We know high earning footballers are often pampered to the extreme these days but Shaun Wright-Phillips has escaped a prison sentence after it was revealed that he doesn’t even open his own post. His agent does! The QPR winger was facing jail for driving while disqualified but after explaining to magistrates that he was unaware he was banned he was let off because of “special reasons”. Despite being sent a host of reminders, SWP missed his court summons for going 79mph in a 50mph zone in Esher, Surrey and after failing to appear in December, the court banned him in his absence.
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Theoretically speaking then, if someone can now demonstrate that they were unaware of the contents of their mail, does that now mean that they can't be found liable for any consequences arising from the lack of action taken regarding the subject matter of the mail?
I'm quite surprised this doesn't land his agent in hot water though; given the status of mail (and, presumably court/legal documents) I would've thought this would pass some form of culpability on to the agent for not ensuring the documents found SWP.
His agent has, in essence, intercepted (albeit with permission) SWP's post - but not ensured it's found it's rightful owner. Surely there is some form of legal obligation to ensure that legal paperwork is passed on to the correct recipient?
Utterly ridiculous though.
I take it that SWP ban starts again.
I always thought ignorance was no defence! (Although this was mitigation rather than defence.)
"Where an Act authorises or requires any document to be served by post (whether the expression “serve” or the expression “give” or “send” or any other expression is used) then, unless the contrary intention appears, the service is deemed to be effected by properly addressing, pre-paying and posting a letter containing the document and, unless the contrary is proved, to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post."
I'd suggest the magistrate(s) in this case (remember it would have been SW-P who provided his agent's address as the contact point) were likely ignorant of this piece of legislation and neither the Clerk of The Court nor, of course, SW-P's brief (who, being a motoring specialist, would have been only too aware of it) bothered to bring it to the Mag's attention.
I'm just dreamimg of all the new opportunities that have opened up :-)
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So one letter was sent to his home. Guilty m'lord.