Jailed ex-special constable changed story to claim she had not received speeding penalty

A former officer has been jailed for six months after lying about a speeding ticket to protect her boyfriend. Nikki Clarke`s black Lexus triggered a speed camera at 38mph in a 30mph zone, and she claimed she was driving on the form sent to her. But the former West Midlands Police (WMP) special constable then ignored further letters and failed to attend court following a summons, claiming she never received it. She was found guilty in her absence in March last year after the speeding offence on Birmingham`s Yardley Wood Road in July, 2015. But Clarke, 35, of Birmingham, then began to question the evidence against her and claimed that she could not have been driving as she had been at work all day with the only set of keys. Police Constable Jason Dooley, from WMP’s camera enforcement unit, said: “Ultimately an image of the offending vehicle taken by the camera showed the driver clearly as Clarke’s ex-partner, who did not hold a UK licence and was disqualified from driving.” Clarke then alleged that she was a victim of domestic abuse and had reported this several times to police, refusing to give evidence against her ex as she was scared of him. However a search of the WMP systems revealed no such reports. Clarke was found guilty of perverting the course of justice last month at Birmingham Crown Court after a two day trial, and has now been sentenced.