112mph Sunderland star feared Newcastle fans were chasing him

Grant Leadbitter claimed he was being followed by Newcastle United fans when he was caught speeding.
He appeared before Gateshead magistrates yesterday and admitted speeding on the A1 near the Angel of the North on March 7.
The midfielder, from Seaton, pleaded special reasons not to be banned after his BMW M6 was clocked speeding at 112mph.
Leadbitter,
who had no previous convictions, said he had been in a Tyneside bar for
a quiet drink after SAFC's 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur, where he
was abused by supporters from the Black Cat's biggest rivals.
The 23-year-old said he left the bar to avoid trouble, and on the way home thought he was being followed by another car.
"I was scared it was the fellas who had been in the bar," he said.
"I sped away. I didn't want them to follow me to my house.
"When
I got to 90mph I thought if it's an unmarked police car it will pull me
over because I am breaking the speed limit, but when it didn't I was
convinced it was the lads from the bar."
Motor patrol Sergeant
Lynne McKevitt said she followed the footballer's car for six minutes,
and did not pull him over at 90mph because it was not safe to do so.
"He was accelerating and braking harshly," she added.
Magistrates banned Leadbitter for 14 days, fined him £250 and ordered him to pay £250 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
sunderlandecho.com