If Macclesfield magistrates contrived to undermine their own authority they could not have done a better job.
Three months ago, the former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez was ordered to carry out 250 hours of community service for driving while disqualified and without insurance.
Like many other errant motorists, his excuses were no defence and he was duly sentenced.
It now appears his work takes him to Italy and fulfilling his sentence is somewhat inconvenient.
So in order to accommodate Mr Tevez, Macclesfield magistrates replaced the remaining hours of his community service with a £3,000 fine.
We could fill this newspaper with the names of offenders whose careers were disrupted by sentences passed in Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court, but I know of none who had theirs rescinded.
What do you suppose would be the response were Mr Tevez a plumber moving to Italy for a new job?
Are we saying that all lawbreakers whose careers are inconvenienced by community sentences should now have them rescinded?
It’s going to be very difficult now for magistrates to deny that precedent in future appeals.
It’s a powerful message and one that will not be lost on defendants.
Macclesfield magistrates have placed themselves under huge scrutiny from legal representatives who will scrutinise all future judgements for signs of inconsistency.
In addition to the litany of excuses regularly heard in our magistrates courts, we can now expect to hear of incredible overseas job opportunities awaiting each and every offender unhappy with their sentence.
