A dad who claimed he was robbed at gunpoint was today jailed after his web of lies was exposed.
Paul Audley told police he was the victim of a carjacking in which his Audi RS 6 was stolen.
But the 40-year-old - who involved his girlfriend in his deception - had actually crashed the vehicle.
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Liverpool Crown Court heard an incident took place outside Audley's home in Deverill Road, Rock Ferry, on Saturday, January 16 last year.
Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said: "It was reported to the police there were males armed with machetes.
"Because of that report, police spoke to the defendant and advised him and his family they should stay the night away from their home."
Recorder Michael Blakey asked whether this report of "men with machetes outside his property" came from the Audley.
Mr Hopkins said: "I don't think so, that was information police received of an incident that did take place."
That night, at 10.30pm, a member of the public reported that he had seen a car crash in nearby Bebington Road.
Mr Hopkins said: "It was the defendant's Audi RS 6. The witness informed the police that he had seen the driver make off on foot."
Officers attended the scene and noted the driver's airbag had been deployed.
Mr Hopkins said: "About 10 minutes later, the defendant's partner phoned the police, presumably at the defendant's instigation, and reported that the car had been stolen at gunpoint.
"Officers attended the defendant's address that evening and took a statement from him.
"He reported that a car had come up behind him, eventually pulled in front of him and slammed on its brakes, forcing him to stop.
"A male had got out of the car and came to the driver's side window, holding what appeared to be a firearm, telling the defendant to get out of the car. The man then left the scene, and the defendant was able to run away."
The next morning, officers went to speak to Audley again, to ask him for a DNA sample and to make CCTV enquiries.
Mr Hopkins said Audley was "reluctant" to speak to the police and when they asked for the sample, told them he wanted to "leave it".
Audley said he no longer supported a prosecution and then made a retraction statement.
Police sent the driver's airbag for analysis, which revealed a mixed DNA result, to which Audley could have been "a substantial contributor".
Audley was interviewed on March 5 last year, when he made no comment, but provided a prepared statement.
Mr Hopkins said Audley stated "he was unsurprised in summary that his DNA was found on the airbag, as he had removed it while looking for a leak in the vehicle".
The prosecutor said this "put police to further trouble" as they had to get an expert report on whether this was plausible, which found "that was not a sensible explanation".
After indicating he would plead not guilty when he appeared before magistrates, Audley finally admitted perverting the course of public justice at a crown court hearing.
He has 11 previous convictions for 16 offences, including handling stolen goods, dangerous driving, commercial burglaries and most recently drug driving.
Alaric Walmsley, defending, said his client's partner was in court to support him and had written a letter to the judge.
He said a pre-sentence report set out "the problems the defendant faced when he was younger and the difficulties he has himself, even more recent events, such as the passing of his mother".
He argued there were "realistic prospects of rehabilitation" and Audley had set up a business and employed staff in the year since the incident.
Mr Walmsley said there would be a significant harmful impact on others if he was jailed and that Audley and his girlfriend wanted him to stress problems faced by their little boy, who "is described as non-verbal and suffers with autism".
He said: "I'm told he has two hospital visits this month."
Recorder Blakey told Audley he decided to drive his Audi that night "for reasons known to yourself", before he crashed it and ran away.
The judge said it was assumed his partner then rang the police "at your behest" to say the car had been "stolen at gunpoint".
He said: "That was a plain lie."
Recorder Blakey said Audley then made a statement, which was "a complete fabrication", before telling more lies when interviewed.
He said he noted the contents of his girlfriend's letter, adding: "You in her view have been changing your ways. You have worked, you have a business, and you employ somebody.
"You with your partner have young children and one of them is not particularly well, has autism, and of course he needs support."
However, the judge said it was a "persistent" and "prolonged" case of perverting the course of justice.
Jailing him for 12 months, Recorder Blakey said: "The police and those investigating the offence had to carry out numerous investigations in order to find out what had happened, when you knew right from the start what you had done. Notwithstanding that, you persisted with your deception for months."
Audley's girlfriend sobbed in the public gallery and leant over the glass screen of the dock to hold his hand before he was sent down.
Merseyside Police said it did not have a mugshot of Audley because he attended a voluntary police interview.
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