Newcastle legend Asprilla peppered the defence with shots - using machine gun

The striker, who was a hero in Kevin Keegan's first spell as manager of the club, has been placed under house arrest on charges related  to illegal possession of weapons and criminal damage.

He is accused of spraying a privately-run security checkpoint with a machine gun near his farm in south-western Colombia. The security post was struck by 29  bullets  Asprilla has denied the charges and his lawyer, Carlos Sanchez, said he would  appeal.

Toon legend: Asprilla

The owners of the guard house say that Asprilla, 38, reacted violently when a security guard refused to let Asprilla's friends, three women and a bodyguard,  pass. No one was hurt.

Asprilla is one of Colombia's most famous football players, appearing in two World Cups and playing for Newcastle as well as clubs in Italy, Brazil and  Argentina.

But his off-field antics overshadowed his dazzling skills when where he was linked with a porn actress, car accidents and boozing.

Since retiring from football, he has appeared in reality shows and posed naked  for a magazine in South America.

Asprilla said: "Seven people who were with me have not yet testified, and so I  think it's a bit bit premature for me to be convicted. 

Off you go: Asprilla is dsriven away after being kicked out of the 1998 Colombia World Cup squad for criticising the coach

'In fact, it reminds me of a movie that I once saw called Minority Report with Tom Cruise, in which people end up in jail even before you've committed the crime or even  been tried.'

Asprilla, named by FIFA in 1996 as the world's sixth best player, almost  landed in jail in 1995 for using an illegal firearm outside a discotheque on the outskirts of Cartagena. 

Asprilla was persuaded by Keegan to leave Parma for Newcastle United for £6.7m  pounds in 1995 where he played for three seasons.  He famously scored a hat-trick for Newcastle against Barcelona in an unforgettable 1997 Champions League game at St James' Park, which ended in a 3-2 win for the Magpies. 

Hello, I must be going: Asprilla with Darlington chairman George Reynolds for whom he nearly signed before fleeing the country

Asprilla had to be officially working as a construction worker to gain a visa  into Italy, where he rejoined Parma in 1998, scoring the goal that brought  Milan's "Invincible" run to an end. 

In the same year he was also thrown out of the Colombia World Cup squad for criticising his coach's tactics.

His career then wound down from that point, playing for various clubs in  Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Colombia.

Asprilla nearly signed for League 2 outfit Darlington as a favour  to chairman George Reynolds, a millionaire later jailed for tax evasion, and was paraded on the Feethams pitch in front of a packed house.

However on the day he was to sign the contract he fled the country and has not  returned since.