Footballer Nicklas Bendtner cleared of cars damage

Premier League star Nicklas Bendtner was today cleared of vandalising cars parked near the home of his team's arch rivals.

The prosecution withdrew the case against him after he was charged with five counts of criminal damage with Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole.

The Danish star, on loan with Sunderland from Arsenal for a year, and who scored the only goal in the Black Cats win over Liverpool on Saturday, was not at Newcastle Magistrates' Court for the hearing.

Cattermole was present, dressed in a grey suit and black shirt, and no pleas were entered to the five charges relating to £4,168.27 of damage caused to cars on December 6.

The cars were parked in Stowell Street in Newcastle's China Town - only a few hundred yards from Newcastle United's Sports Direct Arena.

The case was adjourned at the request of the prosecution.

Cattermole, 23, who gave his address as Aislaby near Yarm, Teesside, was granted unconditional bail until 2pm on March 26 when the case will be heard again.

The same court banned Bendtner from driving for 56 days last month after he was caught driving his Porsche 911 at 103mph.

He is a huge star in his native Denmark - a journalist flew in from Copenhagen to cover the hearing today - and was engaged to Baroness Caroline Luel-Brockdorf, a wealthy member of the Danish royal family and the mother of his child.

They split soon after the birth of their son in December 2010.

The striker is currently playing in a mask after suffering a broken nose. It has been customised to include his initials, the "52" shirt number and the Danish flag.

PA