A man who claimed his number plates had been stolen has been fined after police discovered he made it up to avoid a speeding ticket.

He said the plates were stolen while he was parked in Girlington, Bradford.

However, the man was spotted on CCTV driving the car with the plates still intact more than an hour after the theft was reported.

Police said the man admitted he had been flashed by a speed camera and thought he could get away with it if he reported the plates stolen.

He was fined for making a false report and will now have a criminal record.

A police spokesman said: “For speeding, he would have been issued a fine and possible points on his licence, but would not now have a criminal record which could affect his future.”