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Magistrates attack LFC for hindering speeding case
May 12 2004
By Neil Goodwin Daily Post Correspondent

LIVERPOOL Football Club was yesterday rebuked by magistrates for hindering a court case involving one of its star strikers.

Milan Baros, (right), was fined £500 and given three penalty points after failing to provide information after a speeding incident.

The striker failed to tell police who was driving a club hire car caught by a speed camera in September.

The Czech Republic forward claims he never received a letter ordering him to produce his details because the summons was handed to a club receptionist.

Mr Baros, who did not attend the hour-long hearing in Southport, was represented by his solicitor Richard Green.

Mr Green told magistrates: "There is no evidence that the person to whom this prosecution was served - a receptionist - had any authority to accept it.

"It should have been delivered directly into his hands. As such he never received the letter."

"The defendant is not the registered owner of the vehicle, nor is there any evidence that he was the registered hirer of the vehicle."

Magistrates' chairman Simon Kensdale found the case proved and ordered the millionaire footballer to pay a £500 fine with £100 costs. He also endorsed his licence with three penalty points.

Mr Kensdale said: "We find the case proved. I would like to say our job has not been made any easier by absence of information from Liverpool Football Club".

Speaking outside court, Mr Green said he would be launching an appeal against the conviction.

* LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has been fined £1,000 and issued with five penalty points after being convicted of driving without due care and attention.

The 23-year-old footballer was stopped while driving his £25,000 Audi A4 Turbo Cabriolet along Derby Road, Bootle, on June 5 last year.

He was due to appear before magistrates at North Sefton tomorrow, but the case was brought forward after the Liverpool and England midfielder changed his plea to guilty.

Gerrard lives in Blundellsands with partner Alex Curran and new baby daughter Lilly-Ella.