Boxing champ Amir Khan dodges speeding road ban by claiming he was trying to dodge fan tailgating his luxury Land Rover
KHAN was caught speeding at 76mph on a 50mph limit suburban dual carriageway but dodged a ban
Boxing star Amir Khan escaped a road ban for speeding today after claiming he was trying to shake off a crazed fan tailgating his luxury Land Rover.
The 29-year old former light-welterweight champion was caught flying through a 50mph suburban dual carriageway at 76mph by a speed camera.
But the dad-of-one, who has a string of motoring convictions, said he was being ''harassed'' by a fan following him from a function.
Khan, who earns £20,00o-a-week, said in a statement: "I'm sorry for my lapse of judgement in respect of my speed. I'm very embarrassed to be in this position as I very much recognise the danger of driving at such speeds.
''There is no excuse for driving 26 miles per hour over the limit. I was being some what harassed by a so called fan who can only be described as tailgating me.'
The boxer, from Bolton, Greater Manchester, today pleaded guilty to speeding in his VRM car - which has the personalised plate BOX111G.
He was given six points to add to a three he already has for another speeding incident thought to have occurred on the same evening.
The star was also fined £800 with £165 costs - which he must pay within a week.
Khan's latest brush with traffic police comes after a decade long history of motoring misdemeanours.
In 2007 he was convicted of careless driving and given a six-month driving ban and fined £1000 after he accidentally mowed down and injured a pedestrian using a pelican crossing.
The victim suffered a broken leg and was awarded £40,000 in compensation, but never fully recovered from the incident and died two years after from a gastrointestinal bleed.
In 2008 Khan was fined £1,000 and banned from the roads for 42 days after being accused of speeding in excess of 140 mph on the M62 motorway.
Then in July 2009, he was accused of being involved in a crash with a young cyclist - but no action was taken against him after police concluded he was not to blame for the incident.
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At today's hearing prosecutor Mike Ardern said: “This matter comes about as a result of cameras. At nine minutes to midnight on November 26 last year, on the A34 Kingsway in the Cheadle Hulme area, he was driving a Land Rover motor vehicle recorded at 76mph where the limit is 50mph.
“Because of the speed the police brought the matter straight to the courts. He's admitted he was the driver from the outset.''
In mitigation for Khan defence lawyer Mr Phillip Trotter said: “He fully accepts his speeding and accepts it was inappropriate. He has three points on his licence from the same evening when the same fan was following Mr Khan from an event and that man had been dealt with by a fixed penalty. Mr Khan recognises he should have dealt with it in the right way.
“The most importantly is the attitude of the defendant today. I'm not instructed to put forward anything special. He accepts full responsibility for his speed. He's full of remorse and ashamed of his speed and the night in question.
''He expressed his poor judgement. You have a young man prepared to stand up and face consequences in full knowledge that disqualification can come from it. Allow such disqualification to be as short as possible.
“As far as Mr Khan is concerned you may be aware he is at the pinnacle of his profession. He is dedicated to his family. As a young athlete he spends about half of his free time working to improve the community he lives in and also the Amir Khan Foundation in Gambia which established an orphanage. Today he stands ashamed of his speed and asks you to give credit for his frankness.
“He's looking forward to returning to his family to celebrate what is one of the most important days in the calendar. Any financial penalty can be fulfilled today.”
JPs told Khan: ''We have listened to your solicitor and take note of the disappointment in your behaviour. You have been very honest and pleaded guilty right from the start. You will be fined based on your earnings and you are now carrying nine points. Twelve points would be disqualification.
''You have got to tread on egg shells now.“
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