Most of us do it at some time... BLACK Cats defender Phil Bardsley has been given a fine and six points after being caught speeding for the fourth time by driving at 72mph in a 50mph zone. The 26-year-old â who has previously served two driving bans â was spotted by a traffic officer on the A690 through West Rainton heading towards Durham. Peterlee Magistratesâ Court heard Bardsley was in his Audi Q7 DTI 245 when the incident happened at 3pm on Saturday, March 3 â the eve of Sunderlandâs clash with Newcastle United at the Sports Direct Arena. Heather Wilkinson, prosecuting, said Bardsley, who lives in East Rainton, signed a form confirming he had been driving the 4x4 at the time of the offence after he was sent a notice warning him of prosecution. He was told to attend the hearing by letter, after a previous adjournment when he was on holiday, but failed to appear yesterday. His advisor, Des Wroe, a director of a sports management firm, contacted the court in advance to ask for an adjournment as he confused the dates and thought it had been rearranged for July 12. He also said Bardsley â who has previously served two driving bans and been given points on three occasions for other speeding offences â was keen to sort the issue out with the DVLA rather than see it brought to court. However, both were told the footballer was to attend the hearing, with the bench deciding to proceed without him being present. After hearing the case, it was proven in his absence and adjourned to a later date so Bardsley could attend after being told he could face disqualification under the totting provisions. However, it was later called back to court after the history of his driving record was clarified, showing he now has a clean licence. Magistrates sentenced him to six penalty points and ordered him to pay a £1,000 fine, £85 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge. Chairman of the bench Ian Heslop said: âThis is fourth speeding offence in three years with two disqualifications, and in our view, a pretty poor record in a concentrated period of time. âAs far as this is concerned, 22mph over the speed limit.â The latest penalty added to Bardsleyâs licence follows on from a 28-day disqualification in October 2009, when he was caught speeding; three-points added in April 2010 for using a mobile phone behind the wheel, three points added later the same month for speeding, and three points in March 2011 for speeding. A year ago he was given six-month ban and a £900 fine for parking on the zig-zag lines of a zebra crossing in Newbottle Street, Houghton. It happened on March 18, 2011, while he called in to a bookmakers to pick up winnings.
