Footballer court case adjourned

The player was bailed until 9 April

A prosecution brought against a Premier League footballer for motoring offences has been adjourned in his absence.

Two charges of driving without insurance against Stoke City's Ricardo Fuller, 29, have been withdrawn.

The striker faces two counts of driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and was bailed by magistrates in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, until April.

His lawyer, Mike Stephenson, told the court it was his view that his client was resident in Jamaica.

"If he is a resident there, he doesn't need to have a licence here," Mr Stephenson said.

The Jamaica international was bailed until 9 April.

The player, from Ashbourne Drive, Crewe, Cheshire, was charged with driving a BMW 650i otherwise than in accordance with a licence after being arrested near Stoke City's training ground on 25 February.

The striker is also accused of committing the same offence while driving an Audi Quattro on Goms Mill Road, Stoke-on-Trent, on 31 December last year.