Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner will have to serve a 50-day jail sentence after dropping his appeal against an assault conviction.

Earlier this month, Bendtner was found guilty of beating and kicking a cab driver in the Danish capital on September 9. The 30-year-old Dane admitted to hitting the man but said he had acted in self-defence after a quarrel over the fare.

Bendtner, who currently plays for Norwegian side Rosenborg, was sentenced to 50 days in prison and fined 1,500 kroner (£179).

Nicklas Bendtner will have to serve a 50-day jail sentence after dropping his appeal

Earlier this month, Bendtner was found guilty of beating a cab driver in the Danish capital

The 30-year-old Dane admitted to hitting the man but said he had acted in self-defence

The State Prosecutor of Copenhagen wrote on Twitter that it had also abandoned an intended counter-appeal as it did not find 'sufficient grounds for maintaining' it after Bendtner's move, adding 'the verdict is therefore final.'

It was not immediately clear when Bendtner would serve his time.

The incident occurred at 2.41am on September 9 after Bendtner and his girlfriend Philine Roepstorff had spent the evening at the nightclub Lusso.

The court heard that, having quarreled over the £4.80 fare, Bendtner punched the driver in the jaw before kicking him as he lay on the ground.

The State Prosecutor of Copenhagen wrote on Twitter that it also abandoned its appeal

The argument started when Bendtner, who admitted he had been drinking, told the driver to 'keep left' only for him to turn left.

As tensions escalated, Bendtner claimed he felt threatened and left the taxi for his own safety.

The pair then squared up on the pavement, with Bendtner claiming he hit out in self-defence when the driver moved towards him.

Bendtner admitted hitting the driver but claimed it was in self-defence after the argument over the fare led to the driver throwing a can or bottle in his direction.

Bendtner, who plays for Rosenborg, was also fined 1,500 kroner (£179) over the incident

OTHER PLAYERS TO HAVE SERVED TIME Jan Molby - reckless driving (3 months) Eric Cantona - assault (2 weeks, later overturned) Tony Adams - drunk driving (4 months) Duncan Ferguson - assault (3 months) Dennis Wise - assault (3 months) Advertisement

Speaking about the incident three days after it happened, Bendtner told a press conference: 'I was involved in an extremely unfortunate episode.

'I could not imagine it would develop as it did, and of course I'm extremely sad that the outcome became as unfortunate as it did.

'To Rosenborg fans and audiences, I regret that this has happened. I'm sorry with all my heart that we are standing here today.

'To my dear team-mates, I regret that this will steal focus in an important time. I thank you for your understanding.

Bendtner during his playing days at Arsenal — he has also represented Wolfsburg and Juventus

'I have never been a fighter but I protect those I love on and off the pitch.'

Bendtner made 171 appearances and scored 45 times for Arsenal between 2005 and 2014, during which time he had loan spells at Birmingham City, Sunderland and Juventus.

He left the Emirates Stadium for German club Wolfsburg in 2014 and has since played for Nottingham Forest before joining his current club Rosenborg.

He has 81 caps and 30 goals for the Danish national side but has not been selected as regularly in recent years.