Three members of a football team who conspired to blame a crash on an innocent driver were unmasked as liars when police spotted them in a team picture.
Twenty-two-year-old Marc Fitton had claimed not to know Kenneth Langford (41) and John Leeming (20), who came forward as witnesses following a crash Fitton had in February 2008.
Fitton had claimed that the other driver involved in the smash - 62-year-old Geoffrey Baker - had been driving dangerously.
His story was supported by teammates Langford and Leeming, who posited themselves as independent witnesses, and Baker was duly summonsed for dangerous driving.
However, eagle-eyed cops uncovered the ruse when they spotted the untruthful troika in an online team photograph of amateur side Old Blackburnians.
Fitton, who - his online player profile explains - plays at left back under the soubriquet of 'Pocket Rocket', was arrested with his team-mates after the discovery. The three later admitted conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Appearing at Preston Crown Court yesterday, they were handed 12-month sentences, suspended for two years, along with 200 hours' community service. Each of them was also ordered to pay Baker £500 in compensation.
PC Kate Brady said it was a satisfying end to a "long and complicated investigation".
"All three men were prepared to see an innocent man lose his licence, livelihood and potentially face time in prison," she added.
"We are seeing more and more of these cases and I hope this result sends out a strong message that the police will thoroughly investigate this type of incident and take offences such as this very seriously."
