NEWCASTLE United's England star Jermaine Jenas will not be prosecuted for driving without a proper licence.

The up-and-coming star of British football was fined and given penalty points when he was caught speeding.

But it emerged last night that the £5m player had passed his driving test - even though he could not provide police with his full licence.

As The Northern Echo revealed yesterday, the 20-year-old Newcastle midfielder was stopped by police on the A1 in Richmondshire, North Yorkshire, in his £30,000 BMW X5.

When asked by traffic patrol officers to produce his documents, Jenas only had a provisional driving licence, which learner drivers must have and allows them to get behind the wheel alongside an accomplished motorist.

However, police are now satisfied, following inquiries, that he has passed his driving test - he simply forgot to apply for his full driving licence from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Last night, his solicitor Chris Farnell said the player had passed his test almost three months ago.

He said: "I can confirm that Jermaine Jenas was stopped for speeding on the A1 in North Yorkshire and received three fixed penalty points and a £60 fine.

"He was asked to produce his driving licence but was only in possession of a provisional licence, though he had passed his driving test. He had not, at that stage, applied for his full driving licence.

"He was unable to produce his documents to officers but has since satisfied police that he had passed his driving test."

Jenas, signed for £5m from Nottingham Forest in February last year, has been with the England squad for the friendly international with South Africa but was late joining up with his team-mates. The official explanation for his delayed arrival was that he he had been dealing with a private matter in the North-East.

Bosses at Newcastle United have declined to comment on Jenas's traffic run-in with the police.

Sir Bobby Robson's young team have already been dubbed The Wild Bunch and Jenas is the latest player to find himself in trouble.

Last month, 24-year-old England midfielder Kieron Dyer was handed a six-month driving ban for his fourth speeding offence in two years, which included being fined £1,000 by magistrates at Chester-le-Street after travelling at 104mph on the A1.

Fellow international Jonathan Woodgate was caught twice speeding on the A1 and A19 in North Yorshire in his Jeep Cherokee in 2001.

He was caught doing 97mph on the A19 near Thirsk and fined £500 with £250 costs. He was then banned for six months by magistrates in North Yorkshire when he admitted doing 91mph on the A1 at Dishforth. He was fined £600 with £750 court costs.

Chilean international midfielder Clarence Acuna was banned from driving for two years and fined £1,000 after he was caught drink-driving by police near Newcastle's Quayside.

The 27-year-old, who was dressed as Captain Hook at the time, had been attending the club's Christmas party.

His South American colleague, Nolberto Solano, was banned from driving in 2001 for a similar offence.

A Magpies insider said yesterday: "The problem with Jenas is just another headache for Sir Bobby to deal with but he can't keep the players on a tight leash 24 hours a day."

Club chairman Freddy Shepherd recently warned his team: "The players will be reminded of their duties to Newcastle United, both on the field and out in the community."