Yahoo News Criminology student, 25, tried to frame her sister after she was caught driving 100mph on the M6
A former university criminology student who tried to frame her sister after she was caught drug-driving at 100mph on a motorway has been spared jail after her sibling wrote to a judge saying she had forgiven her.
Aneesha Khan, 25, gave her sister Naila's name and address when she failed a roadside police test for cannabis after being stopped around 70 miles from her home in a friend's Seat Leon on the M6. A court heard Naila knew nothing of the incident, until she received a court notice in the post weeks later and contacted police. Inquiries revealed Aneesha was banned from driving at the time.
When quizzed Aneesha, of Belle Isle, Leeds, cited escaping an abusive marriage and claimed friends had ''pressured' her to drive the Seat and give her sister's details in the event she was stopped, as her sister was insured to drive it.
At Chester Crown Court, Aneesha faced up to two years in jail under sentencing guidelines after she pleaded guilty to drug driving, perverting the course of public justice and driving without a driving licence.
But a judge suspended her 12-month prison sentence for 18 months after Naila wrote a glowing character reference, saying her sister was ''selfless'' and that the whole family was standing by her.
The court heard Khan had previously been banned from driving for six months in January 2023 for motoring offences - but although she was entitled to get her licence back the following July, she did not apply for it. The incident occurred a month later at midnight on August 20 last year when the Seat was spotted speeding along the southbound carriageway of the M6 near Junction 20 at Lymm, Cheshire.
Prosecutor Peter Hussey, said: "The defendant was some distance from her home address travelling at something approaching 100mph on what was a maximum speed limit of 70mph. The officer decided that he would flag the car down at Tabley services and as he got there he drove in front of the defendant's car, ordered her to stop and she followed him off the motorway and into the services area.
“When he spoke to her she was asked her details and she gave the name of Naila Khan, her address in Leeds and a mobile phone number. The officer describes how the defendant appeared relaxed but under the influence of something. Her concentration span was short. Her speech was slow and slurred and her eyes were glazed.
“She was asked if she had used cannabis and she confirmed that she had. The officer conducted a roadside drug test for cannabis, she failed and as a result was arrested and transported to Middlewich custody suite where she was still providing the false but correct details of her sister.. Subsequently she was reported for speeding and potentially for drug driving.'
''Later the police Central Ticket Office was in correspondence from Naila Khan saying that she did not know anything about this incident saying said she had been at home all night. So the officer rang the number he was given by the defendant and he spoke to the defendant's sister. Further checks were made and it turned out the defendant was at the address and the officer discovered the driving disqualification.
“She duly attended for an interview and admitted that she was driving a friend's car whllst unlicensed and uninsured so she decided to give false details in the hope the whole thing would go away. She was contrite about it in interview.”
Gareth Roberts, defending, said: "For a young woman who has rarely been in trouble in her life, the reality that she could go to prison today has been a massive and profound lesson to her. She comes from a close community and essentially a law-abiding family. Her sister was here for her plea hearing but she is working today. She has written a reference.
“She explains Aneesha excelled at school, took four A-levels, and, perhaps ironically, studied criminology at Leeds University."
The barrister said she had been subjected to violence and controlling and coercive behaviour, and was diagnosed with PTSD. She started smoking cannabis, he said, partly to self-medicate.
Mr Roberts said: "She said she had been out with the people that night when the issue arose as to who would drive. It was a male friend's car and her sister had at some point been insured to drive it. They decided, and put a bit of pressure on her, that she should be the person to drive.
“Stupidly that is what she did and not surprisingly, when driving at 100mph she was stopped. In an act of extreme folly she gave her sister's details rather than her own. Since then she has changed her life. She no longer takes cannabis. The sister writes extremely lovingly of her sister in the reference. The family continues to support her. She is a young woman who has learned her lesson.”
Khan was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and ten days of rehabilitation activity. Judge Michael Leeming told her: “Your decision to pretend to be your sister hindered the investigation and took valuable police time and resources as well as causing your sister difficulty, I have no doubt.
“One thing about your sister Naila, she makes no reference to the impact on her. Instead she says one of your most admirable qualities is your selflessness. It seems that you did not give your sister a thought other than to provide her name to get you out of a situation. You showed very little regard for your sister but she has forgiven you."
