Woodgate cleared by Mr Loophole

Back

Tottenham Hotspur and England defender Jonathan Woodgate has become the latest star to benefit from the guile and expertise of a celebrity lawyer known as Mr Loophole.

The 29-year-old faced a speeding charge for allegedly breaching a temporary limit on the A66 near Long Newton, between Stockton and Darlington.

It was reported that he hired the services of Nick Freeman at a cost £10,000 a day, who won the case for his client in August last year at Teesside Magistrates' Court.

At the time, the Crown Prosecution Service indicated it would appeal against the bench's decision. However, it has now written to Mr Freeman to confirm the matter has been dropped.

The solicitor, whose previous clients include David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson, argued that police officers who stopped Mr Woodgate said they carried out their speed check over a distance of 519m (568 yards), when the road under the temporary limit was 405m (443 yards) long, resulting in the trial's demise.

Mr Freeman said: "I'm delighted for my client that the CPS has dropped its appeal. However, while it has taken them an awfully long time to come to their senses, Mr Woodgate has had this hanging over him."

Mr Freeman defended comedian Jimmy Carr last month against a charge of using a mobile phone while driving after he argued his client was using the device to dictate a joke and not to make a call.

Get a car insurance or home insurance quote now.