Judge blasts Defoe for his "shameful behaviour" in skipping court date
London | November 07, 2009 2:13:03 PM IST
 

Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC dismissed the appeal of ace England footballer Jermain Defoe, and blasted his "shameful behaviour."

Defoe was labelled "shameful" by the judge on Friday for not turning up in court.

The Tottenham striker, 26, was appealing against a six-month drive ban. But he left it to his barrister to attend the hearing - which he lost.

"Any normal person faced with his situation would come and see what's going on. The fact is, he personally is not here. You can speculate what an innocent man would do and what a guilty man might do," The Sun quoted Judge Anthony, as saying.

"He's absented himself. He is a public figure, there is an inquiry going on into whether he has committed a crime and he hasn't shown his face," the judge added.

Defoe was banned in July after he was found guilty of two counts of speeding in his 70,000-pound Range Rover and failing to tell police who was driving at the time.

He was also ordered to pay 2,100 pound in fine and legal costs. The suspension was put on hold until the appeal yesterday at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Defoe's barrister, Dean George, argued: "He might not have wanted people to ogle him. If he is not here, nothing can be read into that. It's more of a moral rather than a legal point of view whether a public figure should be shame-faced by not turning up. It is nothing to do with the law."

The judge said he would give his reasons for his decision next Wednesday. (ANI)

 

Viewer's Comment Comments Not Available

More Stories

Facebook shares value crosses 100 billion dollars mark 

Former Tour de France champ Ullrich slapped with two year ban for doping offence 

Ex-Maldives president Nasheed suspects vice-president of being behind coup 

Turning rotten tomatoes, waste fruit into biogas 

Exercise can undo effects of maternal obesity 

Big B to go under the knife 

US drone strikes in Pak producing more militants: Khar 

Vigilance sleuths raids houses of former DMK Ministers 

Printer Friendly Version