Man City star gets community service for driving offence

MACCLESFIELD: Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez avoided jail but was sentenced to perform 250 hours of community service after pleading guilty Wednesday to two motoring offences.

The Argentina forward was also handed a six-month driving ban and ordered to pay 1,145 pounds ($1,735, 1,350 euros) in fines and court costs at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court, near Manchester in northwest England.
He must do his community service within the next 12 months and his driving ban starts immediately.

Speaking in Spanish, the 29-year-old pleaded guilty through an interpreter to one count each of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

The Argentinian received a six-month driving ban at Manchester Magistrates' Court in January after admitting failing to reply to police letters about who was driving a vehicle of his that was caught speeding.

He claimed he did not respond, as he did not recognise the word "constabulary".

He was stopped at the wheel as he left a golf club on March 7, following an anonymous tip-off to the police.

The court heard he told the officer who stopped him: "I only live down the road. Two minutes."

After speaking to Tevez in private following his plea, Probation Service officer Mike Boliver told the court Tevez had no previous convictions so rehabilitation was not appropriate and neither was a curfew order due to the travel involved with his job.

Tevez has been in hot form for Manchester City of late, scoring seven goals in his last six appearances for the English Premier League champions.
The former Corinthians, West Ham and Manchester United striker has scored 16 goals in 37 matches for City so far this season, but his club looks almost certain to lose their Premier League title to United. (AFP)