Bendtner is cleared of vandalising cars

SUNDERLAND striker Nicklas Bendtner was yesterday cleared of vandalising cars parked near the home of his team’s arch rivals.

The prosecution withdrew the case against him after he was charged with five counts of criminal damage with Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole.

The Danish star, on loan with Sunderland from Arsenal for a year, and who scored the only goal in the Black Cats’ win over Liverpool on Saturday, was not at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court for the hearing. Cattermole was present, dressed in a grey suit and black shirt, and no pleas were entered to the five charges relating to £4,168.27 of damage caused to cars on 6 December. The cars were parked in Stowell Street in Newcastle’s China Town – only a few hundred yards from Newcastle United’s ground. The case was adjourned at the request of the prosecution.

Cattermole, 23, who gave his address as Aislaby near Yarm, Teesside, was granted unconditional bail until 2pm on March 26 when the case will be heard again. The same court banned Bendtner from driving for 56 days last month after he was caught driving his Porsche 911 at 103mph.

Meanwhile, Sunderland and Newcastle have both accepted misconduct charges from the Football Association following the stormy Tyne-Wear derby on 4 March. Both clubs were charged with a “failure to ensure its players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and/or refrained from provocative behaviour”. The charge stemmed from a first-half melee which followed a foul by Sunderland winger James McClean on United full-back Danny Simpson.

Both clubs have requested personal hearings to discuss the incident further.

Sunderland playmaker Stephane Sessegnon was later sent off for throwing an arm towards Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote, while Cattermole was dismissed following the final whistle for using foul and abusive language towards referee Mike Dean.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew also attracted criticism for his touchline behaviour in a game which finished 1-1.