Prison for driver who gave police the name of his former chauffeur

But now Paul Brennan has been jailed for six months after admitting to perverting the course of justice.

Brennan, 60, of Channel Way, Southampton, told officers he was Martin Bailey when pulled over for driving without insurance last April.

Mr Bailey, a Dorset-based lorry driver and former chauffeur for Brennan, was then convicted in absence last October and fined £725 with six points added to his licence.

But Mr Bailey disputed the sentence and soon after Brennan was arrested.

In a statement read out to the court, Mr Bailey said: “I was very distressed. Getting the six points would have cost me my job and I would not have been able to pay my bills and my entire life would have been affected. It would have left me totally unemployable.”

Brennan, who managed building contractors, had been banned from driving twice in three years – for 18 months after driving while under the influence in 2010 and a further 20 months for driving while disqualified in 2011.

Defending, Mark Sullivan said Brennan had panicked because of his disqualification and had not considered the consequences for Mr Bailey.

He said: “Had he wished to carry the deceit further he could have said it wasn’t him after he was arrested, but he didn’t; he came completely clean. It was a panicked reaction and he did not realise the seriousness of what he had done.”

But Judge Peter Henry QC said Brennan would have known how serious the situation was because of the punishment former Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne received for a similar crime that was in the news at the time.

The judge said: “You were perfectly aware of the seriousness of what was going on. There was a very well-publicised case in the press on a similar subject and you must have been totally aware of the consequences.

“Not only did you give another name but you persisted with it until the police arrested you. You made no attempt to rescue Mr Bailey.”

Brennan’s driving ban was also extended by three years.