Mr Loophole wins another case

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A celebrity lawyer known as Mr Loophole announced today that he had won yet another case for a star.

Tottenham Hotspur and England defender Jonathan Woodgate, 29, faced a speeding charge for allegedly breaching a temporary limit on the A66 near Long Newton, between Stockton and Darlington.

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

The Crown Prosecution Service indicated it would appeal against the bench's decision at the time, but more than a year on, it has written to Mr Freeman to confirm the matter was 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.

Other pleased celebrity clients include singer Van Morrison and golfer Colin Montgomery, who defended motoring offences.