A LORRY driver claimed he was not at the wheel twice when his tachograph time limit was exceeded.

But Daniel Caprani’s attempt to avoid blame for driving longer than permitted could have landed him a prison sentence for perverting the course of justice.

Durham Crown Court was told he was stop checked by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency at Wellfield, off the A19, on April 17 last year.

Tachograph readings revealed the lorry was driven for 17 and 20 minutes longer than allowed by a single driver on April 6 and 16, respectively. In both cases carrying on for a further 9km after the safe time limit expired.

Caprani said his boss drove the extra distance on April 16 and another driver, ‘Eric’, did so, on April 6.

Susannah Proctor, prosecuting, said his boss denied driving the vehicle and the other man was not traced, although Caprani wrote a note signed by ‘Eric’, on the record card claiming he had driven the vehicle.

Caprani later admitted having written the note himself.

The 51-year-old driver, of Newland Avenue, Hull, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice and two tachograph offences.

Describing his attempt to evade justice as, “extremely foolish”, Judge Jonathan Carroll ordered Caprani to perform 90 hours’ unpaid work, fined him £300, with £285 in costs and statutory surcharge.