FORMER Blackburn Rovers star Gary Croft has been jailed for four months after admitting driving while banned and perverting the course of justice.
Croft, who now plays for Ipswich Town, hung his head in shame towards the end of the hearing and was tearful as he was led away from the dock.
The 25-year-old, who signed for Ipswich from Rovers in September in an £800,000 deal, pleaded guilty to two charges of driving while disqualified, two of perverting the course of justice and to driving without insurance.
Croft's co-defendant, snooker ace Dennis Taylor's son Damien Taylor, also appeared at Ipswich Crown Court charged on two counts of perverting the course of justice. He pleaded guilty to one of the offences and the other was allowed to lie on the file.
The court heard how in July, while he was still at Blackburn Rovers, Croft was banned from driving for six months after a speeding charge took his points over the allowed limit.
Croft arranged for his friend Taylor, 26, to be insured to drive his new top-of-the-range BMW convertible and paid him to act as his chauffeur.
Lindsay Cox, prosecuting, said the two men had similar lifestyles as Taylor was a professional golfer and this allowed the arrangement to continue while the two men were both living in Blackburn.
But Croft was to meet with Ipswich Town's manager George Burley and on September 23 he was spotted driving his BMW in Ipswich. Police stopped the car and asked Croft if it was his. He said yes initially then changed his mind and said no. He told the officer his name was Damien Taylor and gave his friend's address and date of birth.
On September 30, after Croft had been signed by Ipswich, he was again stopped in his BMW on the way to a training session.
Croft was recognised by police who had seen his picture in the press following his debut with Town and his winning goal against Manchester City. He was arrested for driving while disqualified and he admitted he had done so on several occasions.
He also admitted asking Taylor, who an earlier hearing heard was an assistant golf professional at Accrington Golf Club, to lie on his behalf.
The court heard that Croft was naive but had shown deep remorse for letting the club and himself down. He was particularly sorry for involving Taylor. The court heard he had been of impeccable character, had helped the club's community project and was highly regarded by fans and players.
Judge John Devaux said despite being " a very nice young man" he had no option but to send Croft to prison for four months and to disqualify him from driving for a further 12 months.
Taylor, whose address was given at an earlier hearing as Beardwood Meadow, Blackburn, was released on conditional bail and is due back in court for sentencing in January.
Croft was signed for Rovers by former manager Ray Harford in 1995 for £1.7million from Grimsby. He made 40 appearances, scoring one goal.
Ipswich Town have issued a statement saying they are standing by the player.
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