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Naseem Hamed leaves prison

04/09/2006

Former world featherweight boxing champion Naseem Hamed has been released from prison after serving just 16 weeks of a 15-month sentence for dangerous driving.

The 32-year-old left Moorland open prison in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, at 08:15 BST today and was driven away by a waiting Rolls-Royce.

He has been fitted with an electronic tag as part of the prison service's home detention curfew (HDC) scheme.

Speaking after his release, Hamed said to reporters: "I haven't seen my newborn baby [while I've been in prison]. It's been hard but thank God it's over."

The boxer, of Dore, Sheffield, admitted dangerous driving in May 2005 after his £320,000 Mercedes McLaren was involved in a head-on collision with a VW Golf driven by Anthony Burgin, 38.

The court was told that Mr Burgin suffered fractures to "every major bone in his body", while his wife Clare, a passenger in the car, was also injured.

Hamed admitted that the Peak District crash had been part of a "stupid risk" he had taken while demonstrating the prowess of his car to his passenger, driving 90mph on the wrong side of the carriageway into a blind dip on Ringinglow Road, where he collided with Mr Burgin coming the other way.

Mr Burgin has reacted angrily to Hamed's early release, saying: "What happened to my wife and I was deeply distressing and nearly destroyed our lives.

"I am shocked that after such a serious accident Mr Hamed has been released after less than four months."

Hamed had been strongly tipped to make a return to boxing before his court case and reports are suggesting he may now attempt to make a comeback.

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