Couple’s daring email hoax lands them in court

Fake email scheme to clear man’s name backfires

Jamie Jess Kightley, 27, and Danielle Louise Driver, also 27, both from Northampton, hatched a cheeky plan to get Kightley off the hook for a separate crime. They sent a fake email pretending to be the victim, claiming the original accusation against Kightley was made up and apologising for it.

Fraudulent email exposed

If genuine, the email would have torpedoed the entire case against Kightley. But police quickly uncovered the fraud — the email was actually sent by Kightley and Driver themselves, trying to pervert the course of justice.

Sentences handed down at Northampton Crown Court

  • Kightley copped 16 months behind bars
  • Driver got a 12-month community order

Detective Constable Jamie Apps said:

“This was a sordid effort by this pair to try and exonerate Kightley of a crime. As a result of a thorough investigation, it was revealed that the email was a fake and I am pleased that both Kightley and Driver pleaded guilty. The fair delivery of justice is a cornerstone of our society and as a result, any attempt to undermine this process is treated very seriously.”

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