Stoke striker Saido Berahino charged with drink driving after ‘fleeing attack from gang’

Stoke striker Saido Berahino has been charged with being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle, police said.

The 25-year-old was detained in London’s West End on Monday after reports of a ‘disturbance’ in Great Russell Street.

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said on Tuesday that the player, of Old Penkridge Road, Staffordshire, was arrested in Bedford Square at around 3am, taken into custody and later charged.

Saido Berahino was charged with drink driving and alleges he was fleeing a gang

He is due to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday March 6.

Scotland Yard previously said officers arriving at the scene saw a car ‘drive away at speed’.

‘The car was stopped by police in Bedford Square and a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving,’ police said.

Scotland Yard said the suspect told officers while being detained that he had been robbed in Great Russell Street.

The Stoke striker was stopped by police and told them his pursuers tried to steal his car

‘He alleged that a group of males surrounded his car in Great Russell Street and attacked him, stealing his watch,’ the force added.

Scotland Yard said detectives were yet to make any arrests over that allegation but were continuing to investigate.

Stoke did not comment on Berahino’s arrest but it is understood he will be dealt with internally under the Sky Bet Championship club’s disciplinary policy.   

Police were called to an incident outside VQ, a popular 24-hour restaurant and bar in Bloomsbury, London, at 3am and witnessed Berahino racing off.  

The incident occurred outside of 24-hour restaurant and bar, VQ, in Bloomsbury, London

Berahino, who was banned from driving for 12 months in 2015 after a drink driving offence, was arrested and taken into custody.

Stoke, who grew exasperated with some of Berahino’s behaviour last season, have taken a very dim view of this latest incident and will fine him two weeks’ wages, worth around £80,000. 

A witness told The Sun that he had seen Berahino eating in VQ with friends. He also claimed that the former West Brom star looked like he had been ‘out partying’. 

He said: ‘He had been in the restaurant getting food with a man and two women, he was maybe there for an hour.

‘VQ is open 24 hours, it is the kind of place you go after a night out.

Berahino was arrested after police witnessed him driving away from an incident at speed

The ex-England U21 star has made 26 appearances in all competitions for Stoke this season

‘I saw him leave the restaurant and then all of a sudden there was shouting and yelling and stuff by the doorway.

‘He was scuffling with some boys, I think they had just got out a car. It was all of a sudden and because we were inside we couldn’t really see what it was all about.’

The same witness claims Berhaino climbed into a Black Range Rover and drove off, only to be stopped by police around the corner. 

A statement from police said: ‘On Monday, 18 February at around 03:00 hours police were called to a disturbance in Great Russell Street, WC1.

‘When officers arrived on scene a car was seen to drive away at speed.

‘The car was stopped by police in Bedford Square and a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink drive.’