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| Speeding striker jailed for lying | Speeding striker jailed for lying |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A Stoke City footballer who claimed his stepfather was at the wheel when he was clocked doing 103mph in his Mercedes has been jailed for four months. | A Stoke City footballer who claimed his stepfather was at the wheel when he was clocked doing 103mph in his Mercedes has been jailed for four months. |
| Vincent Pericard, 24, admitted perverting the course of justice at Plymouth Crown Court. | |
| The former Juventus and Portsmouth striker was caught on the A38 near Plymouth last March. | The former Juventus and Portsmouth striker was caught on the A38 near Plymouth last March. |
| The Cameroon-born player was charged after his stepfather Jack told police he had not been in the UK since 2003. | The Cameroon-born player was charged after his stepfather Jack told police he had not been in the UK since 2003. |
| Officers had tracked his stepfather down after letters were sent to him at an address in France. | Officers had tracked his stepfather down after letters were sent to him at an address in France. |
| 'Serious consequences' | 'Serious consequences' |
| Pericard, who has twice been disqualified from driving for previous speeding offences, was sent further letters, to which he did not reply. | Pericard, who has twice been disqualified from driving for previous speeding offences, was sent further letters, to which he did not reply. |
| Eventually one said the picture of him speeding was taken from in front of the car and revealed the driver. | Eventually one said the picture of him speeding was taken from in front of the car and revealed the driver. |
| Vincent Pericard was on loan at Plymouth Argyle at the time | Vincent Pericard was on loan at Plymouth Argyle at the time |
| In December, he sent a statement to police saying he had made a mistake and apologised for any inconvenience, but was later arrested. | In December, he sent a statement to police saying he had made a mistake and apologised for any inconvenience, but was later arrested. |
| The court heard Pericard earned £190,000 a year and could afford a significant fine. | The court heard Pericard earned £190,000 a year and could afford a significant fine. |
| But Judge Francis Gilbert said speed cameras would be a "waste of time" if there were not serious consequences for this type of offence. | But Judge Francis Gilbert said speed cameras would be a "waste of time" if there were not serious consequences for this type of offence. |
| "You were looking to escape - it was a deliberate plan of dishonesty," he told Pericard. | "You were looking to escape - it was a deliberate plan of dishonesty," he told Pericard. |
| "I regard doing an act intending to pervert the course of public justice as serious. | "I regard doing an act intending to pervert the course of public justice as serious. |
| "You cannot buy yourself out of the consequences." | "You cannot buy yourself out of the consequences." |
| 'Small minority' | 'Small minority' |
| Pericard, of Oyster Road, Portsmouth, joined Stoke City on a free transfer at the end of the 2005-06 season. | Pericard, of Oyster Road, Portsmouth, joined Stoke City on a free transfer at the end of the 2005-06 season. |
| The court heard he had been speeding while travelling from his Portsmouth home to a training session in Plymouth where he was playing for Plymouth Argyle on loan. | The court heard he had been speeding while travelling from his Portsmouth home to a training session in Plymouth where he was playing for Plymouth Argyle on loan. |
| After the hearing, Pc Duncan Russell said: "There is a small minority of people who think they are above the law and that they can lie their way out of a speeding fine. | After the hearing, Pc Duncan Russell said: "There is a small minority of people who think they are above the law and that they can lie their way out of a speeding fine. |
| "In this case the defendant was driving at 103mph and deliberately lied to avoid the consequences. | "In this case the defendant was driving at 103mph and deliberately lied to avoid the consequences. |
| "The sentence today reinforces that the court will not tolerate this behaviour." | "The sentence today reinforces that the court will not tolerate this behaviour." |
| Stoke City manager Tony Pulis said the club would stand by Pericard, adding: "We can't condone what he has done but he is not a nasty or bad person. | |
| "He has been very naive and made a mistake, which we have all done at some point. | |
| "Everyone associated with the football club is disappointed with what has happened, but we will all be standing right behind him." |