CONTROVERSIAL goalkeeper Luke McCormick has signed for Oxford United until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old was one of three deals agreed just before the transfer window closed, with Justin Richards signing on for the rest of the campaign and Tyrone Marsh going out on loan to Staines Town.

McCormick was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after admitting to killing two children in a car crash in 2008.

The former Plymouth stopper, who was more than twice over the drink-drive limit when it happened, was released last summer after serving three and a half years.

He trained with Swindon Town but was not offered a contract and instead joined Truro City on non-contract terms in November.

United chairman Ian Lenagan said in a club statement: "The tragic events in Luke's past will never go away and that is something he will have to bear for the rest of his days.

"He made the biggest mistake of his life and no amount of apologies will ever change what happened.

"He served his sentence and knows what he did was wrong.

"As a club we have thought long and hard about whether to employ a player with his background but his clear repentance and the opportunity to allow him to rehabilitate whilst meeting our unique goalkeeping situation within the salary cap - which we might otherwise not have been able to do - resulted in our decision to sign him."

Richards was already on loan with United and agreed a settlement to his contract with Burton Albion to sign a new deal with Chris Wilder's men for the rest of the season.

Marsh, 19, has joined up with Staines in the Blue Square Bet South to gain some regular first-team football.