Ex-World champion boxer faces jail after crash

Former world boxing champion Naseem Hamed is facing the possibility of a prison sentence after he today admitted dangerous driving following a crash in his £300,000 sports car.

Hamed’s Mercedes-McClaren supercar was wrecked in a crash near one of the sportsman’s Sheffield homes – a collision which left another man with fractures to “every major bone in his body”.

The former WBO world featherweight champion appeared at Sheffield Crown Court where he entered his plea at a preliminary hearing.

He was given bail until he is sentenced on May 12 but was told by the Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Alan Goldsack: “Do not take bail as any indication that you will receive anything other than a custodial sentence.”

The judge rejected suggestions that Hamed would need his car for charity work and gave him an interim driving ban.

Judge Goldsack told the packed courtroom that, from what he heard, Hamed could easily afford the services of a chauffeur.

The case against Hamed was not outlined but an earlier hearing heard how the boxer, 32, was involved in a head-on crash while overtaking on Ringinglow Road, on the edge of Peak District, in May last year.

The smash involved two other cars, including a Volkswagen Golf driven by 38-year-old Anthony Burgin.

Magistrates heard how Mr Burgin was seriously injured and had bruising to his brain.

Prosecutor Neil Coxon told the earlier hearing: “He suffered fractures to every major bone in his body.”

Mr Burgin had to have a series of operations and appeared at court for Hamed’s previous appearances using crutches.

Today’s hearing was told Mr Burgin could not be at court today because he is receiving further hospital treatment.

Members of his family leaving court said they did not wish to comment.

Hamed attended court wearing a grey overcoat over a grey shirt and a dark suit.

He said nothing as he left in his solicitor’s car after the hearing.

After a previous appearance his lawyer, Steve Smith, was at pains to scotch reports that his client had left a seriously injured man at the scene of the crash and run off.

Mr Smith said: “That was thoroughly investigated and that is not something he is accused of. He did everything he could in the circumstances.”

Devout Muslim Hamed had a rapid rise as a boxer in the 1990s.

He was born in Sheffield to Yemeni parents and soon made a name for himself with his confident attitude as much as his devastating early performances.

He won the world title in 1995 and was awarded an MBE in 1999.

Hamed, of Wyvern Gardens, Dore, Sheffield, remained unbeaten until 2001 when he lost to Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera.

At the earlier hearing, magistrates were told the crash happened as Hamed was overtaking on the approach to the brow of a hill on May 2, last year.

Mr Coxon told the bench how tests showed the boxer’s car – which is one of the fastest road cars in the world and was sporting his ‘NAS 1’ number plate – was travelling at a minimum of 90mph at the point of impact.

The prosecutor said the fact the car was left-hand drive added to the dangerousness of the manoeuvre.

He said: “He overtook two or three vehicles on the approach to the brow of a hill.

“At a point 170 metres (557 feet) prior to the impact he contravened a continuous white line.”

Mr Coxon said Hamed then indicated to overtake a Ford Mondeo at a point where “he could not see what was coming in the opposite direction”.

He said the case had a number of “serious aggravating factors”.

These included the excessive speed in the 60mph zone, the dangerous manner of the driving and life threatening injuries suffered by Mr Burgin.

The court heard Mr Burgin’s injuries included bruising to the frontal lobe of his brain and fractures to both of his arms and legs, including a compound fracture of his right leg.

Mr Coxon said he was airlifted to hospital where he spent more than three weeks in intensive care.

The prosecutor said Mr Burgin had, at the time, had seven operations.

The court heard Hamed was not hurt in the crash.

Mr Coxon said: “Mr Hamed did get out of the car.

“He remained at the scene for a period of time.

“He then left the scene and subsequently the police visited him at his address.”

The prosecutor said Hamed told officers how he left the scene to take a passenger to his nearby house.

Hamed’s solicitor Steve Smith told the earlier hearing: “He did not leave the scene of this incident in any sinister fashion at all.

“Everyone who was there knew who he was.

“The vehicle left that clear indication because of the registration plate.

“It is also clear he went to one car and said that he wanted to try and release one of the injured persons.

“I think there was someone there who indicated that it was not wise to move him at that time.”

He said his client left the scene to take a member of his family to his home.