Jermain Defoe changes plea to guilty

England and Tottenham footballer, Jermain Defoe has pleaded guilty to driving while using his mobile phone in Essex.

The 27 year old, who wasn't present at Witham Magistrates Court on Thursday, had previously pleaded not guilty to the offence at an earlier hearing.

Defoe faces possible disqualification from driving and will now be sentenced on September 17 2010 at Chelmsford  Magistrates Court.

District Crown Prosecutor Frank O’Toole of the CPS said: “We take motoring offences very seriously and driving while using a mobile phone, means the driver poses a significant danger to other road users as he is not giving his full attention to his driving or the road.”

The court heard how Defoe currently has 14 points on his licence for offences committed during 2008 and 2009.