Ex-Premier striker jailed for bogus police letters
Former Norwich City striker Leon McKenzie has been jailed for sending bogus letters to the police in a bid to avoid a driving ban.
The 33-year-old, of Northampton, was sentenced to six months in prison after admitting sending the letters to Northamptonshire Police in an attempt to avoid speeding convictions.
Sentencing the former Premier League footballer at Northampton Crown Court, Judge Richard Bray said: "A custodial sentence is necessary for this type of offence which strikes right at the heart of justice. It would completely send out the wrong message if I did not hand out a custodial sentence."
McKenzie, who retired from professional football in December, was also handed an 18-month driving ban.
McKenzie is best remembered as a footballer for his time at Norwich and was voted the club's player of the season in 2004/2005 – the last season the Canaries were in the Premier League before this campaign.
He has also had spells at Crystal Palace, Peterbrough United, Coventry City and hometown club Northampton Town.
McKenzie admitted to battling with depression in an interview with the Daily Mail last year.
He told the paper that he once tried to take his own life and revealed that his sister committed suicide when she was 23.
"I lost money, I gambled, I got divorced and then I tried to take my own life. I look back and regret what I did, but others cannot say the same," he said.
Comment 36 - 55 of 55
The letter.
To Northamptonshire Police - Traffic Division
To who it may concern,
At this time forthwith, I order you to delete Leon McKenzie's driving offense from his record. His driving is not that bad and he is a good Mason and does a lot of work for charity. Also he's been feeling a bit down latley and has a hsitory of depression.
Yours sincerly,
Your 33' grand overlord.
Adrian Lee
Chief Constable
Comment #48 the word is CHEQUE not the way you spell it.....
What will you guys say of Gaza and the like of him. You bunch bigots.
People really do come out with some dead-head comments here. Maybe they would like to explain how you deport someone whowas born in CROYDON !
deport him..... this seems to be a standard reply by brain dead racists.
Deport him.
I say bring back public flogging the thought of humiliation would stop alot of the petty crime that is around
Comment 36 - I agree, people should "chech" their spelling !!!!
Wow wee nice work cops,crime of the decade,now how about doing some real police work,or putting down your KFC and start walking the streets showing a high visual presence
so Leon McKenzie has been jailed for sending bogus letters to the police in a bid to avoid a driving ban, six months, out in three for going to jail because he tried to avoid the crime, and lets be honest we have all done the speeding thing, but what about the other people who break the law, and get away with it, drink drivers just get banned and fined, does that help if they knock someone over and do them injury, what about the grief... i helped pull 4 girls from a burning car near norwich, there was five but the car was so far under the back of the lorry we could not see her, i dont know if the girl who was driving will be prosecuted for that, but she will have to live with what happened to her friend for the rest of her life but dont we think they need help, as well as the jail time, there's a lot of high profile people in high places that get away with what they have done, Football Managers, club owners, Bankers, even our boxing duo,
Thank gawd another hardened criminal has been banged up... while bankers, corporate weasels, government officials, social engineer freedom killers and fatcat taxdodgers still roam the streets, bringing the country to its knees...... zzzzzzzzzzzz.
I hate Footballers.
my word the world seems soo full of ugliness these days.
Funny how so many of you think that cos he's a footy player he should get off ! Just the same way as Redknapp got off his Tax dodge ! and yes Chris Hulme and his misses should get a custodial too ! Trouble is, these gits can afford lawyers that will get them off, we couldn't !
budda hadda hiddi
this man has a precious talent should we not avail ourselves of it.
the only good thing is Chris Hume and his mrs will get 6 months each....... don't hold your breath, 1 law for us etc
Putting people in prison does nothing to resolve the situation and as for you backroom lawyers, you are stranging this country with your vitriol.
Prison makes good people bad and bad people even worse- words uttered by the well known lefty Douglas Hurd.
This man should be putting something into the community not smoking Crack in a prison cell.
what letter he sent to the police???
I just wish many of the people commentating here would chech their spelling as many sound like football players "no wot i meen"
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account