Mr Loophole gets Carr off phone charge

Comedian Jimmy Carr has been cleared of using a mobile phone while driving his Bentley in Harrow.

Celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman - dubbed Mr Loophole by the tabloid press - told Harrow Magistrates' Court that Carr had used the dictation setting of his iPhone to record a joke as he drove. He said that using the phone for such a purpose was not illegal under current law.

Mr Freeman argued it was permissible to use a device in dictation mode provided it did not adversely affect driving ability.

The comedian was driving on January 28 this year, when he was stopped by police for talking into his iPhone and touching the screen.

Mr Freeman argued that his client had not been using the phone to make a call, or for any other interactive purpose, and therefore did not fall foul of the legislation.

The prosecution argued that the fact the phone was capable of making an interactive call was enough for Carr to be found guilty.

But the case was dismissed after a submission by Mr Freeman of "no case to answer".

Speaking after the case, Mr Carr said: "This is not a moment of levity, this is a very serious situation."

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