Ivory Coast Midfielder, Tiote, in Court on Fraud Charge.

Ivory Cast and Newcastle United midfielder Cheick Tiote has appeared in court charged with five offences, including using a false identity document and fraud.

The footballer was stopped by police on 12 February near the club’s training ground on suspicion of fraud in relation to driving offences.

The Ivory Coast star, 27, is accused of using a fake Belgian driving licence in a bid to obtain a UK licence.

Newcastle magistrates bailed the player to appear at crown court in July.

Car seized
They were told the false identity document charge could only be dealt with at that court and that the other charges were linked.

Mr Tiote was given unconditional bail to appear at Newcastle Crown Court on 5 July.

His car, a Chevrolet Camaro estimated to be worth about £75,000, was seized by Northumbria Police at the time of his arrest.

The Ivory Coast international signed for the club in 2010.

Mr Tiote faces the following charges:

• Fraud by false representation in that in December he had a genuine Belgian driving licence, to get a UK licence.
• Possessing an ID document “that was false and that you knew or believed was false, namely a Belgian    driving licence with the intention of using the document to establish personal information about you”.
• Making a false statement to obtain insurance in September 2011.
• Driving a Chevrolet without a licence in February.
• Driving the Chevrolet without third party insurance on the same date.

(Courtesy BBC Sports)