Former Norwich and Coventry City striker Leon McKenzie has been jailed for sending fabricated letters to the police in a bid to avoid a driving ban.
The 33-year-old, of Northampton, was sentenced to six months in prison and handed an 18-month driving ban after admitting to posting bogus letters to Northamptonshire Police in an attempt to avoid speeding convictions.
Sentencing the former Premier League footballer at Northampton Crown Court today, Judge Richard Bray said: "A custodial sentence is necessary for this type of offence which strikes right at the heart of justice," reported the Press Association.
"It would completely send out the wrong message if I did not hand out a custodial sentence."
McKenzie, who retired from professional football in December, has battled with depression following the suicide of his sister, then divorce from his first wife and subsequent separation from his children.
A series of ankle, thigh and Achilles injuries also contributed to an attempted suicide whilst at Charlton Athletic in 2009, when he washed down 40 sleeping tablets with whiskey.
He retired from football in December last year, finishing his career with Kidderminster Harriers.
Only last week McKenzie spoke to BBC East Late Kick Off to reveal that he had been approached by a number of ex-professionals seeking advice to battle depression. He had been set to embark on a career in the music industry.
McKenzie took to Twitter promising a statement that will be detailed on the micro-blogging site:
He followed it with a brief and buoyant message to his followers: