A SPEEDING driver determined to “beat the system” dragged his criminal case out for four years before admitting his guilt.

Muhammad Hussain was clocked at 56mph in his Mercedes in a 40-mile-an-hour zone on the A127 in Laindon at 1.45am.

The 31-year-old told police his number plates had been stolen and cloned.

Hussain, of Watney Market, London, was given a nine-month suspended prison sentence, 150 hours unpaid work and a four-month driving ban yesterday.

Due to him dragging out the case for so long, he must also pay the full prosecution costs of £1,800.

Basildon Crown Court heard that before the offence, on December 29, 2016, Hussain had been arrested and a video went viral in October.

Charges were dismissed but Hussain became “anti-police”.

Prosecuting, Rhiannon Sadler said: “There was quite a considerable investigation by the police, contacting the insurance company and obtaining photographs.

“They contacted the original owner of the vehicle and they confirmed they were the original plates.”

Hussain was interviewed twice in 2018 but maintained the plates were cloned.

He was charged with perverting the course of justice and was set to stand trial, but earlier this year finally admitted his guilt.

Ruth Becker, mitigating, said: “He became extremely anti-authority and anti-police.

“He was diagnosed with depression.

“It spiralled out of control.

“Prior to being charged he started a job with a youth zone charity. He is responsible for a £7 million budget. It’s a very responsible job. He has not only helped others but helped himself.

“He has moved on from the anti-authority stance.

“He now works with the police to encourage people not to have the attitude he had.”

Recorder Charlie Sherrard QC said: “You have been trying to beat the system through one lie, compounded to another, compounded to another.

“I don’t believe that had anything to do with previous incidents in your life, I believe it was down to dishonesty and you wanted to beat the system.

“You tried to make out the number plates had been stolen and cloned.

“That was a conscious decision to lie.”