Footballer cleared of speeding after officer fails to identify him in court

Scots footballer James Mccarthy has been cleared of speeding in Glasgow after a police officer failed to identify him in court.

The Everton midfielder, 25, was on trial yesterday at Glasgow’s Justice of the Peace Court for allegedly driving at 42mph in a 30mph zone.

Prosecutors claimed Mr Mccarthy carried out the offence on 27 September, 2013 on the city’s Broomielaw route.

But the second police witness in the trial, James Armstrong, was unable to identify Mr Mccarthy in court as 0 James Mccarthy had been given a fixed penalty notice the driver. The footballer was acquitted of the charge by JP David Meek.

PC Douglas Howie – the first witness in the trial – told how hewasondutyonthedayof the alleged incident and using the Unipar speed gun, having carried out checks that it was in working order.

Fiscal depute Clara Smeaton asked if he made a report about any specific vehicles that day.

PC Howie said: “Yes, it was a silver BMW X5. The speed when I took the reading from the device was 42. It was probably going faster prior to the reading.”

The court heard Mr Mccarthy was cautioned and charged. He was issued with a fixed penalty notice.

Originally from Castlemilk in Glasgow, Mr Mccarthy is a former Hamilton Academical player.