Reported by the Yorkshire Post, the court heard how Andrew Lynch and Hallie Hirst had been at a funeral in November last year when Ms Hirst, who worked for a design company, was said to be too drunk to get behind the wheel of her company car so Lynch tried to drive them home.

Leeds magistrates were told they ‘panicked’ after the crash because they were not sure if Lynch was insured. They then fled and returned home before concocting the story that the car had been stolen in an overnight burglary.

PC Graham Lawton told the Yorkshire Post: ‘We treat every report of burglary very seriously and fully investigate the circumstances in an effort to catch those responsible.

‘People are very naive if they think our enquiries won’t show when the things they are telling us don’t add up.’

Hirst pleaded guilty to fraud and wasting police time. Lynch admitted failing to stop after the crash and failing to report it, not having insurance and wasting police time.

Both were given 12-month community orders with 240 and 200 hours of unpaid work respectively.