DISGRACED soccer star Jonathan Woodgate was back in trouble with the law yesterday - when he was banned from the roads for driving at almost 100mph.

The Middlesbrough-born player was branded a persistent speeder as he was convicted of his fourth speeding offence in as many years.

The 22-year-old England defender, convicted of affray in December for his part in an assault on an Asian student outside a Leeds nightclub, had his licence taken away for six months at Richmond Magistrates' Court, North Yorkshire.

Woodgate's lawyer lodged an appeal, saying police had failed to properly measure the mile-long stretch of road used to calculate his speed in July last year.

The bench agreed to suspend the disqualification pending the outcome of the appeal.

The Leeds United star, whose former England colleagues were preparing for last night's Elland Road showdown with Italy, was not in court to hear he had been convicted and hit with a £500 fine, plus £250 costs.

Woodgate pleaded not guilty to driving at 97mph near Barrowby, on the A19 between Thirsk and Northallerton, in North Yorkshire.

But, sentencing Woodgate, chairman of the Bench Kate Fox condemned his driving.

"He is a persistent speeder and this court wishes to emphasis that this will not be tolerated," she said.

PC Stuart Langford told the court he was driving an unmarked patrol car when he first saw Woodgate's T-registered Cherokee Jeep closing on him rapidly from behind.

He pulled into the inside lane to let it pass, estimating the car's speed to be in the region of 95mph.

After activating the patrol car's radar equipment, PC Langford followed Woodgate for a mile, clocking his average speed at 97.71mph.

As Woodgate already had nine penalty points on his licence from three previous speeding offences, PC Langford was unable to issue a fixed penalty.

Another three points would have taken Woodgate into the realms of a driving ban.

But, while PC Langford was explaining matters, Woodgate said he did not have time to talk, returned to his car and drove off.

Paul Taylor, defending, alleged the radar could not be relied upon as an accurate gauge of Woodgate's speed.

The court was told the police regularly used a measured mile on the road to calibrate their equipment - something PC Langford said he had done both before and after he stopped Woodgate.

But Mr Taylor said, as PC Langford had not actually measured the mile himself, his readings may not have been accurate.

In December, Woodgate was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and was saddled with a £1m legal bill after being found guilty of affray, at Hull Crown Court.

The conviction appeared to have cost Woodgate his England place, although there were widespread calls for him to be reinstated to the squad for last night's game.

Manager Sven Goran Eriksson said last week that the defender could not be considered when the FA banned violent fans from the terraces.

Last night, the FA declined to say if the coach also knew of yesterday's court date before he picked the team.

Experienced North Yorkshire police traffic officer Sergeant Tom Vickers underlined the dangers of speeding.

"It is the unexpected which makes speeding dangerous," he said.

"All it takes is for a tyre to burst, or someone to pull out when you are not expecting it and, although your reflexes may be the same, you will travel that much further before you have had a chance to react.