Nicklas Bendtner Former Arsenal striker, sentenced to jail for kicking and punching taxi driver

Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has been sentenced to 50 days in jail for breaking a taxi driver's jaw after refusing to pay the £5 fare.

The 30-year-old, who now plays for Norwegian side Rosenborg, was partying with his girlfriend before hailing a cab just after 2am on September 9th. Having argued with the driver over his route, Bendtner, who earned £50,000 a week and his model partner left the car and were pursued by the driver.

Bendtner then punched the man in the jaw before kicking him as he lay on the ground. He admitted to hitting the taxi driver but said it was because he felt threatened when the driver threw a can towards him. The Denmark international, who was also ordered to pay £176 in compensation, argued he acted in self-defence and was released on appeal.

The driver was acquitted of violence but fined £353 for using his phone while driving and not wearing his seatbelt. Bendtner, who will not be sacked by Rosenborg, issued an grovelling apology at a press conference three days after the incident.

Since leaving Arsenal in 2014, Bendtner has played for Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest and now Rosenborg where he has scored 33 goals in 75 games. While at the Emirates, he spent time on loan at Birmingham, Sunderland and Juventus and has won 81 caps for his country, scoring 30 goals.