More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A former Millwall football coach, whose Porsche was caught speeding by safety cameras in Gravesend, lied to police that he wasn’t driving.
Stuart McQueen's top-of-the-range car was just 6mph over the limit but he has been jailed for six months for his deceit.
Maidstone Crown Court heard the 39-year-old was clocked in his high-performance car travelling at 36mph in October 2017.
But instead of just taking the licence points, the Uber driver claimed in a notice of intended prosecution that his sister had been at the wheel.
A court heard he then intercepted the subsequent notice sent to his sibling and returned it stating she admitted responsibly - and forged her signature.
But his lies came apart when police discovered she had neither a driving licence nor insurance, and informed McQueen he would be prosecuted for allowing her to use his high performance car.
The dad-of-four then admitted he was the one driving the Porsche Cayenne when it was caught by a speed camera in a 30mph zone in East Milton Road, Gravesend.
“He pursued in this deception over four months until it became apparent his sister would be prosecuted...” Judge Charles Macdonald QC
He wrote to police owning up to his deceit, saying he had ‘panicked’ about losing his licence.
McQueen admitted perverting the course of justice and was jailed on Thursday May 23.
His lawyer asked for the sentence to be suspended in recognition of his his extensive community work with the football club, as well as school and youth projects.
McQueen, who has criminal convictions for robbery, drug offences and having a bladed article between 1995 and 2007, was described as “a rare type of offender who really has managed to turn his life around”.
But Judge Charles Macdonald QC said although he was ‘deeply impressed’ by his achievements, prison was the “appropriate” punishment.
“He pursued in this deception over four months until it became apparent his sister would be prosecuted,” said the judge.
“There is mitigation here by which I’m deeply impressed, but appropriate punishment can only be visited by an immediate prison sentence.”
The court heard McQueen, from Walworth, London, became a community support coach for Millwall in 2013 but had to give up after two years as a result of his criminal past.
“This was a job he was very good at and a job he enjoyed very much. But it became apparent he was no longer able to train under 16s because of his convictions,” said defence barrister Vedrana Pehar.
“However, he went on to qualify as a personal trainer and continues his voluntary work.
“He is now teaching football to young boys aged between seven and 13.
"These are organised football camps and many of the children are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"There is mitigation here by which I’m deeply impressed..." Judge Charles Macdonald QC
“He says he sees a lot of himself in those children. They don’t have a father figure and he is keeping them off the streets and being a mentor.”
The court heard McQueen has also been working as an Argos delivery driver.
For information on how we can report on court proceedings, click here.
