Widower faked dead wife's signature to try and blame her for speeding

A beekeeping widower faked his late wife's signature to try and blame her for his motorway speeding offence, a court heard.

Philip Clarkson, 68, forged the signature of his late partner when the letter arrived at their former matrimonial home, requesting information on who was driving.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Tracey Luxford Clarkson, who passed away aged 55 in 2021, was still the registered keeper of a Vauxhall Corsa. 

It was snapped by an M20 camera travelling at 64mph in a 50mph zone on April 12, last year.

When the RTA Form 172 arrived at Clarkson's house in Harefield Road, Brockley he completed it, confirming Tracey was the driver and she was fined and received three penalty points on her still-active driving licence.

He pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice between April 11 and May 18, 2023 and was sentenced to four-week home curfew between 9pm-6am, plus £250 costs.

Judge Andrew Lees told Clarkson the sentencing guidelines suggest a starting point of six months immediate imprisonment.

'This is a very serious offence and in many cases leads to a lot of police time that is completely wasted and there has been an investigation here to get to the bottom of it,' the judge told him.

Prosecutor Arizuna Asante told the court: 'The form, which requires a signed declaration, was signed as Tracey Luxford.

'It was not possible for her to sign that form because she had sadly passed away on September 27, 2021.'

Clarkson was exposed when a subsequent police letter was sent to his address and an unnamed member of the household reported him.

When officers questioned Clarkson he replied 'no comment' to all questions.

'Offences of this kind are always considered very serious by the courts, but this is at the bottom,' announced Judge Lees.

The court heard Clarkson's only income is his pension and he has resided in the same rent-controlled house for the last forty-five years.

'No doubt you have been kicking yourself since you did this and I am sure you will not do anything like this again,' Judge Lees told him.

'No, never again,' replied an obviously relieved Clarkson.