DARREN Avery, of Crossway Green, near Stourport, gave his brother's name when he was stopped by police and the lie caused a lot of trouble, Worcester Crown Court was told.

His brother was summoned to court, tried in his absence and convicted. The sentence included a driving ban and community punishment.

Steps to clear him only began after Darren Avery had gone to police and confessed. "I just can't live with the guilt any more," he told them, said Adam Western, prosecuting.

Avery, 34, of Short Hill caravan site, was jailed for five months after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Nicolas Cartwright, defending, said Avery had given the false name because he was scared of being caught driving without insurance but he had since taken steps to put things right with his brother.

Judge Andrew Geddes said the false information had almost cost the brother his job. Avery had been jailed in 2000 for a similar offence and that should have been a warning.