Ferdinand handed six month driving ban

Ferdinand: Banned from driving

Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand has been issued with a six month driving ban and a fine of £1000 by Newcastle magistrates.

The 25-year-old -- brother of England captain Rio Ferdinand -- spoke only to confirm his name and address during a brief hearing which saw him convicted of using a mobile phone while at the wheel of his Range Rover in July.

Ferdinand was banned because he has already accumulated 12 points on his licence from previous motoring offences.

"As the officer drew up alongside, he realised he was a police officer and immediately put the phone down from his ear."

Ferdinand had told the officer that he was making an important call to his mother as he was on the way to the airport.

The ban brings about the end of a case where Ferdinand failed to appear for a court hearing and then handed himself in to Newcastle police station following the threat of arrest.

It's not the first time Ferdinand has been in trouble with the law. Three years ago he was charged with assault and affray following a fracas outside a nightclub in Ilford, for which he was later acquitted. Ferdinand had claimed he was defending himself from someone who he thought wanted to steal his £64,000 diamond-encrusted watch!The Sunderland defender was spotted using his mobile by a police officer who had followed him over a course of two miles.
The prosecutor Kerry Gate said: "He was leaning towards the centre of the car as if leaning on an arm rest and had his mobile telephone in his left hand against his left ear.