Clarkson Speeding Case Dismissed
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 20,338
Likes: 0
From: North Herts
Clarkson Speeding Case Dismissed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6982514.stm
From the sounds of things it was stupid to even try to take the case to court.
Clarkson speeding case dismissed
The prosecution said there was no evidence to offer in the case
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been acquitted of a motoring offence.
Mr Clarkson had been accused of failing to name the driver on a speeding ticket sent to him by car company Alfa Romeo.
The company said he had been loaned a car caught by a speed camera travelling at 82 MPH in a 50 MPH zone on the A40 in Ruislip, west London, last October.
His solicitor, Nick Freeman, argued the case was "fatally flawed" as Alfa Romeo only had details of who the car was loaned to, not who the driver was.
If someone had looked at this process properly it would never have come to court
Nick Freeman, Mr Clarkson's solicitor
The City of London Magistrates' Court dismissed the charge after the prosecution offered no evidence in relation to the case.
Speaking outside court, Mr Freeman said: "If someone had looked at this process properly it would never have come to court."
He added that prosecutors should have gone back to Alfa Romeo instead of chasing Clarkson.
Mr Freeman said the end of the case was an enormous weight off Mr Clarkson's mind.
The television presenter, who lives in Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, was not present in court and was awarded costs.
The prosecution said there was no evidence to offer in the case
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been acquitted of a motoring offence.
Mr Clarkson had been accused of failing to name the driver on a speeding ticket sent to him by car company Alfa Romeo.
The company said he had been loaned a car caught by a speed camera travelling at 82 MPH in a 50 MPH zone on the A40 in Ruislip, west London, last October.
His solicitor, Nick Freeman, argued the case was "fatally flawed" as Alfa Romeo only had details of who the car was loaned to, not who the driver was.
If someone had looked at this process properly it would never have come to court
Nick Freeman, Mr Clarkson's solicitor
The City of London Magistrates' Court dismissed the charge after the prosecution offered no evidence in relation to the case.
Speaking outside court, Mr Freeman said: "If someone had looked at this process properly it would never have come to court."
He added that prosecutors should have gone back to Alfa Romeo instead of chasing Clarkson.
Mr Freeman said the end of the case was an enormous weight off Mr Clarkson's mind.
The television presenter, who lives in Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, was not present in court and was awarded costs.
Registered User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 25,255
Likes: 0
From: Cheshire
We sublet part of our floor to a firm who operate a Freeman-esque motoring legal practice. One of the solicitors there has told us to speak to him before we do ANYTHING, in the event that an NIP arrives. He claims to be able to get them dismissed on a technicality to do with them being unable to prove service because of some screw up with the computer system, and that he hasn't lost one yet.....
(Not sure whether that loophole only applies to Greater Manchester Police/CPS though - but I know where my first stop will be in the event that I do get flashed!)
Nick, costs from Central Funds won't pay over-the-odds - they are (I think) assessed in accordance with fixed rates depending on the region. So, if you want to instruct Nick Freeman, you accept that even if you win you will only recover what you would have been able to recover if you had instructed Joe Bloggs & Co with their commensurately lower hourly rate.
(Not sure whether that loophole only applies to Greater Manchester Police/CPS though - but I know where my first stop will be in the event that I do get flashed!)
Nick, costs from Central Funds won't pay over-the-odds - they are (I think) assessed in accordance with fixed rates depending on the region. So, if you want to instruct Nick Freeman, you accept that even if you win you will only recover what you would have been able to recover if you had instructed Joe Bloggs & Co with their commensurately lower hourly rate.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 0
From: Glasgow
If you got caught speeding, pay the fine and take your points. Why do people try and wriggle out of these things? Speed restrictions are well sign posted in most areas and if not you should know as a resposible driver what the limit is for the area.
Registered User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 25,255
Likes: 0
From: Cheshire
Nothing came of it, Peter. The Dibble announced a few months back that they were not proceeding with the charge against him of perverting the course of justice since there was insufficient evidence.
