FOOTBALL star Jermain Defoe was wrongly arrested and locked in a cell after a blunder by Essex Police.

The Tottenham Hotspur and England striker was driving down Woodridden Hill, in Waltham Abbey, this morning (July 27) when officers pulled him over claiming he was driving while disqualified.

Defoe had been handed a driving ban earlier this month for speeding on the M11 at Chigwell, but that was suspended after he launched an appeal.

Despite the star's protestations he was taken to Harlow Police station and locked in a cell before being released without charge more than six hours later.

The Evening Standard newspaper reports that Defoe is now thinking of suing Essex Police.

His lawyer Nick Freeman said: “He is very distressed and thought that he wouldn't make it in time to fly out to Beijing today for Spurs' pre-season tour of Asia.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "The arrest of a man from Hertfordshire on suspicion of disqualified driving was based on information held on the police national computer.

“Following enquiries, officers discovered that the information was incorrect and released the 26-year-old man without charge.

“The inputting error was made by police staff at Essex Police and was an oversight. If the motorist cares to make a complaint he is advised to contact our professional standards department.”