Speeding Beckham legal bid to dodge fine
DAVID Beckham admits speeding in a £160,000 Bentley but is fighting the rap by claiming he got the police notice late – making it invalid. The former Manchester United star was caught doing 59mph in a 40mph zone in Paddington, West London, on January 23. His lawyer, Nick “Mr Loophole” Freeman, told Wimbledon magistrates there was “no issue” with the speed alleged. But he indicated a not guilty plea, saying the notice of intended prosecuMR LOOPHOLE Nick Freeman tion arrived one day outside the statutory 14-day window – and was therefore “defective”. Mr Freeman said: “I’m not disputing it wasn’t served. I’m saying it was served out of time. There’s no issue in terms of driving or speed limit. There’s no issue taken with that at all.”
District Judge Barbara Barnes said the case was “an argument over the effective service of the notice of intended prosecution” and any conviction could result in “an unlimited fine”.
Beckham, 43, was not present for the case management hearing and is not expected to attend for his trial on September 27, his lawyer added.
He said if the case ends up going against Beckham and the result is disqualification, he will “make it abundantly clear he cannot drive a car”.
Mr Freeman, 62, has worked with the former England star before.
In 1999, he helped him avoid a speeding rap by claiming he was fleeing paparazzi for 10 miles through Cheshire.
He also helped his former manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, after he was caught avoiding a traffic jam in 1999 by driving down the hard shoulder of a motorway.
Mr Freeman successfully argued that Fergie had no choice because he had a stomach bug and was rushing to get to the toilet at United’s training ground.
And when cricket star Andrew Flintoff was accused of driving at 87mph in a temporary 50mph zone in 2007, the lawyer pointed out the documents were sent out 16 days after the alleged offence.