A NORTH-EAST football star has been fined by a court after knocking down a cyclist while behind the wheel of his Range Rover.

Middlesbrough's Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - who is a former Leeds United and Chelsea player - was on a shopping trip when he knocked the rider off his bike.

Police charged Hasselbaink with careless driving and his case was heard by magistrates in Harrogate yesterday.

The 33-year-old striker did not appear before the court but wrote with a plea of guilty.

He offered no mitigation for his actions the night he encountered cyclist John Planchet.

The court was told how Hasselbaink had turned right into Valley Drive, Harrogate, across the path of Mr Planchet who was riding along the town's Cold Bath Road.

Magistrates heard how Mr Planchet had spent five days in hospital.

During that time surgeons carried out two operations on his wrist. Doctors also treated him for minor injuries.

He suffered from cuts and bruises to his body, an eye and an ear.

The court heard how Mr Planchet told police: ''I had a second to react as the Range Rover crossed into my lane. It all happened very quickly. I tried to go round the Range Rover and my wheels locked and I hit the front of it."

Court chairman Catherine Nickols was told that Hasselbaink, who lives in Harrogate, had told police he had been out to buy groceries.

He told police that: ''I just didn't see him."

The Dutch footballer, whose earnings were not disclosed to the court, was fined £250 with £45 costs.

Magistrates also endorsed his driving licence with six penalty points. They will be added to three already on his licence after he was caught speeding, in May.