England star banned from driving

England star Glen Johnson has been banned from driving

Footballer Glen Johnson has been banned from driving for a month after being caught speeding on the M25 at 112mph with five friends in his car.

The 20-year-old Chelsea and England player, of Cobham, Surrey, was caught late at night in April last year.

He admitted driving over the 70mph limit and using the vehicle in a dangerous condition with so many in it.

His lawyer told Guildford magistrates Johnson was helping friends who had broken down on the motorway.

It must be one of the few occasions when traffic on the M25 was light and traffic was capable of speeding Barry Warburton

Prosecutor Catherine Clapham told the court Johnson had four friends in the back seat, one of whom was sitting on another's knee, when the car was clocked by police.

There was another passenger next to him in the front seat.

When stopped, Johnson said: "I didn't think I was going over 100," she said.

Barry Warburton told the court his client had been acting as a good Samaritan at the time.

"He received a telephone call to say his friends had broken down on the M25, they were walking to the next available junction and would he pick them up," he said.

"It must be one of the few occasions when traffic on the M25 was light and traffic was capable of speeding."

The court heard that Johnson was not in court because he was in Spain with team-mates and is due to play against Barcelona later this week.

He was banned for 28 days and ordered to pay a total of £1,350 in fines and costs.