A MOTORIST who tried to outwit police after he was caught speeding has been fined almost £5,000.

Gary Chapman’s Volkswagen Passat was recorded by a speed camera in battle and then shooting through a red light in Worthing on consecutive days.

The 52-year-old denied ever being in those areas and insisted he his number plate must have been cloned.

Chapman, of Gunters Lane, Bexhill, went as far as ordering new number plates and fitting them to his vehicle to convince the cops he was the victim of cloning.

The first offence happened at 1.05pm on 21 September 2013 when Chapman's Volkswagen was photographed going passed a 30mph speed camera at 43mph on the A271 North Trade Road in Battle.

The next day the same car activated a red light camera at 7.50am on the A27 at Lyons Farm in Worthing.

But despite his insistence he was the victim - police used traffic cameras, mobile phone records and his bank statements to prove he was there.

After he was arrested and interviewed, Chapman admitted he had been driving the car when it was caught by the cameras, adding that he had changed the numberplates to avoid the fine.

Detective Constable Nick O'Shaughnessy said: "Chapman wanted to avoid getting the six points for the driving offences as they would have taken him up to the 12-point limit and he could have been banned.

"Instead he has got a criminal record, a long stretch of community service to do and a big fine.

"Chapman dug a hole for himself that he couldn't get out of.

"This case shows how trying to lie your way out of trouble can cost you far more than if you accept what you have done and take your punishment."

Chapman, pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court on 19 June.

He was given a six-month suspended prison sentence, told to do 200 hours of community service and ordered to pay a £3,500 fine, £1,200 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.