England footballer Jermain Defoe has accused police of harassment after he was pulled over just days after announcing he would sue a force for wrongful arrest.
The Tottenham Hotspur star was at the wheel of his black Ferrari when he was pulled over by an Essex Police patrol after visiting his mother.
Defoe travelled to see her hours after taking part in Tottenham's 2-1 win over Liverpool in their first match of the season on Sunday.
The stop check came three days after the sportsman announced he would sue the force over his "wrongful" arrest on suspicion of driving while disqualified.
But Essex Police said the footballer, who lives in Cuffley, Hertfordshire, was stopped as part of an operation to tackle a spate of burglaries in which valuable cars have been taken.
Defoe's solicitor, Nick Freeman, known as "Mr Loophole", said the actions of police "beggar belief".
He said: "At best, this is an embarrassing cock-up. At worst, it smacks of something far more sinister, which can only add weight to growing concerns that they are being vindictive and my client is being harassed."
Defoe was pulled over by a traffic police patrol in Chigwell shortly after 11pm on Sunday night. After checks were made on his identity he was allowed to continue.
An Essex Police spokesman said: "Police in the Epping Forest area have been running Operation Phobia, which is aimed at tackling domestic burglary in affluent areas, and the theft of high value cars.
"As part of that operation officers stopped a black Ferrari in Manor Road, Chigwell, at 11.14pm on Sunday. They satisfied themselves that all was in order with the car and driver, and it continued on its way."
