England footballer Ashley Young facing driving ban for speeding

Young pleaded guilty through his legal representatives to speeding at 71mph on a 50mph section of the M6 Toll in Warwickshire.

Magistrates sitting in Leamington Spa heard that 28-year-old Young already has nine points on his driving licence, having previously been convicted of speeding at 100mph on the M62 in West Yorkshire.

Young was given six points for the earlier offence in January last year and three points for another unspecified incident in 2011.

The footballer’s lawyer, Chris Sweetman, told magistrates his client meant no disrespect by not appearing in court to enter his guilty plea.

Explaining the player’s absence, Mr Sweetman told JPs: “You will appreciate that Mr Young plays for Manchester United and he is with the team ahead of their game against Swansea.

“Clearly he will be in a position to pay any financial penalty within 24 days.”

Jagdeep Sekhon, prosecuting, said Young’s Range Rover Vogue was clocked by a speed camera near the M6 Toll’s junction with the M42 at 10am on March 7 last year.

The prosecutor offered no evidence against Young, who lives in Prestbury in Cheshire, on a separate charge of failing to provide information to police about the driver of the Range Rover.

The winger, who told Wakefield Magistrates’ Court last July that he was “deeply sorry” for speeding on the M62, will be sentenced for the latest offence in Leamington Spa on January 30.

Young started his professional playing career at Watford before moving to Aston Villa.

He established himself in the first team at Villa Park, and has since earned 28 caps for England, scoring seven goals.

On 23 June, 2011, Young signed for Manchester United for an undisclosed fee.