Dean Saunders jailed for refusing breath test

[elanfan]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-4...

And labelled as arrogant by the judge. Deserves all he gets no sympathy

[Dr Murdoch]

Comes across as a complete arrogant tt on the radio.

If alcohol mixes so poorly with his medication, why on earth did he consider it appropriate to drive? Chinney chin chin

[TCEvo]

Thought a few days ago that he'd disappeared from TalkSport & they'd shuffled lots of presenters about.

He'll be on celeb rehab ste soon enough. tt.

[JNW1]

I'm obviously in a minority of one on this (not especially large!) thread but, whilst not condoning drink/driving or his failure to give a breath test, ten weeks in prison sounds out of all proportion to me. By all means ban him for a lot longer than the default 12 months - and give him a very hefty fine - but a custodial sentence smacks of just making an example of a public figure and personally I don't agree with that.

We're told regularly and often our prisons are overcrowded and whatever else he may be I don't believe Dean Saunders is as much of a threat to society as many who are given suspended sentences and allowed to continue to walk (and drive) our streets. IMO there are better uses for our limited prison space and therefore I hope his custodial sentence is overturned on appeal.

[XCP]

Not surprised he got sent down if that photo is him arriving at court. He looks pissed. Has he got any previous?

[jcremonini]

JNW1 said:

I'm obviously in a minority of one on this (not especially large!) thread but, whilst not condoning drink/driving or his failure to give a breath test, ten weeks in prison sounds out of all proportion to me. By all means ban him for a lot longer than the default 12 months - and give him a very hefty fine - but a custodial sentence smacks of just making an example of a public figure and personally I don't agree with that.

We're told regularly and often our prisons are overcrowded and whatever else he may be I don't believe Dean Saunders is as much of a threat to society as many who are given suspended sentences and allowed to continue to walk (and drive) our streets. IMO there are better uses for our limited prison space and therefore I hope his custodial sentence is overturned on appeal.

I don’t. He was told at the very beginning his not guilty plea , despite all the evidence weighing against him, could lead to a more severe sentence and he still went ahead with the charade up until the point he finally realised he would not win. He wrongly thought his position of privilege would stop him from getting a prison sentence and his bluff was called. I do not care if the prisons are overcrowded - if they have to pack them in like sardines then so be it.

The very fact he is in the public eye means the case is publicised and can serve as a deterrent to other people who believe they can get away with such nonsense ( like wasting police time) . That means prisons could become less overcrowded in future as defendants may learn from it.

Having said all that I’d rather Chris Sutton went to prison if only to get him off BT sport.

[chow pan toon]

XCP said:

Not surprised he got sent down if that photo is him arriving at court. He looks pissed. Has he got any previous?

His time managing Wolves suggests he's had a long-term problem.

[Dr Murdoch]

I do recall a moment on the radio....

Bob Mills (comedian/decent bloke) rebuffed in a friendly way one of Deans 'I'm a manager don't you know' Saunders points in a discussion. This is a manger without a club at the moment or a great managerial CV.

This is radio so keep with me, there was silence and then Bob Miles obviously getting the Saunders 'glare', said....."I can see you're staring at me, and if you were over 5ft tall I might be intimidated"

[cuprabob]

Dr Murdoch said:

I do recall a moment on the radio....

Bob Mills (comedian/decent bloke) rebuffed in a friendly way one of Deans 'I'm a manager don't you know' Saunders points in a discussion. This is a manger without a club at the moment or a great managerial CV.

This is radio so keep with me, there was silence and then Bob Miles obviously getting the Saunders 'glare', said....."I can see you're staring at me, and if you were over 5ft tall I might be intimidated"

So, did Bob, win, lose or draw?

Edited by cuprabob on Wednesday 28th August 21:42

[Wacky Racer]

Dr Murdoch said:

I do recall a moment on the radio....

Bob Mills (comedian/decent bloke) rebuffed in a friendly way one of Deans 'I'm a manager don't you know' Saunders points in a discussion. This is a manger without a club at the moment or a great managerial CV.

This is radio so keep with me, there was silence and then Bob Miles obviously getting the Saunders 'glare', said....."I can see you're staring at me, and if you were over 5ft tall I might be intimidated"

[Dr Murdoch]

No winners

But Saunders was called out on air for being a tt.

[warch]

Dr Murdoch said:

I do recall a moment on the radio....

Bob Mills (comedian/decent bloke) rebuffed in a friendly way one of Deans 'I'm a manager don't you know' Saunders points in a discussion. This is a manger without a club at the moment or a great managerial CV.

This is radio so keep with me, there was silence and then Bob Miles obviously getting the Saunders 'glare', said....."I can see you're staring at me, and if you were over 5ft tall I might be intimidated"

Bob Mills is about the only reason to listen the Jim Hwhite show.

Dean Saunders is a bit of a prick, who basically got the book thrown at him for persistently trying to evade justice.

[towser44]

JNW1 said:

I'm obviously in a minority of one on this (not especially large!) thread but, whilst not condoning drink/driving or his failure to give a breath test, ten weeks in prison sounds out of all proportion to me. By all means ban him for a lot longer than the default 12 months - and give him a very hefty fine - but a custodial sentence smacks of just making an example of a public figure and personally I don't agree with that.

We're told regularly and often our prisons are overcrowded and whatever else he may be I don't believe Dean Saunders is as much of a threat to society as many who are given suspended sentences and allowed to continue to walk (and drive) our streets. IMO there are better uses for our limited prison space and therefore I hope his custodial sentence is overturned on appeal.

I kind of agree, I'm not condoning his actions, but there just isn't any consistency in sentences. I've known of a lot worse crimes where the sentences have been pathetic. The judge specifically referred to him being made an example of. These are his words:

Judge Sanders said: "Throughout these proceedings you have shown yourself to be arrogant, thinking you are someone whose previous and current role in the public eye entitles you to be above the law.

"In fact the opposite is true - someone in the public eye should expect a deterrent sentence when they flout the law."

[JNW1]

jcremonini said:

JNW1 said:

I'm obviously in a minority of one on this (not especially large!) thread but, whilst not condoning drink/driving or his failure to give a breath test, ten weeks in prison sounds out of all proportion to me. By all means ban him for a lot longer than the default 12 months - and give him a very hefty fine - but a custodial sentence smacks of just making an example of a public figure and personally I don't agree with that.

We're told regularly and often our prisons are overcrowded and whatever else he may be I don't believe Dean Saunders is as much of a threat to society as many who are given suspended sentences and allowed to continue to walk (and drive) our streets. IMO there are better uses for our limited prison space and therefore I hope his custodial sentence is overturned on appeal.

I don’t. He was told at the very beginning his not guilty plea , despite all the evidence weighing against him, could lead to a more severe sentence and he still went ahead with the charade up until the point he finally realised he would not win. He wrongly thought his position of privilege would stop him from getting a prison sentence and his bluff was called. I do not care if the prisons are overcrowded - if they have to pack them in like sardines then so be it.

The very fact he is in the public eye means the case is publicised and can serve as a deterrent to other people who believe they can get away with such nonsense ( like wasting police time) . That means prisons could become less overcrowded in future as defendants may learn from it.

Are people given prison sentences as a matter of course for failing to provide a breath test? If so then what's happened to Dean Saunders is fair enough but if they're looking to make an example of him just because of who he is that's wrong IMO. A celebrity like a professional footballer should be equal before the law along with the rest of us - no special treatment or leniency because of who they are but equally they shouldn't receive harsher sentences either in my view.

You seem to be suggesting that because Dean Saunders is in the public eye it's fair game to give him a harsher sentence because it will act as more of a deterrent to others? If so I don't agree - he should be treated no differently from anyone else who's committed the same offence IMO.

[Cheib]

JNW1 said:

jcremonini said:

JNW1 said:

I'm obviously in a minority of one on this (not especially large!) thread but, whilst not condoning drink/driving or his failure to give a breath test, ten weeks in prison sounds out of all proportion to me. By all means ban him for a lot longer than the default 12 months - and give him a very hefty fine - but a custodial sentence smacks of just making an example of a public figure and personally I don't agree with that.

We're told regularly and often our prisons are overcrowded and whatever else he may be I don't believe Dean Saunders is as much of a threat to society as many who are given suspended sentences and allowed to continue to walk (and drive) our streets. IMO there are better uses for our limited prison space and therefore I hope his custodial sentence is overturned on appeal.

I don’t. He was told at the very beginning his not guilty plea , despite all the evidence weighing against him, could lead to a more severe sentence and he still went ahead with the charade up until the point he finally realised he would not win. He wrongly thought his position of privilege would stop him from getting a prison sentence and his bluff was called. I do not care if the prisons are overcrowded - if they have to pack them in like sardines then so be it.

The very fact he is in the public eye means the case is publicised and can serve as a deterrent to other people who believe they can get away with such nonsense ( like wasting police time) . That means prisons could become less overcrowded in future as defendants may learn from it.

Are people given prison sentences as a matter of course for failing to provide a breath test? If so then what's happened to Dean Saunders is fair enough but if they're looking to make an example of him just because of who he is that's wrong IMO. A celebrity like a professional footballer should be equal before the law along with the rest of us - no special treatment or leniency because of who they are but equally they shouldn't receive harsher sentences either in my view.

You seem to be suggesting that because Dean Saunders is in the public eye it's fair game to give him a harsher sentence because it will act as more of a deterrent to others? If so I don't agree - he should be treated no differently from anyone else who's committed the same offence IMO.

I think they have come down hard on him because the court viewed the whole process as a waste of their time....evidence was so strong etc and he should have accepted charges. That’s a pretty well known precedent...waste a court’s time or get up the nose of the judge by hiring flash lawyer when you very obviously guilty and it’s not good for your propects.

Given he was apparently so shccked my guess is he went to a lawyer who specialises in these kind of things who probably told him “I can get you off...it’ll cost £20k”. Lawyer gets £20k...Saunders does time. That’s my guess.....

[JNW1]

Cheib said:

I think they have come down hard on him because the court viewed the whole process as a waste of their time....evidence was so strong etc and he should have accepted charges. That’s a pretty well known precedent...waste a court’s time or get up the nose of the judge by hiring flash lawyer when you very obviously guilty and it’s not good for your propects.

Given he was apparently so shccked my guess is he went to a lawyer who specialises in these kind of things who probably told him “I can get you off...it’ll cost £20k”. Lawyer gets £20k...Saunders does time. That’s my guess.....

I've no idea on the detail of what's gone on but to end-up with 10 weeks in prison for refusing a breath test suggests he's had some poor advice along the way - should have hired our man agtlaw!

[LaurasOtherHalf]

JNW1 said:

I've no idea on the detail of what's gone on but to end-up with 10 weeks in prison for refusing a breath test suggests he's had some poor advice along the way - should have hired our man agtlaw!

Going from experience (not me personally I hasten to add) even AGT can’t get you off with this one.

[Terminator X]

Should have left the car and run off, standard practice in 2019.

TX.

[bolidemichael]

Terminator X said:

Should have left the car and run off, standard practice in 2019.

TX.

Happened to someone I know in the seventies. True story bro.

[elanfan]

I know a barrister and circuit judge who did exactly that whilst rolling drunk. Got away with it too. Long time ago now.