From the “analysis” on the BBC website:
Perverting the course of justice can be committed in many different ways: concealing or destroying evidence, intimidating witnesses or, as in this case, lying to the police.
It is a common law offence – one created by judges and not by Parliament. It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Although that is something of a historical hangover, it remains a very serious offence as it strikes at the heart of the criminal justice system.
In the most extreme cases, for instance, witness intimidation, sentences of up to 12 years have been handed down. Cases involving lying to avoid penalty points are regarded far less seriously, and jail sentences tend to be around six months.
That was the term given in a 2008 case to a man who falsely claimed that he had been driving a car involved in a crash, when his son had been driving. In 2011 a lorry driver received four months for asking a friend to take his points for speeding so he could avoid disqualification.
It’s interesting (and reassuring IMO) to see that judges are quite harsh on PTCOJ crimes. Huhne obviously avoided a perjury charge by pleading guilty…so we’ll have to wait and see if the judge takes this into account to reduce his sentence or not.
I suspect, they’ll both get something similar…around 6 months. If there’s a big difference between the sentences (and of course justice must be blind), especially if Pryce gets more, there will be uproar!