A Barnet man was jailed for two-and-a-half years on Friday after admitting impersonating a police officer.

David Darby, 36, of Lucan Road, had his black Range Rover fitted with blue flashing lights in the front grill. In the early hours of June 8 last year he pulled over a car in East Barnet village and indicated he was going to fine the driver.

But the man he stopped was an off-duty Brent policeman. Two days later the police officer saw Darby again in the Range Rover, and he was arrested.

Protesting his innocence and claiming the officer was lying about what had happened, Darby recruited three associates to come forward to support his claim. They told police - falsely, it later transpired - they were independent' witnesses.

One of the witnesses' was Eftiychia Gazi, 28, from Hitchin, Hertfordshire. She told police she knew Darby, but only vaguely. It later transpired she was Darby's girlfriend and they were living together.

CCTV images from cameras in East Barnet village backed up the policeman's account.

Darby later admitted the impersonation charge and perverting the course of justice.

His defence argued Darby's actions were a piece of silliness which escalated significantly'.

Jailing Darby, who works in security, Judge Ronald Moss said: "What happened, and after that, reeks of dishonesty and is rather unpleasant.

"This is a serious matter. What started off as silliness has ended up as something much more sinister. It was malicious."

Harrow Crown Court heard Darby has a previous conviction for impersonating a policeman. In 1992 he used the same ruse to skip a taxi queue.

Gazi, who pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice, was given a suspended sentence, a community order of 150 hours and told to pay £532 costs.

Her behaviour was immoral and dishonest', Judge Moss said.

Nicholas Sheritis, 26, of Avondale Avenue, Barnet, and Nicholas Benvenga, 46, of Kings Langley, admitted the same charge and were given suspended sentences. Sheritis was also given a community order.

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