A ROAD safety group has hit out after Ipswich Town winger and former World Cup star Finidi George escaped a driving ban despite being caught speeding at nearly100mph.

A ROAD safety group has hit out after Ipswich Town winger and former World Cup star Finidi George escaped a driving ban despite being caught speeding at nearly100mph.

National charity RoadPeace, said the star was ignoring his responsibilities as a role model and he had been treated "leniently." The national charity campaigns to make the roads safer for everyone.

Sudbury magistrates heard how the Nigerian football star was stopped on the A14 at Kentford, near Newmarket, by police officers who clocked his speed at 95.14mph.

George, 31, was driving his Y-reg BMW X5 on the busy dual carriageway at around 10.37am, on July 13, when the offence happened.

Ipswich's £2.5million signing did not appear in court, but pleaded guilty by post.

He did not offer any mitigation, but the court did reveal he had no previous motoring convictions.

Magistrates fined George £750 and ordered him to pay £35 costs. His licence was also endorsed with four penalty points.

Potentially George could have been banned from driving and fined a maximum of £1,000 for the offence he committed.

A spokesman for the RoadPeace charity, said: "We feel this is a very low penalty for someone in such a high profile position. As Mr George is a local public figure and that he committed the crime locally, we feel he should have been dealt with more severely.

"As a role model he has a certain amount of responsibility, and we feel anyone who drives at nearly 100mph should be considered for an automatic ban."

The case rounds off a miserable spell for the former European Cup winner, who in recent months has seen his club relegated from the top flight and has announced his retirement from international football after being axed from Nigeria's World Cup squad.

The winger, renowned for his speed on the pitch, became an instant hero with the Tractor Boys after scoring twice against Derby on his home debut in 2001.

A spokesman for Ipswich Town Football Club said: "We can confirm that one of our players has been fined by Sudbury magistrates' for a speeding offence. This is a personal matter and we have no further comment to make."