Jury clears victim of Hamed crash

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A man seriously injured in a crash caused by boxer Naseem Hamed has been cleared of dangerously driving his car at the former world champion's wife.

Anthony Burgin, 41, of Bents Green, Sheffield, had denied dangerous driving relating to an incident involving Eleasha Hamed on 19 April last year.

The jury at Sheffield Crown Court took just 20 minutes to find Mr Burgin not guilty of the charge.

In 2005, the boxer was jailed for crashing into Mr Burgin's car at 90mph.

Mr Burgin suffered fractures to every major bone in his body in the crash.

I do hope now that both the Hameds and the Burgins can draw a line under this and really get on with their lives Judge Michael Murphy

Hamed, 33, served 16 weeks of a 15-month jail sentence for dangerous driving and was electronically tagged after his release.

The alleged incident between Mr Burgin and Mrs Hamed is said to have happened on Long Lane, Loxley, on the outskirts of Sheffield, on 19 April last year.

Mrs Hamed's Audi Q7 skidded and ended up on a grass verge after Mr Burgin had allegedly pulled out forcing her to perform an emergency stop.

After the jury returned its verdict, the judge, Judge Michael Murphy, said: "I do hope now that both the Hameds and the Burgins can draw a line under this and really get on with their lives."

Mr Burgin's solicitor Jane Wright said her client's compensation claim against Hamed's insurance company was continuing.

Daily pain

Mr Burgin said the prosecution and trial had been "massively unsettling" but he was immensely relieved by the jury's verdict.

He said he was still unable to return to work as a painter and decorator nearly three years after the crash with Hamed.

He said he was in pain daily and despite 12 operations he still faced the prospect of more surgery. He said his brain injury meant he had problems concentrating.

But Mr Burgin said he believed he was lucky to be alive.

"I take a different view of life now," he said.

"I'm lucky to be here. It's put things into perspective."