AN award-winning North-East businesswoman has been jailed after she "criminalised decent people" by paying employees to take speeding points on her behalf.

Anne Ganley, 59, who was awarded an OBE in 2013, admitted 14 offences relating to the scam that lasted more than five years.

Accused of perverting the course of justice, the former head of the Sunderland-based builders' merchants Thompson & Sons Ltd was jailed for 30 months.

Her son, Brent Ganley, aged 39, of Biddick Lane, Washington, was also jailed for nine months for the same offence.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that after receiving speeding tickets, Ganley would offer cash to her workers, including one who was a pensioner, if they took the points for her.

Ganley, of Ashbrooke, Sunderland, received the OBE in recognition of her services to employment, industry, her local community and her charity work.

In the same year, the former North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year was declared bankrupt after a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs had forced her company into administration.

Superintendent Nicola Musgrove of Northumbria Police said: "This has been an intricate and sensitive case that has hugely impacted on the lives of those who have sadly been dragged into this ordeal.

"The team has done a fantastic job in getting to the bottom of this investigation and now, Anne and Brent Ganley are now serving a prison sentence for their selfish actions.

"I hope this shows that no one is above the law and how someone such as Anne Ganley, who has been so well-respected in the community, has shattered her reputation and completely abused her authority and I'm sure people of Sunderland and beyond will be outraged and hugely disappointed in her.

"She has criminalised decent people."

The others sentenced for perverting the course of justice were: Thomas Barraclough, 68, of Castlereagh Street, Sunderland, who was jailed for six months; Joseph Dobbie, 71, of Tudor Grove, Sunderland, was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months; Gavin Hazard, 35, of Westheath Avenue, Sunderland, was sentenced to 12 months suspended for 18 months and 100 hours of unpaid work;

Michael Turner, 50, of Drumoyne Close, East Herrington, was sentenced to nine months suspended for 18 months and 120 hours of unpaid work.

Ruth Pilmore, 62, of Portman Square, Sunderland, was sentenced to five months suspended for 18 months and 100 hours of unpaid work; James Green, 63, of Londonderry Tower, Sunderland, was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months and 80 hours of unpaid work; Michael Flynn, 56 also of Londonderry Tower, Sunderland, was sentenced to eight months suspended for 18 months and 120 hours of unpaid work; Kelly Todd, 35, of Sea View, Sunderland, was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months and 100 hours of unpaid work.

David Elliot, 38, from Gardiner Square, Sunderland, was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months and 100 hours of unpaid work and Wayne Cullen, 44, from Victoria Street, Hetton-le-Hole, was sentenced to six months suspended for 18 months and 100 hours of unpaid work.