BC

A Campbell River, B.C., man who faked a letter of support in hopes of avoiding a jail term has learned the hard way that the legal system takes a dim view of such self promotion.

John Edward MacCorquodale will have 18 months to mull his poor choice after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and being handed the sentence earlier this month.

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O'Brien says problems for the 52-year-old began as Crown checked several letters of support submitted by MacCorquodale in 2010 from family, friends and his doctor in Campbell River.

At the time, MacCorquodale was seeking a conditional sentence for a drug charge and, based in part on the strength of his support letters, the conditional sentence was imposed.

O'Brien says Crown became suspicious about the content of the letters and, in June - almost two years afterward - the Campbell River doctor confirmed a letter had not been sent from that office.

O'Brien acknowledged some people really don't want to go to jail, but obstruction may not be the best way to achieve that goal.