Millionaire Premier League footballer caught at 107mph

[Lewis]

Millionaire Premier League footballer caught at 107mph spared driving ban because he is 'unemployed'

A millionaire footballer caught speeding at 107mph has escaped a driving ban and was handed a paltry fine after he begged magistrates for leniency as he is currently unemployed.

Former West Ham United and Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, 29, was clocked speeding in his luxury Range Rover on the A14 in Suffolk.

The German international is currently a free agent and looking for a new club after he was released by relegated West Ham at the end of last season and claims he is speeding around the country trying to find a new club.

Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court agreed not to ban the star - known as 'Der Hammer' - after he told them he was unemployed and needed his licence to look for work.

Hitzlsperger, who told magistrates he has more than £1million in savings, was instead handed six points on his licence, a £750 fine, £85 costs and £15 victim surcharge.

Craig Harris, defending Hitzlsperger, said the star is living in England and driving around the country looking for work.

He said: 'It's the first time in all of his career since he was 18 he has been out of work.

'He showed complete deference to the police and humility when he was stopped and when he was asked what he was doing he said 80mph.

'Overall, he has been driving in the UK for about six years and he has never come to the attention of the authorities for driving offences.'

Lesla Small, prosecuting, told the court that police conducted roadside checks on the A14 dual carriageway near Newmarket, Suffolk, on April 9 this year.

Using a laser they clocked Hitzlsperger's Range Rover speeding at 107mph - breaking the 70mph speed limit.

Officers followed the footballer in a police car and recorded his lowest speed as 80mph.

Road safety campaigners yesterday (Tues) described the decision to allow millionaire footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger to keep his driving licence as 'horrifying'.

Julie Townsend, campaigns director at road safety charity Brake, said: 'It is completely irrelevant that he's not employed particularly because he's not in a situation of financial hardship.

'This person showed a complete disregard for human life and the fact he is being allowed to continue driving is horrifying.

'Anyone who commits an infringement at this level doesn't have the right to be on the road.

'This isn't a momentary lapse, this is a huge infringement by someone who clearly had no regard for other road users. He doesn't deserve to keep his licence.' Amy Aeron-Thomas, executive director at RoadPeace, added:

'Driving at over 50 per cent above the posted speed limit should quality as dangerous driving. This driver should have been banned.

'This case highlights the need for magistrates to be trained about the dangers of speeding and to be reminded that a driving licence is a privilege, not a right nor a necessity to get a job.'

Hitzlsperger, who lives in London, was a former Bayern Munich youth team player and joined Aston Villa in 2001.

While in Birmingham he earned the name 'Der Hammer' due to his deadly long-range left-foot shots.

He also played for VfB Stuttgart, in Germany, and Italian side Lazio before joining West Ham United in 2010.

The star earned 52 caps for the German international team scoring six goals and was part of the team which reached the semi finals in the World Cup 2006.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1S0FbNxSx

Sometimes the law is an ass.

[Fat Man]

That fucker has a million dollars in savings, so he can actually retire.

Of course being a dumb jock, he will probably blow all that money on wild parties and slutty women and within months he would be broke.

I say, permanently revoke his license to ever drive again, and after he's blown all his money, he can just look for a job bagging groceries and rent a one-room shack somewhere within walking or bicycling distance of his menial job.

Of course, he should only be allowed ride a child's tricycle.

He deserves to die face down in a gutter somewhere!