A WOMAN who made fake insurance documents for her illiterate partner has been told by a judge she is extremely lucky not to go to prison.

Leanne Williams, of Minors Crescent, Darlington, made a false insurance certificate and letter for her partner, Anthony Peacock, who struggles with reading and writing.

Darlington Magistrates’ Court heard 31-year-old Williams looks after all the couple’s bills and created the documents on her computer as the pair could not afford to pay for the insurance.

However, Peacock, who relies on Williams, was not aware the documents were false and as a result, the 33-year-old was stopped by the police and charged with driving without insurance.

He appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court earlier this year where Williams supplied the court with the fake insurance details.

Brenda Robertson, of the probation service, said the insurance for Peacock’s Ford Transit van was due to be paid on December 21, but the couple, who have three children, could not afford to pay for both Christmas and the insurance.

She said: "She spent money on Christmas and not the insurance.”

As a result the insurance policy was stopped, but Williams did not tell her partner, who suffers from anxiety, as she was worried it would “send him over the edge.”

Williams admitted two counts of making and supplying an article for use in fraud and was sentenced to a 12-month community order with 12 months of supervision. She was also ordered to pay £60 victim surcharge and £50 costs.

District Judge Adrian Lower said she was lucky not to face a charge of perverting the course of justice.

He said: “I am sure I would be justified in sending you to custody for these offences as they are very serious.

“I am sure that since you were arrested you have thought long and hard about just how foolish you were to think that the solution to your partner’s problem was to create false insurance certificates and a letter.

“You would have put Mr Peacock at risk of him being arrested for this offence. I am sure the suspicion would have fallen on him as the driver that he must be the person behind creating false documents.”

Peacock also appeared in court and admitted four charges of driving without insurance, but his case was adjourned to allow the court to hear his exceptional circumstances.