A former airport taxi driver and his wife have been convicted of perverting the course of justice after she falsely admitted speeding offences to stop him being disqualified.

George Kourti, 52, of Osidge Lane, Southgate, received four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, was disqualified from driving for six months and was ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work.

Helen Kourti, 51, also of Osidge Lane, Southgate, received four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and was ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation days.

Essex Police were made aware about the two separate speed camera activations last year – one on Wednesday, January 9, on the M25 in Epping and another on Monday, September 24, on the A120 in Takely.

On both occasions the vehicles were registered to a taxi firm based at Stansted Airport.

The vehicles were found to be speeding and the company nominated Mr Kourti as the driver on each occasion.

Mrs Kourti then nominated herself as the driver, where she completed a speed awareness course for one offence and accepted points and a fine for the other.

They both appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Thursday, August 1, where they admitted two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Both husband and wife were also ordered to pay £200 in court costs and a £115 victim surge.

Investigating officer Roy Keyes, of Essex Police’s Road Crime Team, said: “Following an investigation, we found Helen Kourti had falsely admitted being the driver of the vehicles at the time of the offences to help her husband avoid disqualification.

“Her husband had nine points on his licence and had already completed a speed awareness course before these speed activations occurred, meaning he would have been banned for a period of time.

“Their lies have made the situation even worse and both have been convicted of serious offences.

“This case highlights that if you lie on the notices that we send you, we will investigate and bring you to court.”