Becks criticised after he dodges speeding charge
DAVID Beckham has been accused of “shirking his responsibility” as a role model after he avoided prosecution over a speeding charge on a technicality.
The former England football captain, pictured right, enlisted the services of a celebrity lawyer dubbed “Mr Loophole” after he was accused of driving a loaned Bentley at 59mph in a 40mph zone in west London.
Despite accepting driving the car at that speed, he will not face action because a notice of intended prosecution (NIP) was not received until one day after the statutory 14-day time limit. After a trial at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, a judge accepted the ticket had not arrived in time and Beckham could not be convicted.
His lawyer, Nick Freeman, told reporters Beckham, who was not in court, was “very relieved with the verdict and very happy with his legal team”.
Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake, said the road safety charity hopes the star “recognises his responsibility as a role model and makes clear to all those who look up to him that speeding is not acceptable”.
“It is hugely disappointing to see a role model like David Beckham shirking his responsibility and getting off a speeding prosecution on a mere technicality,” he said.
“At the speed Mr Beckham was reported to be travelling, his stopping distance would be double that of someone driving within the limit – he should count himself very lucky that no incident occurred and tragedy was avoided.”
However, Claire Armstrong, of the Safe Speed Campaign, said: “Whilst Beckham has admitted to travelling at over the posted limit, like all of us he has the right to defend himself, using any and every means possible at his disposal.
“NIPs are required by statute, to be received within a 14-day period, but they failed to achieve that.
“We want to see more traffic police patrols, and have all speed cameras removed, since they are a flawed road safety policy that offers nothing to r o a d safety. We had the safest roads in the World for over 60 years with the ‘85th percentile’ road speed settings, and ever since the speed camera introduction we no longer have that title. “Reducing road speed is not the answer to road safety, it is a false premise.” The 43-year-old was accused of driving the car over the speed limit on the A40 shortly after 5.30pm on January 23. The NIP was one of 3,487 sent by Scotland Yard on February 2, which go by first-class post, and should have arrived at Bentley, as the registered keeper of the vehicle, no later than February 6.
After hearing witnesses from both the Metropolitan Police and Bentley Motors Ltd, District Judge Barbara Barnes said she was satisfied it did not arrive until February 7.
Mr Freeman previously helped Beckham overturn an eight-month driving ban in 1999 after successfully arguing that the footballer was trying to escape a paparazzi photographer.
The lawyer, who trademarked the nickname “Mr Loophole” in 2008, has helped a host of clients hold on to their driving licences. He counts exManchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, cricketer Andrew Flintoff and golfer Colin Montgomerie among his celebrity clientele.