Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck escapes driving ban for speeding

England and Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck has escaped a driving ban despite being caught speeding at 82mph in a 50mph zone.

The 21-year-old, defended by lawyer Nick ‘Mr Loophole’ Freeman, was instead given three points on his driving licence.

Manchester magistrates heard that Welbeck had admitted speeding after failing to produce his licence in November 2011, according to The Sun.

Welbeck, who is currently in Moldova as part of Roy Hodgson’s England squad and therefore did not appear in court, had initially denied the charge and did not take up an offer of paying a fine on the spot.

Mr Freeman claimed that Welbeck did not pay the fine as he wrongly believed he had to take his licence - which was missing and could not be found until July - to a police station.

Welbeck was fined £65 plus £350 in costs and a £15 surcharge.