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Councillor told babysitter to lie, claim
25 January 2006 08:22
A Norwich city councillor was yesterday accused of inventing an elaborate “web of deceit” to escape drink-driving charges.
Samantha Allison, 38, is said to have asked a 15-year-old babysitter to cover up for her after she failed an alcohol test in October 2003.
The Liberal Democrat councillor offered money to the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to say she had not been drunk when she drove home after a night out, King's Lynn Crown Court was told.
Hugh Vass, prosecuting, said Allison lied “willy-nilly” in a bid to outwit police and escape prosecution.
“A blood sample was taken and there is no issue, she was over the limit,” said Mr Vass. “She said she had had a glass of wine when she got home and had then finished the bottle.
“She tried to muddy the waters with completely erroneous material and tried to bolster her defence by getting a 15-year-old babysitter to make a false account.
“Samantha Allison is not just some unfortunate single mum, she is a Liberal Democrat councillor, someone who should know better.”
The jury heard that Allison stood over the babysitter and helped her construct a statement which claimed she drunk the wine after returning from an evening out.
But, in a video interview shown in court, the girl said Allison had smelt of alcohol when she arrived home and had been laughing “at anything”.
The Thorpe Hamlet councillor was charged and denied the allegation of drink-driving.
When the case came to court she was acquitted, but police continued to investigate because she had complained about their alleged heavy-handed treatment.
It was then officers uncovered the allegation that Allison had made the babysitter lie weeks after the drink-driving accusation.
During interview, the girl claimed: “I wrote down what she said but I knew it wasn't the truth.”
Mr Vass said Allison, of Elizabeth Fry Road, Norwich, had then accused the babysitter and her mother of conspiring against her.
She has denied attempting to pervert the course of justice by obtaining a false statement.
The trial continues.
25 January 2006 08:22
A Norwich city councillor was yesterday accused of inventing an elaborate “web of deceit” to escape drink-driving charges.
Samantha Allison, 38, is said to have asked a 15-year-old babysitter to cover up for her after she failed an alcohol test in October 2003.
The Liberal Democrat councillor offered money to the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, to say she had not been drunk when she drove home after a night out, King's Lynn Crown Court was told.
Hugh Vass, prosecuting, said Allison lied “willy-nilly” in a bid to outwit police and escape prosecution.
“A blood sample was taken and there is no issue, she was over the limit,” said Mr Vass. “She said she had had a glass of wine when she got home and had then finished the bottle.
“She tried to muddy the waters with completely erroneous material and tried to bolster her defence by getting a 15-year-old babysitter to make a false account.
“Samantha Allison is not just some unfortunate single mum, she is a Liberal Democrat councillor, someone who should know better.”
The jury heard that Allison stood over the babysitter and helped her construct a statement which claimed she drunk the wine after returning from an evening out.
But, in a video interview shown in court, the girl said Allison had smelt of alcohol when she arrived home and had been laughing “at anything”.
The Thorpe Hamlet councillor was charged and denied the allegation of drink-driving.
When the case came to court she was acquitted, but police continued to investigate because she had complained about their alleged heavy-handed treatment.
It was then officers uncovered the allegation that Allison had made the babysitter lie weeks after the drink-driving accusation.
During interview, the girl claimed: “I wrote down what she said but I knew it wasn't the truth.”
Mr Vass said Allison, of Elizabeth Fry Road, Norwich, had then accused the babysitter and her mother of conspiring against her.
She has denied attempting to pervert the course of justice by obtaining a false statement.
The trial continues.
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