FORMER Hearts and current Premiership star Ricardo Fuller was fined £115 today after a court heard he wrongly believed he could drive in Britain using a Jamaican licence.
The Stoke City striker was also ordered to pay £60 in costs and a £15 victim surcharge after pleading guilty to driving other than in accordance with a licence.
The 29-year-old was not present at Stoke-on-Trent Magistrates Court to hear that three
other motoring-related charges against him had been dropped.
Prosecutor Andrea Clutton told the court that Fuller was arrested by police after driving into Stoke City's training ground on February 25 in his BMW 650i.
The star's lawyer, Mike Stephenson, entered a guilty plea on his behalf and told magistrates his client had failed to realise he could only use a Jamaican licence during his first 12 months in Britain.
But Mr Stephenson, who stressed that his client had been properly insured during his time in the UK, said the 12-month rule did not apply to licence holders from all countries.
"Mr Fuller was under the impression that Jamaica was one of the countries where you don't have to apply for a (British) licence after 12 months," the defence solicitor told JPs.
Assuring magistrates that the former Preston and Portsmouth forward is now driving legally using learner plates, Mr Stephenson added: "Once told of the situation, he immediately obtained a provisional licence.
"He has passed his theory test already and is due to take the practical test at the end of this month.
"Until then, he has someone with him and a L-plate on his car. He is not someone who has driven around not caring – it was a mistake on his part."
Fuller, of Crewe, Cheshire, also had his provisional licence endorsed with three penalty points.
