Luke Muscroft was hailed a hero last July when he chased and tackled a thief who had stolen a handbag from a woman in a street robbery, heard Doncaster Crown Court.

His lawyer Guy Wyatt told the hearing he had tackled the robber and recovered the handbag before giving police information to help them make an arrest.

But the 23-year-old, of Lesley Avenue, Conisbrough, has received a suspended jail sentence and a curfew for trying to pin offences of speeding and driving without a seatbelt on friend Mark Peart.

He admitted two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Muscroft was stopped by police on July 13 2007 driving a Citroen Saxo on Church Street, Conisbrough, by police who saw him with no seatbelt. He gave them Mr Peart's name and was handed a fixed penalty notice.

Then he was stopped again on January 22 for speeding, telling police again he was Mr Peart, who he had known for around two years.

Brian Outhwaite, prosecuting, said Mr Peart was summonsed to court twice and denied any involvement with either matter.

Police had video footage of Muscroft at the wheel on the speeding offence and showed it to Mr Peart, who was able to identify him.

Police arrested Muscroft who was charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice and two counts of driving without insurance, which he also admitted.

Mr Wyatt said Muscroft should be given credit for his good character and his early guilty plea. He said his partner was pregnant and due to give birth soon.

Recorder Caroline Wigin told him: "The law takes a very serious view of attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving other people's names."

She handed him a 16 week suspended jail sentence and ordered him to complete 100 hours unpaid community work.

Muscroft was given a one month curfew from 7pm until 7am, during which he will be electronically tagged, banned him from driving for two years and ordered him to pay £50 costs.

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