Jermain Defoe admits speeding charge

Premiership footballer Jermain Defoe pleaded guilty today to a charge of speeding.

The England and Tottenham Hotspur striker admitted through his barrister Dean George driving at 45mph in a 30mph zone in Anglesea Road, Portsmouth, Hants, on May 8, 2008.

He pleaded not guilty to a second charge of failing to give details of the driver and the count was dropped by the prosecution.

Defoe, 27, who did not attend the hearing, was fined £400, ordered to pay £45 costs, £15 victim surcharge and given four points on his driving licence.

The court was told that Defoe was already disqualified from driving for six months for previous speeding offences.

Mr George said of this offence, which involved a Land Rover 4x4: "It was 1.08am, there was no other traffic on the road, there were no other aggravating features."

Defoe's previous driving offences were four points for speeding on October 4 2008, six points for speeding on April 18 2009, disqualified from driving for six months on July 14 2008, and a further six-month ban on July 10 2009.