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Claridge found guilty of dangerous driving

13/05/2008

Former footballer and TV pundit Steve Claridge has been found guilty of dangerous driving by a jury at Coventry crown court.

The court heard how Claridge, of Fareham in Hampshire, had been pulled over by police on the M42 motorway on December 30th 2006 because he was travelling above the speed limit and overtaking other vehicles on the inside lane in "treacherous" conditions.

According to the prosecution, the former Leicester City, Millwall and Cambridge United striker - who is now a regular pundit for the BBC and Sky Sports – was driving at around 100mph.

He was initially spotted by the police, who were driving an unmarked patrol car, in the rear view mirror.

The officers claimed they were concerned by the speed of Claridge's car as he overtook them and said he was dodging and weaving in and out of the traffic and causing other drivers to brake in order to let him switch lanes.

However, Claridge denied the allegations - claiming he was travelling "slightly in excess of 70mph" and was searching for a service stop to go to the toilet.

He also denied that the road conditions at the time were treacherous.

The pundit, now 42, will attend Birmingham crown court next month in order to be sentenced.