WA man avoids jail for lying to police

A 36-year-old Perth man who paid a friend to lie to police has avoided jail after pleading guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Bradley James Mawdesley was under the influence of methamphetamine and driving with a suspended licence when he sped away from police in October 2011.

Police visited the vehicle owner's home and were told a man named Bradley had the car.

Mawdesley then approached a friend, Trevor Slater, and offered him $1500 to say he was the driver.

Slater was paid an initial sum of $200 and said he evaded police because he had had a few drinks.

On the day before his court appearance, Slater gave police a signed statement explaining his agreement with Mawdesley.

Both men were then charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and Slater was sentenced to eight months behind bars, suspended for 18 months.

Perth District Court judge Philip Eaton said on Friday that Mawdesley's offending was "far worse" than Slater's involvement.

He noted that Mawdesley had a criminal record and had pleaded guilty late in the court process, but said he had not offended in about two-and-a-half years.

"You have, as you claim, actually put behind you those factors in your life which were bringing you before the courts, I have to say on a pretty regular basis, for a period of some 10 or 15 years," Judge Eaton said.

Mawdesley was sentenced to 18 months in jail, suspended for two years.