Matt Posted 13 May 2008 Posted 13 May 2008 Steve Claridge guilty of dangerous drivingFormer Premiership footballer Steve Claridge has been found guilty of dangerous driving. A jury at Coventry Crown Court took one hour and 45 minutes to decide that his driving on the M42 motorway on December 30, 2006, was dangerous. Claridge, of Fareham, Hampshire, was pulled over by an unmarked police car on the southbound carriageway between junctions 4 and 3, after repeatedly undertaking other vehicles on the road, Coventry Crown Court heard yesterday. The ex-footballer drove at speeds of around 100mph in "treacherous" conditions. Claridge had denied reaching such speeds, telling jurors he was driving at "slightly in excess of 70mph", and was trying to leave the motorway to find a toilet. He also denied that it was raining at the time of the alleged offence. He told the court: "It certainly wasn't dangerous. It wasn't the best bit of driving I have ever done but it wasn't dangerous." Nigel Wilkins, prosecuting, told the jury yesterday that Claridge drove at high speed on wet roads, repeatedly switching lanes and causing other drivers to "brake sharply in order to let him in". It was, he said, a "consistent piece of dangerous driving". Pc Geoff Bell, one of the two uniformed officers to pull Claridge over, told the court he noticed Claridge coming up behind him in his rear view mirror and was concerned about his speed, adding: "He would have been travelling at approximately 100mph in order to catch up with us quite quickly." Pc Keith Dyson estimated Claridge's speed at "100mph or more" and added that it was dark at the time of the incident, which was around 6.40pm, and glare from headlights and brake lights had reduced visibility. The court heard from both officers that Claridge, driving a silver Peugeot 307, was at one point "straddling" two lanes as he attempted to move from the middle lane into the fast lane. Pc Bell said he illegally overtook three cars on the nearside, including the unmarked police car, which was travelling at around 85mph. When told that he may face prosecution for dangerous driving, Claridge told officers: "I'll lose my job," the court heard. Both officers described 42-year-old Claridge "jumping up and down" on the hard shoulder when he was pulled over. Pc Dyson said: "As I started speaking to him, he started jumping up and down on the hard shoulder, holding his crotch and acting like a child who is desperate to go to the toilet. "He indicated that he was desperate for the toilet and was trying to find the services." He added: "He continued to jump up and down in what I deemed to be an embarrassing action." The officer said he initially told Claridge he could not urinate at the side of the road because of the high volume of traffic, but later relented, allowing him to go down a grass embankment to relieve himself. Ex-Leicester players love using "needing the toilet" as an excuse ah?! (i.e - Savage)
Corky Posted 13 May 2008 Posted 13 May 2008 Ex-Leicester players love using "needing the toilet" as an excuse ah?! (i.e - Savage) He should of used the old "Do you know who I am?" line. The judges would of bowed down to him then
davieG Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 Former Leicester City player to be sentenced today Former Leicester City player Steve Claridge will be sentenced today for dangerous driving. Claridge was found guilty last month after a jury at Coventry Crown Court heard that he drove at speeds of around 100mph in "treacherous" conditions. Claridge, of Fareham, Hampshire, was pulled over by an unmarked police car on the southbound carriageway between junctions 4 and 3, after repeatedly undertaking other vehicles on the road, jurors heard. Claridge said he was driving at "slightly in excess of 70mph", and was trying to leave the motorway to find a toilet. The court heard from two police officers that Claridge, driving a silver Peugeot 307, was at one point "straddling" two lanes as he attempted to move from the middle lane into the fast lane. Both officers described 42-year-old Claridge "jumping up and down" on the hard shoulder when he was pulled over. Pc Keith Dyson said: "As I started speaking to him, he started jumping up and down on the hard shoulder, holding his crotch and acting like a child who is desperate to go to the toilet." Following the verdict the court heard that Claridge already has nine points on his driving licence. At the time, Judge Peter Carr said he considered the dangerous driving conviction "a serious matter" and imposed an interim disqualification, banning Claridge from driving immediately.
Manwell Pablo Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 Is there some sort of universal rule somewhere that states all footballers and boxers have to drunken reckless drivers.
Ric Flair Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 Is there some sort of universal rule somewhere that states all footballers and boxers have to drunken reckless drivers. Perhaps it's because footballers lose the sensitivity in their feet from kicking a ball too much and therefore don't realise how hard they are pressing down on the accelerator. As for boxers, they're hands are fooked after throwing too many haymakers and therefore their steering is erractic.
davieG Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 Former Foxes footballer spared jail Former Leicester City footballer Steve Claridge was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years today for dangerous driving. Claridge was was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid community work when he appeared at Birmingham Crown Court.
Ric Flair Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 Former Foxes footballer spared jail Former Leicester City footballer Steve Claridge was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years today for dangerous driving. Claridge was was also disqualified from driving for 12 months and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid community work when he appeared at Birmingham Crown Court. Perhaps he could teach some of our strikers how to finish, whilst looking incredibly scruffy and un-fit as part of his community service?
The People's Hero Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 He's too pretty for jail. His anus never would have been the same again.
C-man Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 Apparently he already had nine points. He should learn to go to the loo before he sets off.
macca Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 ...if he was in desperate need of the loo at the time he was stopped on the motorway, I bet his need intensified 100 times when the judge said "six months..." !!!! clean pants for Mr Claridge, please!!!
Bryn Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 I hope the policemen are going to get done for confessing to driving at 85.
sdb Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 amazing difference in the responces regarding the reckless driving of our old, legendary player and that of plymouth argyles goalkeeper and i know stevey didn't kill anyone but it's still really stupid and dangerous
Corky Posted 10 June 2008 Posted 10 June 2008 Apparently he already had nine points. He should learn to go to the loo before he sets off. He's only a couple behind Derby
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