It all started when Mr Eady was targeted by a traffic cop using a radar gun as he went through a 40mph limit. The radar gun failed to register the car and returned an error message to the gun. Mr Eady continued unaware.
Rather than put it down to error, the police decided to trace the Range Rover and inspect the car, the officers found the automatic garage door transponder fitted to the front of the vehicle and it appeared to deflect a hand-held police radar gun.
Mr Eady strongly denies knowing the unit was fitted. His garage door isn’t electric and he even asked his mechanic to stand up in court and state that he was never asked to fit it.
Judge Jacqueline Davies was having none of it and told him, ‘I am satisfied that you took deliberate action in acquiring this equipment with a view to avoiding further points’, before handing down the fine along with a one-year ban.
Mr Eady said after the four-day hearing: ‘This whole thing has been a witch-hunt. It’s as though it was a murder trial just for having a little thing on the car. I don’t mind paying my dues, although I still don’t admit I knew the thing was on there.’
Before you all go onto e-bay to find a zapper, be warned. South Yorks chief constable Meredydd Hughes said: ‘Police officers throughout the country have been briefed on how to detect the devices in action and the appropriate steps to be taken to ensure the successful prosecution of dangerous law-breakers who use them.’