A RETIRED couple from Hampshire who lied about a speeding ticket, claiming the driver was a man they knew in Australia, avoided jail today for perverting the course of justice.

David and Maureen Jones, of Andover, lied to protect their son-in-law after he was caught driving at 45mph in a 30mph zone in Exmouth, Devon in July last year.

Mrs Jones, 72, claimed that the driver of the Toyota Prius was David Lee, from Sydney, so police sent the speeding notice to him.

Meanwhile, Mr Lee, who has not been in the UK since 1999, was sent an e-mail by Mr Jones saying ''I knew it was a mistake to lend you my brand new Prius''.

The 74-year-old also wrote: ''I reckon one of them bobbies will come knocking on your door very shortly.'' Plymouth Crown Court heard that Mr Lee contacted the police to tell them he was not the driver and used his passport to prove that he had not been in the country for eight years.

The Joneses continued to claim that Mr Lee was the driver until they were arrested and interviewed by police in October when they admitted perverting the course of justice saying they had been ''very silly'' and were trying to protect their son-in-law.

The couple were each sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for one year.

They were also both fined £1,000 and both ordered to pay £650 costs.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC said he normally punishes the offence with immediate custody but would suspend the sentences due to the couple's age and health.

''You persisted in your dishonesty until interviewed by police,'' he said.

''What you did was utterly shameful.

''You have betrayed the trust your respectable friends placed in you.

''If all you had to do was put up some chum on the other side of the world we could all do that and it would be a complete waste of time.''