors that lied in the lead up to the last local elections , so they should be sent to prison johnno, pennycomequick commented on 12-Mar-2010 16:39 * Perverting the caourse of Justice is a serious offence so I understand why she has been given a custodial sentence BUT...........................has anyone else noticed that all the people Gilbert has sent down just recently are women and that they have been for monetary offences whereas anyone in front of him for what I consider more serious offences of a sexual matter he lets them go free. Doesn't make any sense to me Jules, Plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 16:36 * Have another read of the article Mick the garage itself didnt actually supply the invoice it was a friend who worked at the garage who gave her a blank invoice. Wes T Park, Plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 16:26 * Beat someone to a pulp and rob them and you'll get community service. Tell a lie and you'll get 8 months. No wonder they're being told not to imprison burglars, they need the prison places for pensioners who can't pay their council tax or anyone who lies to the police. William, Plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 16:25 * 8 months seems a bit harsh. Our friend Mr GIlbert has sentenced pedophiles to much less. Bobby 2 Bob, Plymouth Crown Court commented on 12-Mar-2010 16:07 * She produced an invoice from the garage detailing repairs costing £135.44. A police expert examined the cab and found the brakes had NOT been repaired" So have the garage been nicked too as accomplices? Mick, Barbican commented on 12-Mar-2010 16:02 * its fair enough that she had time off due to stress and she suffered financialy but then thats still no excuse for running a red light they are there for a reason, to be fair the attitude of most taxi drivers in plymouth is discusting, they have no regard for other people on the road and tend to think that because there on it most of the day that they own it, a colleague of mine was hit from behind by a taxi cab whilst on his motorbike and to his shock the driver drove off using the excuse that his fair had to be someware to pick there children up! Now stopping after accedent is law isnt it? correct me if im wrong, driving a taxi does not give you the authority to break it and i beleive the judge got it right red lights are there for a reason!!! DJ, plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 15:59 * It serves her right for not having a terrible upbringing, a poor education and parents that were drug taking drunks. Maybe next time she'll beat up an old lady or smuggle drugs into the country, then it'll just be community service and a naughty girl statement. Harry, Plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 15:55 * if they put cameras on all the traffic lights in plymouth they would raise a mint from the £60 fines-especially from some taxi AND busdrivers! jude, plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 15:53 * surely this is a joke. Next week they will be crying that the prisons are over-crowded. john, plymouth commented on 12-Mar-2010 15:47