A MAN stopped by police for a motoring offence let his unsuspecting brother take the rap, a court was told.

Kevin Dacey knew nothing about being fined £510 until his brother Sean finally confessed what he had done, prosecutor Sam Butterfield told Swindon Crown Court.

Sean Dacey was stopped because of a badly loaded car and asked to identify himself.

But instead of giving his own details he gave Kevin's name and address in Cross Street.

Some months later he was a passenger in his mother's car when it was also pulled over by police officers.

He got out and walked away, but one of the officers recognised him, asked the other occupants who he was and was given the correct information.

In the meantime his brother had been convicted at the magistrates court in his absence.

Dacey, 21, of Drakes way, admitted intending to pervert the course of justice, driving without a licence and having no insurance.

Jonathan Simpson, defending, said that on the day of making his foolish attempt to deceive the officers, Dacey had told his brother what had happened.

His brother had gone to the police station several times to make them aware.

"He was asking his brother to shop him.

"But it appears the police were more than content to let the offence take its natural course," said Mr Simpson.

Jailing Dacey for three months, Judge Thomas Longbotham pointed out that Kevin Dacey had been working on a contract in Northampton.

He had said in a statement that he had no idea how his brother came to have the car on January 6.

Dacey, who has previous convictions for disorderly behaviour, theft and criminal damage, was given no separate penalty for having no licence or insurance.