Prince Naseem Hamed Gets 15 Months

[CSL]

EX-CHAMPION HAMED JAILED FOR 15 MONTHS
Friday 12th May 2006

Naseem Hamed has been jailed for 15 months.

The former WBO featherweight champion admitted a charge of dangerous driving and was handed the sentence in Sheffield Crown Court this morning.

Sheffield-born Hamed had already pleaded guilty to the charge in April following a crash on the outskirts of the city last May that saw his £300,000 sports car with two other cars, including a Volkswagen driven by Anthony Burgin.

The court heard how Hamed was anxious to impress a businessman Asif Ayub, 46, who was a passenger in the McLaren-Mercedes at the time of the crash.

Both had an interest in cars and Hamed was showing what his could do when he crossed a solid white line at a speed of at least 90mph and crashed head-on into Burgin's Volkswagen Golf that emerged from a dip in the road.

The car was immediately stopped and propelled backwards by the impact of the collision.

Hamed's car then hit a second vehicle, a Ford Mondeo he had been trying to overtake.

The court heard that the driver of the Mondeo, Michael Wood, described Hamed's overtaking manoeuvre as "stupid, suicide, ridiculous".

Burgin's injuries included bruising to the frontal lobe of his brain and was said to "have broken every bone in his body". He spent more than three weeks in intensive care.

Hamed has also been banned from driving for four years.

In passing sentence, Honorary Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Alan Goldsack QC said: "I have to balance the many features in this case; the aggravating features of hugely excessive speed, a blatantly dangerous manoeuvre, your persistent disregard of the speeding laws and the dreadful consequences of this offence for your victims against the mitigating features of a guilty plea, your good character in all respects other than motoring matters and the absence of some features present in many such cases - the most obvious being drink.

"I have no doubt the only possible sentence here is an immediate custodial sentence. It is far too serious for anything else.

"Having performed that balancing exercise, there will be a prison sentence of 15 months."

The 32-year showed no emotion as the sentence was delivered. He left the dock with two security guards.

Members of his family, who were sitting in the packed public gallery, broke down in tears as the judge jailed the former world champion. One had to be comforted by friends.

The Prince was the star or British boxing in the 1990's, rising to the very peak of his game with his brash, flash and powerful performances.

He was crowned WBO featherweight champion in his 21st professional fight and went on to defend the belt 15 times, including memorable successes over Kevin Kelley and Wayne McCullough.

But his reign came to an end in April 2001 when he was on the end of a schooling at the hands of Marco Antonio Barrera.

Hamed returned 11 months later but was booed out of the ring after an uninspiring points win over Manuel Calvo and has sinced hinted at several more comebacks, the latest coming in March when he vowed to bring the sparkle back to the featherweight scene.

Wonder if he'll get in shape whilst he's inside and come out 'Tyson-Esque'. Probably not...