TWO brothers who volunteered to “take the wrap” for a man accused of dangerous driving have avoided a jail sentence.Jason Hill, 19, initially offered to pretend he had been the driver of a car which went through red lights on a level crossing at Olton Broad last August as a favour to a friend who already had a number of points on his licence, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

TWO brothers who volunteered to “take the wrap” for a man accused of dangerous driving have avoided a jail sentence.

Jason Hill, 19, initially offered to pretend he had been the driver of a car which went through red lights on a level crossing at Olton Broad last August as a favour to a friend who already had a number of points on his licence, Ipswich Crown Court heard.He then suggested that his brother Daniel Hill, 22, who was facing a driving ban for other matters, should “take the wrap,” said Peter Gair prosecuting.

When the driver of the car received a notice of intended prosecution it was returned naming Daniel Hill as the driver.

When officers interviewed Daniel Hill in October last year he admitted he had been the driver, said Mr Gair.

However after a summons was issued Daniel Hill said he wanted to dispute being the driver and when he was interviewed by police he said his brother had asked him to say he had been the driver in return for £200.

Jason Hill was arrested and told police he had initially volunteered to say he was the driver for a friend but had then asked his brother to do it in return for money.

The brothers, of Waveney Road, Bungay, admitted perverting the course of justice and were each given a 16-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours unpaid work in the community.

Daniel Hill, who is unemployed was ordered to pay £250 costs while his brother was ordered to pay £500 costs.

The court heard that the car driver had already appeared in court and had been given a suspended sentence for his involvement in the incident.

Sentencing the brothers Judge Neil McKittrick said the behaviour of the motorist they had been seeking to protect by taking the blame for his dangerous driving had been “extremely foolhardy”.

“He went round a stationary vehicle and as the barriers were about to fall he went over the crossing,” said the judge.

Hannah Smith, for the brothers, described what they had done as “foolish”.

She said Daniel Hill had been in a bad way at the time of the offence. He had been addicted to drugs and had been living in a squat. He was now living at home with his mother, was no longer using drugs and had been in work.

She said that at the time Daniel Hill was facing disqualification for driving offences and it was suggested he should take responsibility for the dangerous driving so that his brother's friend wouldn't lose his licence.

Miss Smith said Jason Hill had put his brother forward as the “fall guy” to take the blame for his friend's dangerous driving.