A NORTHWICH man has been jailed for forging a ‘hotch potch’ court document in an attempt to absolve himself of liability in a legal action.

Martin Peak, 54, whose address was given as Lostock Gralam Social Club, has been sentenced to three months behind bars after being found guilty of one count of forgery and three counts of using a false instrument with intent.

He appeared at Manchester Crown Court on Monday September 29.

Before sentencing, the court heard how Peak had forged a court order from a district judge and presented it in a court case against him, as well as presenting it to a clerk at Chester Magistrates Court and Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Peak had become ‘consumed’ by an ongoing dispute with Cheshire West and Chester Council, which prompted him to create the illegal document.

In mitigation, Peak’s defence lawyer, Mark Le Brock, said Peak was a man of previous good character who performed considerable public service, namely voluntary work for Lostock Gralam Social Club.

Medical evidence was also presented, which illustrated that Peak had sustained a head injury, something he continues to suffer from, as well as heart conditions.

“It is fair to say he has soldiered on, keeping up with his community work,” he added.

“This defendant is no danger to the public; he poses a very low risk of reconviction or of any sort of offence.”

Judge Martin Rudland stated that the offence was a very serious matter, which was ‘more akin to perverting the course of justice’ than fraud.

He added that Peak’s actions were ‘ludicrous and illogical’ and said that the evidence was overwhelming, which was illustrated by the short time it took for a jury to find him guilty.

“You created a document, which was hotch potch of information and badly drafted,” he said.

“No-one was taken in for one moment.”

Judge Rudland also criticised Peak for not accepting responsibility for what he had done and for trying to pass the blame on to innocent parties.

He added that, due to the nature of the offence, a custodial sentence could not be avoided and a decision was therefore passed to sentence Peak to a three month jail term.