A businessman caught speeding near his home forged a letter claiming he was in Wales at the time to try to escape a £60 fine.

But David King's lies were uncovered by police and he ended up receiving a suspended jail sentence.

King, 38, of Sunview Avenue, Peacehaven, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice and speeding when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court.

He was given a six month jail sentence suspended for two years and was ordered to carry out 260 hours unpaid work in the community.

He was fined £100 for speeding and had three penalty points put on his driving licence. He must also pay £1,500 costs.

The court was told King, who had a clean driving licence before the incident, was caught by a speed camera driving at 38mph in a 30mph zone along the A259 at Peacehaven on the morning of June 6 2008.

But he denied being the driver and when the case went to Lewes Magistrates’ Court King produced a letter claiming to be from his company's transport manager stating he had been in Wales on the day of the offence.

King, whose business Southern Logistics had gone into administration, had forged the letter.