Footballer Joey Barton has escaped a conviction for speeding - even though he admitted driving more than 20mph over the limit.

The 27-year-old Newcastle United midfielder, who denied the charge on Wednesday, used the same excuse he used to get off another driving offence last year - that he hadn't received an initial notice from cops.

Barton was caught by average speed cameras doing 71mph in a 50mph zone on the A1 near Rainton, North Yorks., in his Range Rover just before midnight on September 10 last year.

Prosecutor Alison Whiteley told Skipton Magistrates Court that a notice of intended prosecution was sent to Barton's address in Widnes, Ches., on September 15, but Barton denied receiving it.

Gwyn Lewis, defending, said there was no evidence that the initial notice of prosecution, which had been sent by first class post, had ever been received.

Magistrates agreed and Barton was found not guilty after the bench had deliberated for less than an hour.