A DROITWICH man has been made the subject of a suspended prison sentence after he persuaded his wife to take the fine after he was caught speeding.

Medical sales representative James Allen, 42, might have got away with it if he had not boasted to work colleagues.

Swansea crown court heard today that one of them tipped off the police.

Allen, and his wife Kay, 41, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice. He was jailed for four months, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for the community.

His wife was told to work for 150 hours.

The court heard that Allen had been worried about losing his job having already been disciplined for speeding in his company car.

However, following his arrest, he was sacked and is now unemployed.

Brian Simpson, prosecuting, said Allen had been caught by a speed camera on the A478 at Pentlepoir near Tenby, west Wales, on April 29, 2012.

After being questioned by police almost two years later, both the Allens immediately admitted what they had done.

Paul Hobson, representing James Allen, said the father of three was a qualified and registered nurse but his professional future was now in doubt. He had hoped to retrain as a chiropodist but that was also in doubt.

“He must take the lion’s share of the blame, and it is right and proper that he does so. It was his idea,” added Mr Hobson.

He said the couple had been forced to sell their home in Falstaff Road, Droitwich, and were “financially struggling.”

The court heard that his wife’s intention was to help her husband to keep his job, but now the General Medical Council would decide whether she would keep her roles as a district and surgical nurse.

Judge Michael Burr said the couple had acted deliberately.

James Allen, he said, had taken advantage of a faithful and loving wife in the hope of keeping his job and it was right that he accepted greater responsibility for trying to pervert the course of justice.

“But she went along with the notion. Afterwards, you both did everything right.

”The consequences have been immense. James Allen has lost his job and his wife’s future has been put in jeopardy,” he added.