Carlos Arrested and Releasedhttp://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/chroniclelive/eveningchronicle/tm_method=full%26objectid=19588569%26siteid=50081-name_page.htmBlack Cat drove with wrong licence
Aug 8 2007
by Linda Richards, Evening Chronicle
SUNDERLAND player
Carlos Edwards has been driving without a British licence for seven years, it was revealed today.
The seven-year hitch was revealed when he appeared in court after speeding at 97mph, dashing to see his sick baby.
The 28-year-old Trinidad and Tobago international was arrested and brought before magistrates in Gateshead.
His appearance was the third since he was caught speeding on the A194 in Gateshead on May 10.
At 11am on that day, police followed the Sunderland winger for one and a half miles driving his Mercedes Benz in a 70mph limit towards White Mare Pool. He was driving with a Trinidad and Tobago licence and had never applied for a UK licence.
He was summonsed for speeding and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and was found guilty on July 9 in his absence.
But because the 28-year-old midfielder already had six points on his licence, magistrates considered disqualifying him from driving under the totting-up procedure and adjourned sentence until last week for him to appear.
When he failed to appear, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
David Mayhew, prosecuting, told magistrates Edwards, who appeared under his full name Akhenaton Edwards, was caught driving at 97.12mph.
When asked by police why he was driving at such speed, he said: I am meeting my lass. My baby has not been very well.
Dressed in beige jacket and white shirt, Edwards, of Bay Court, Sunderland, appeared in the dock flanked by two security guards. He only spoke to confirm his details.
Magistrates told Edwards they were giving him another chance and not banning him. Instead they gave him five penalty points and fined £250 with £40 costs.
But he was told he must not drive again until he has a British licence.
His barrister, Lorraine Mustard, had appealed to magistrates not to disqualify the star, who signed for Sunderland in January for £1.5m.
She said on the day he was caught speeding he was told he would receive information through the post, but did not receive anything. It was his intention, she added, to plead guilty but a number of things of a delicate family nature had pre-occupied his mind.
Miss Mustard added: His partner and child are in Watford and he uses his motor vehicle to keep in regular contact with his child, who is still very ill.
