Amir Khan found only guilty of careless driving

Court cleared British boxer Amir Khan of dangerous driving despite running through a red light and knocking down a pedestrian last year.

Photo: Amir Khan found only guilty of careless driving

Khan was cleared by a jury at Bolton Crown Court of dangerous driving, but found guilty of careless driving. Judge Steven Everitt banned Khan from driving for six months and fined him 1,000 pounds (US$2,050; 1,440 EUR).

Khan hit Geoffrey Hatton with his car on March 2, 2006, breaking his leg. Hatton was walking on a pedestrian crossing.

He was going at a top speed of 75 kilometers per hour (47 mph) as he drove through the red light in downtown Bolton.

"You drove too fast," Everitt told Khan. "You put yourself in a position where you could not stop and as a result you went through a red light, and inevitably this collision occurred.

"It may be said Mr. Hatton went in front of the car, but his injury was of your making."

Khan said he was glad the case was over.

"I always said I did not drive dangerously and it proved today I didn't," he said. "I always said I was careless the way I drove, and I'm sorry over what happened.

"I'll carry on with my training and put this behind me and get on with life."

Khan turned pro after winning a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He successfully defended his Commonwealth lightweight title on Oct. 6, stopping Scott Lawton in the fourth round for his 14th straight victory.