THE case against England and Newcastle footballer Lee Bowyer, who is accused of speeding at 112mph in his Porsche, has been adjourned after the summons was sent to a locked postbox.

Solicitors for the Newcastle United midfielder successfully applied for an adjournment at South-East Northumberland Magistrates' Court after they said he was unaware of a hearing last month when he was convicted in his absence.

The 28-year-old, who was not in court yesterday, had faced a driving ban after a patrol car allegedly caught him breaking the 70mph limit on the A1 near his home in Burgham Park, near Felton, Northumberland, on July 18.

But magistrates heard in a letter from Bowyer's solicitors that he did not receive the summons, which was posted on September 2, because it was delivered to a secure postbox at his home, for which he did not have a key.

The letter said Bowyer only found out about the hearing after he read about it in the Press.

Since then, he has been provided with a key for the postbox.

The letter asked for the conviction to be withdrawn and that a not guilty plea to the speeding charge be accepted.

David Thompson, prosecuting, opposed the application, saying Bowyer should have been prepared for a summons after he was stopped by the officer.

He told the court: "It was said by a police officer that Mr Bowyer was stopped driving on the A1, which was subject to a 70mph limit, travelling at over 112mph.

"He was told he would be reported for such an offence.

"Immediately, alarm bells should ring.

"Someone accused of travelling at such a speed should be very vigilant that court proceedings could commence."

He said the summons was correctly issued and that the conviction should stand.

He said cases should only be reopened to rectify mistakes.

He said: "Your worships, where is the mistake at law here?"

The bench accepted the not guilty plea and agreed that the case will be reopened on November 9 for a pre-trial review