Sorry Becks ... no loophole this time!
After he beat speeding charge, he’s caught using phone at wheel of £200k Bentley – after member of the public reports him to police
DAVID Beckham has admitted using a mobile phone behind the wheel, just months after he dodged a speeding penalty.
He was accused of using his fame and financial clout to escape a speeding ticket on a technicality last year.
But the former England football captain appeared to have run out of excuses when caught driving his £200,000 Bentley while using his phone.
The 43-year-old now faces having six points put on his licence and a £200 fine imposed for committing the offence last November.
He was spotted using the mobile by a member of the public while driving in Great Portland Street in London’s West End.
Police are understood to have acquired CCTV footage showing the former midfielder committing the offence after being alerted by the witness.
His decision not to fight the prosecution means that there will be no public court hearing, preventing the possibility of any potentially embarrassing details coming out.
The ex-Manchester United and Real Madrid star has pleaded guilty after being charged on February 5.
Yesterday a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘The Met understands a postal guilty plea was subsequently received by Bromley Magistrates’ Court.’ A behind-closed-doors administrative hearing is due to take place at the court today, when a single magistrate will decide whether to impose points or a fine.
It comes after Beckham was criticised for hiring lawyer Nick Freeman, dubbed ‘Mr Loophole’, to avoid the speeding penalty last September.
Despite admitting driving a Bentley when it was caught doing almost 20mph over the speed limit, Mr Freeman successfully argued that a penalty notice intended for Beckham had arrived too late.
A speed camera had detected the father-of-four doing 59mph in a 40mph zone near Paddington, central London, in January last year.
However a judge accepted Mr Freeman’s argument and ruled that Beckham was not guilty of the offence as he had not received the fine within the 14 days required by the law.
During the hearing in Wimbledon, South-West London, it emerged that it was the second time in two days that Beckham had been caught speeding.
After the hearing, the star did not apologise but instead said: ‘I am very relieved and very happy with my legal team.’
He then posted a picture for his millions of Instagram followers from inside a vehicle complaining about the traffic in London.
At the time, Joshua Harris, from road safety campaigners Brake, accused Beckham of ‘shirking his responsibility’ by getting off on a technicality.
Mr Freeman, who has trademarked the name ‘Mr Loophole’, also represented the footballer when he won an appeal against an eightmonth driving ban in 1999.
He said he had been trying to escape a photographer when he was caught doing 76mph in a 50mph zone.