A MAN from Thurrock who used the identities of two dead children in an attempt to avoid traffic offences has been jailed.

Vehicles registered to Chinedu Ebili were caught speeding on seven separate occasions on the A13 in Wennington, A127 in Laindon, A40 North Wharf Road in London, the A282 Dartford Crossing, the A13 in Thurrock, and A406 North Circular Road between 30 January 2016 and 14 January 2018.

On each occasion a letter asking Ebili to identify who was driving were sent out.

In response Ebili, sent back the details of five different individuals including an Austrian national and two Nigerian nationals.

He also provided the details of two people who, it turned out, were children who had died 20 years earlier.

Through their investigations officers also identified the details of the two children – who died in 1997 and 1998, the oldest being just a week old – were falsely provided to the DVLA in order to obtain provisional driving licences.

Letters were sent in response either elicited no response or failed to confirm whether the alleged foreign nationals were properly insured.

After failing to receive a satisfactory response, officers visited Ebili's home address to issue further letters to identify the driver of the vehicle.

During interview he claimed one of the dead boys was the boyfriend of a friend of his wife but later admitting he was driving the driver in all but one of offences.

Ebili, 35, of St Leonards Close, Grays, was later charged with perverting the course of justice and, at a hearing at Basildon Crown Court on 16 January 2020 pleaded guilty.

At the same court on 21 February he was sentenced to 15 months in prison.

Investigating officer Chris Sydric said: "The nature of Chinedu Ebili's crime, trying to give false details in order to get out of a speeding offence, is not uncommon.

"However, what is so striking and shocking about this case is that he did this using the identities of children who had died as babies 20 years ago.

"These actions are disgusting and could re-awaken the trauma of losing these two children for their parents.

"Trying to avoid facing up is never acceptable but to do it in this pre-meditated manner is particularly callous."