Football player’s driving conviction quashed
A PREMIER League footballer was disqualified from driving without his knowledge after he failed to attend two trial dates for a speeding offence and a district judge mistakenly banned him for six months, a court has heard.
Swansea City striker Marvin Emnes, on loan at Blackburn Rovers, had his conviction for failing to provide the identity of the driver of the vehicle quashed after convincing a judge and two magistrates that he did not receive notices about the intended prosecution.
Swansea Crown Court heard the 28-year-old’s Range Rover was caught on camera doing 38mph in a 30mph limit zone on April 25 last year at 1.16am in Cardiff.
Sophie Hill, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said a notice of intended prosecution was issued four days later to his Swansea address – and a reminder letter was sent on May 23.
“No reply was received from the defendant,” she said, adding that a summons was issued and Emnes was convicted in his absence of failing to provide the name of the driver at a trial held at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on December 20.
Ms Hill said the case was re-opened and the offence was again proved, at Swansea Magistrates’ Court, in the footballer’s absence on January 3.
Giving evidence, Mr Emnes said there were problems with mail at his address and other items had gone missing previously, and Judge Geraint Walters believed him.