A Kurd who was forced to leave Turkey after being tortured has admitted trying to persuade a friend to take the blame for a speeding offence.

Dogan Akyus, 28, of Shepherds Hill, Greater Leys, Oxford, admitted perverting the course of justice.

At Oxford Crown Court, Judge Anthony King sentenced him to 28 days imprisonment.

Akyus had been caught speeding on camera in May last year and was summoned to appear before Thame magistrates on August 22, three months later.

John Small, prosecuting, told the court Akyus did not have an English driving licence and he asked his friend Gulkan Killic to fill in forms and say he had been the driver.

Mr Small said: "Mr Killic was not happy with what he was being asked to do. Mr Killic did sign the form. The consequences were predictable.

"Summonses were issued requiring Mr Killic to attend Thame magistrates court in response to the two speeding offences."

Akyus was arrested on December 15 after it came out in court his friend had not been the driver.

Sophie Eloquin, defending, said Akyus was an ethnic Kurd who had been forced to flee Turkey after being tortured.

She said he was not aware how the English justice system worked and had received "thoroughly inappropriate advice" on how to deal with the driving offences from friends in the Turkish community. Akyus was a "hard-working family man" who was unlikely to reoffend.