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Ex-champ Hamed stripped of MBE

01/01/2007

Former world featherweight boxing champion Naseem Hamed has been stripped of his MBE after he served 16 weeks of a 15-month jail sentence for dangerous driving.

The 32-year-old was released in September but the Queen has now instructed that his name be taken off the Order of the British Empire.

Hamed was jailed for causing a high-speed crash in May 2005 when he drove his £320,000 McLaren Mercedes into the Volkswagen Golf of Anthony Burgin at a speed believed to be at least 90mph.

Mr Burgin fractured every major bone in his body as a result of the crash, which was a head-on collision as Hamed's vehicle had been travelling down the wrong side of the carriageway.

It is rare that an honour is ever revoked and a cabinet spokeswoman explained that it only occurs in exceptional circumstances.

The spokeswoman said: "Forfeiture will be considered if evidence comes to light that someone has done something which shows they shouldn't have received an honour."

Hamed's former trainer Brendan Ingle said: "He will be very upset. It is really sad the way things have turned out. He was a fantastic champion."

Ingle revealed that Hamed and his family had been very proud when he was given the award in December 1998 and that the news of his forfeiture will have come as "a terrible blow" to the former champion.

Hamed retired from the ring in 2002 at the age of 28 with a record of 36 wins and one defeat.

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