Mother and son jailed over false job letter
A mother accused of typing a letter which purported to show her son had a new job in order to get his curfew lifted by a court has been jailed with him for four months.
Her husband, who signed the letter, was also sentenced to four months in custody but the prison term was suspended for a year with 200 hours unpaid work ordered.
In March a crown court jury took just 30 minutes to convict Matthew Burns, 23, of Bron y Buckley, Welshpool, who'd been on bail for affray, and his factory worker mum Amanda Chambers, 46, and stepfather Richard Chambers, 58, who ran a garage – both of Clos Glandwr, Newtown – of trying to pervert the course of justice.
Sentencing them at Caernarfon Crown Court, Judge Merfyn Hughes QC said the letter purported to show Burns had obtained night-time work at an accident repair centre.
"It was a blatant attempt to deceive the court," the judge said.
Police made inquiries but each of the defendants continued to deny the letter was false.
Judge Hughes told the mother: "You are a woman of mature age with no previous convictions.
"It is very disappointing you appear before the court for such a serious offence," he added.
"The fact there was no direct benefit for you goes without saying."
He was satisfied Richard Chambers was a "reluctant participant" and all he did was sign the letter when his wife asked him to do so.
But the judge added: "Such an offence undermines the very system of criminal justice."
Anna Pope, defending, said Amanda Chambers's actions were "misguided rather than malicious."
Miss Pope remarked: "She recognises she did something wrong."
She worked for Laura Ashley, counsel added. Defence barrister Paulinus Barnes said Richard Chambers was "well respected" in the community.
John Oates, representing Burns, urged the judge not to jail him.
