NEWCASTLE United star Obafemi Martins has escaped a driving ban - despite being clocked at 106mph in his Porsche.

NEWCASTLE United star Obafemi Martins has escaped a driving ban - despite being clocked at 106mph in his Porsche.

The Nigerian international was caught breaking the 70mph speed limit in his Porsche Cayenne four-wheel drive on the A696 Woolsington bypass last May.

He was driving to an airport to board a flight to see his sick son in Italy, and feared he was going to miss the plane.

The 24-year-old, who pleaded guilty and had a clean driving licence, was fined �550, ordered to pay �400 costs and had six points put on his licence by magistrates in Newcastle.

But road safety campaigners have attacked the sentence, arguing that anyone caught driving at over 100mph should be automatically banned from the road.