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Spurs star Jermain Defoe locked up for night in police blunder over driving ban
Amar Singh27 Jul 2009
Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Jermain Defoe is set to sue the police after he was arrested and held in custody for five hours this morning following a computer blunder.
The 26-year-old footballer was pulled over at 2.30am in Loughton, Essex by officers claiming he was driving while disqualified. He was taken to Harlow police station and locked in a cell.
He claims officers ignored his protests that a six-month driving ban handed to him earlier this month had been suspended pending an appeal.
When officers finally confirmed that they had wrongfully detained him, they released him without charge at 9am.
A source close to the star said he is claiming that he was put through an “ordeal” by Essex police, who he believes have targeted him due to his high profile. The source added: “He is very distressed and thought that he wouldn't make it in time to fly out to Beijing today for Spurs' pre-season tour of Asia.” Mr Defoe's lawyer Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole for helping celebrities evade driving convictions, said Defoe was “considering his position” after being “humiliated”.
Mr Freeman said today: “There seems to be a total disconnect between the courts, DVLA and police resulting in my client having to endure not only the humiliation of arrest, but also being incarcerated like a common criminal.”
Mr Defoe is also claiming that even after his release, police officers continued the ordeal by refusing to give him his car back until he produced his documents — and stated they were not sure where they had put the vehicle.
Mr Freeman said: “They also refused to return the keys, which were on the same bunch as his house keys, causing Mr Defoe extreme difficulties.”
Essex Police admitted they had wrongfully detained the footballer and blamed it on details on the police national computer not being fully updated.
Reader views (21)
I would be interested to know if he had his DNA taken - in theory he would have done. Is this being kept given he is innocent or like hundreds of thousands of other innocent people is this being kept by the police despite their error and his proven innocence.
- Emma, wiltshire, 22/08/2009 13:14
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The police are like everyone else, sometimes they make honest mistakes, which is what I'm guessing happened here.
Except when the police make mistakes, it's a massive deal, isn't it, and people can't accept it. When all the whiners who have no real responsibilities in life make mistakes, what's the worst that happens? Someone's wall doesn't get built, or their stuff off eBay doesn't show up, or their car doesn't get fixed for another day or two. So nothing much in the grand scheme of things.
- David, London, 13/08/2009 22:44
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Another example of the police being incompetent, what a suprise. Instead of hiring more police they should start firing all the incompetent, inept and agressive, abusive cops out there. That would be between 50-90% of the police force though. Imagine the savings.
- Mike, Cambridge, 28/07/2009 15:23
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DWBBM (Driving while being a black male). It's a very serious crime. Along with going into your house while being a black male...
JD needs to sue the coppers...
- Derek, London, 28/07/2009 13:39
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Can't wait for incorrect details to be linked to a National Identity Number, so that errors will be acted on by Police, Local Council, NHS, library, MI5, DVLA, Immigration... We can certainly look forward to more amusing stories like this.
- Duncan, London, UK, 28/07/2009 13:13
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good job the old bill wernt west ham surporters or he would be in jail for life. up the ironssssssssss
- Sco, bath' england., 27/07/2009 23:57
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"Why was he out at 2.30am on the night before travelling to China?"
Why does he need to justify his whereabouts?
- Maz, Yorkshire, 27/07/2009 23:48
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Why was he out at 2.30am on the night before travelling to China? Just a thought that perhaps he should have been tucked up in bed.
Some of the comments on here are hilarious - what ind of conspiracy do you think they are running out there? If it was a conspiracy they wouldn't have let him go and admit there was an error.
It was a mistake, just like the kind I have made and I am sure you have too. OK, give him some compensation, but that isn't what this is about. It is about making such a fuss that the conviction "goes away".
The mark of a real man is to admit your mistakes and take your punishment. Learn from it rather than pander to those who make you feel untouchable.
- Jon, london,England, 27/07/2009 18:02
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Cue every hobby-horse, knee-jerk complainer and campaigner to stick in their two pence worth. Just once and a while, folks, things actually are as presented. There doesn't have to be a race relations issue, or a football team tribal-loyalty issue - or any other kind of half-baked issue that's flavour of the month somewhere or other - for something like this to happen. Sometimes life just happens. Get over it.
- Rogan, Irving, 27/07/2009 17:40
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How long before the first idiot screams racism? A plate of lentils and a copy of the Guardian for Rod.
- Danny, NW5, 27/07/2009 16:36
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Again more coppers thinking they can do what they want. They police really have attitude, I'm from Cyprus and forever getting pulled because my car is worth more than 4 times their salary and I am half their age! Jelousy plays a big part, JD should sue and keep the money, stuff charity!
- Craig, Peterborough, UK, 27/07/2009 16:28
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He got a 6 month ban now this scummy Lawyer has found some way to screw the system. A system the Lawyer is now complaining about?
There seems to be a total disconnect between reality and vermin Lawyers like you matey.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 27/07/2009 16:22
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You cannot blame the police for this at all! If it comes up on the police computer system that he is wanted they have to go with it and take you to the station to be sorted it out! they have no choice about it.
- Serox, London, 27/07/2009 15:58
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Couldn't happen to a nicer bloke!
- Steve, London, 27/07/2009 15:22
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Ahh boo hoo, a football star gets treated like the rest of us get and he wants to sue because he was "distressed". Get over it, it was a mistake, not that he should be driving anyway as he was banned, regardless of his appeal.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 27/07/2009 15:12
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I take it that these policemen were not Spurs supporters.
- Mr S.Port, London, 27/07/2009 15:06
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Computers do NOT blunder;only human beings blunder. If a computer outputs an error, a human being input it. Why can't people accept responsibility for their carelessness or incompetence?
- Arthur Norton, Ipswich, England, 27/07/2009 14:59
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May we correctly assume that the plods responsible for this alleged outrage have all supplied their police numbers to Defoe's lawyer.
- Ted, London, 27/07/2009 14:55
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Another example of the police thinking they are above the law. These people should be removed from the force without pension. This country is becoming a police state and nobody seems able to stop their powers increasing.
- David, uk, 27/07/2009 14:46
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What is it with Essex Police? Was it because he was a black footballer going about his business? Was it because another high profile footy star has beaten the police in court recently?
Get a life or another job if you have to lock up the innocent to make your stats look better. Racists, the police? The police not able to follow simple instructions and simple rules? No comment.
- Rod, Epping, UK, 27/07/2009 14:24
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If he sues and wins then hopefully he will have the good grace to give the money to charity, it's not as though he needs it is it?
- Bob, Cheam, 27/07/2009 14:14
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