Stones misses speeding letter while at World Cup

Footballer John Stones has been convicted of speeding after he missed a police letter while at the World Cup with England.

The 32-year-old defender, who left Manchester City for Inter Milan in the summer, was caught driving his £150,000 Range Rover at 43mph (69 km/h) along a 30 mph (48 km/h) stretch of a country lane near his Cheshire home in May.

Stones admitted being the driver when first contacted by Cheshire Police, but did not respond to a second letter offering him the chance to pay a fixed penalty to keep the speeding offence out of court.

He wrote to Warrington Magistrates Court to explain he had been abroad but was landed with a £1,052 court bill. He was given four points.

Stones was prosecuted after he did not reply to the police letter.

The Three Lions star was convicted in the Single Justice Procedure, with a magistrate last week issuing him four penalty points and ordering him to pay a £666 fine, £120 in costs, and a £266 victim surcharge.

Explaining the mishap, Stones wrote to Warrington Magistrates Court and said: “Nothing to say about the speeding.

“The reason I am only responding to the offence now is because I represent our country for football and so I have not been home and seen any post.

“I sent off my letter on the 28th May to give my details, I went off to join England.

“We were there until the 19th July.

“I went on holiday and then moved to Milan, so this has been found by chance, as no- one has been home for almost four months.

“This is the reason I also would not be able to be present as I no longer am residing in the country.”

Court records showed Stones was at the wheel of the Range Rover when it was clocked by a speed camera.

The incident happened at 10:40 BST on 8 May.

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John Stones celebrated victory after England beat Norway in the World Cup quarter-final at the Miami Stadium. [PA Media]

Stones started the first match of the World Cup finals in the USA after being selected in the 26-man squad.

He featured again in the quarter-final victory against Norway and played in England’s semi-final defeat to Argentina.

The central defender, who played for Barnsley and Everton before a 10-year spell with Manchester City, has made four appearances so far for Inter Milan since his summer switch to the San Siro.

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