Ton-up Sunderland striker Bendtner faces driving ban (From The Northern Echo)

Ton-up Sunderland striker Bendtner faces driving ban

2:01pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News

Sunderland striker, Nicklas Bendtner is facing a driving ban after being clocked racing his Porsche at over 100mph, a court heard.

The troubled Premier League star was arrested on December 10 after he was spotted driving at speeds of 103mph in a 70mph zone.

He was seen speeding along the A696 Woolsington bypass at 33 miles above the national speed limit, prosecutors claim.

Bendtner, 23, did not appear during the short hearing at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, but his legal team submitted a letter in which they indicated he would plead guilty.

City JP Keith McIntosh opted to adjourn the hearing and said Bendtner, who is on a season-long loan at Sunderland from Arsenal, would have to appear in court for sentence to be passed.

The Denmark international, who lives in Darras Hall, Ponteland, was summoned to appear later this month.

Sarah Robinson, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant drove a Porsche along the Woolsington bypass at a speed exceeding 70mph.

"He was seen doing 103.6mph for a distance of 0.137 miles and was recorded by a police Vascar system.

"He has indicated a guilty plea."

His driving arrest came four days after he was quizzed alongside Sunderland skipper Cattermole for allegedly damaging a number of cars on Tyneside.

Several vehicles were reportedly attacked at around 10pm on December 6 in China Town's Stowell Street yards from the St James' Park home of Newcastle United.

And last month it also emerged Bendtner was arrested following an early morning brawl at a luxury Tyneside hotel.

He was held by police called to the dust-up at the Gateshead Hilton along with another 23-year-old man but was released without charge.

Following the arrest, he issued an apology to "friends, fans, Sunderland and family" and begged forgiveness.

Bendtner moved to Sunderland from Arsenal in a deadline day loan deal last year.

He has struggled to find form, scoring just a handful of goals since his arrival.

Last year claims were made he caused havoc in a Copenhagen pizza shop when he demanded others pay for his food after his credit cards were rejected.

It caused outrage in his homeland and led to the Danish FA holding talks with the striker.

Following his Stowell Street arrest, Bendtner released a statement in which he said: "I am extremely sorry for all of this.

"I apologise sincerely that I have allowed myself to get involved in things that are interpreted in such dramatic fashion.

"I fully assume responsibility for not distancing myself from these incidents before they got out of hand.

"The error is mine alone and I am sorry that I have let so many people down.

"Basically I am a normal guy with an extraordinary job."