Shame of 103mph Ipswich Town star

EXCLUSIVE

By Patrick Lowman

IPSWICH Town striker Darren Bent has been banned from driving after he was caught driving at 103mph on one of the region's busiest roads.

Magistrates banned the 21-year-old star for 28 days and fined him £600 after he was spotted driving his high-performance BMW X5 on the A14 near Bury St Edmunds at more than 30mph above the speed limit.

Naomi Turner, prosecuting, said a police officer had recorded Bent driving his car at 103mph between Rougham and Beyton on January 16.

The offence happened close to major roadworks being carried out as part of a major improvement scheme at the Rookery crossroads, just outside Bury St Edmunds.

Ms Turner told the court yesterday that when stopped by the officer, Bent, of Baird Grove, Kesgrave, had said: “I didn't realise I was going that fast.”

Bent, who has scored 18 goals for Ipswich Town this season, did not appear before Sudbury magistrates, but pleaded guilty through his solicitor Barry Warburton.

“On the evening of the offence there was very little traffic about and his speed just drifted up. He was driving his BMW vehicle that is almost completely silent when travelling,” said Mr Warburton.

“He realises he will be disqualified, but he has a clean licence and he has assured me this will not happen again.”

Bent has been part of the Ipswich Town set-up since he was aged 14 and made his first-team debut away at Helsingborg in the UEFA Cup in 2001.

He scored his first senior goal for the club in the same season during a Worthington Cup game at Newcastle United.

Bent was the club's leading scorer with 16 goals in the 2003/04 season and his form has continued this term, playing a key part in taking Ipswich Town to second place in the Championship.

A spokesman for Ipswich Town said it was a personal matter and had been dealt with in an appropriate manner. He declined to make any further comment.

patrick.lowman@eadt.co.uk