Judge blasts Defoe for his 'shameful behaviour' in skipping court date

London, Nov 7 : Judge Anthony Goldstaub QC dismissed the appeal of ace England footballer Jermain Defoe, and blasted his 'shameful behaviour.'

Defoe was labelled “shameful” by the judge on Friday for not turning up in court.

The Tottenham striker, 26, was appealing against a six-month drive ban. But he left it to his barrister to attend the hearing - which he lost.

“Any normal person faced with his situation would come and see what''s going on. The fact is, he personally is not here. You can speculate what an innocent man would do and what a guilty man might do,” The Sun quoted Judge Anthony, as saying.

“He’s absented himself. He is a public figure, there is an inquiry going on into whether he has committed a crime and he hasn’t shown his face,” the judge added.

Defoe was banned in July after he was found guilty of two counts of speeding in his 70,000-pound Range Rover and failing to tell police who was driving at the time.

He was also ordered to pay 2,100 pound in fine and legal costs. The suspension was put on hold until the appeal yesterday at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Defoe’s barrister, Dean George, argued: “He might not have wanted people to ogle him. If he is not here, nothing can be read into that. It’s more of a moral rather than a legal point of view whether a public figure should be shame-faced by not turning up. It is nothing to do with the law.”

The judge said he would give his reasons for his decision next Wednesday.

--ANI