AN AVID Michael Jackson fan has spent hundreds of pounds on a personalised number plate in honour of his hero – even though he has no car to put it on. Distraught learner-driver Thomas Slater, a student at North Hertfordshire College, spent �390 on MJ09

AN AVID Michael Jackson fan has spent hundreds of pounds on a personalised number plate in honour of his hero - even though he has no car to put it on.

Distraught learner-driver Thomas Slater, a student at North Hertfordshire College, spent �390 on MJ09 KOP, after hearing of the stars' death.

The Hitchin 18-year-old, who used his savings from a part-time job at a supermarket to buy the plate from the DVLA, said: "I was absolutely distraught when I heard the news about Michael dying. I've been an avid fan since I was six, and like all true fans I just wanted to pay tribute.

"I immediately went online and had a play with the search facility. Being able to have his initials, the year of his death and the letters KOP for King of Pop as a registration for my car will always be with me, even though I won't be able to afford a car suitable for it for some time."

Distraught Michael Jackson fan Thomas Slater bought the perfect tribute to his hero - the personalised registration MJ09 KOP.

Immediately after hearing the news of Jackson's death, the student from Hitchin visited DVLA Personalised Registrations' website and, after toying with its search facility, spotted the combination MJ09 KOP and swiftly snapped it up using his savings from his part-time job at Sainsbury's.

Unfortunately for the learner driver, he'll only be able to hang the plate on his bedroom wall because, by his own admission, he's unlikely to be able to afford a car suitable to place his personalised plate on "for some time".

Thomas, who is studying at North Hertfordshire College, said: "I was absolutely distraught when I heard the news about Michael dying. I've been an avid fan since I was six, and like all true fans I just wanted to pay tribute to the King of Pop.

"Don't ask why, but I immediately went online and had a play with the DVLA's search facility and to my delight MJ09 KOP was available. It only cost �390, being able to have his initials, the year of his death and the letters KOP for King of Pop as a registration for my car will always be with me even though I won't be able to afford a car suitable for it for some time."

Damian Lawson, DVLA Personalised Registrations' Marketing Manager, said: "I take my hat off to Thomas's ingenuity. With more than 30 million registrations on our database, his quick thinking and clever use of available letters and numbers gifted him his personal tribute to Michael Jackson.