Jonathan Woodate, former Middlesbrough soccer star, is the latest of a long line of celebrities who has been cleared of a speeding charge after his lawyer got him off on a technicality.
Mr Woodgate's vehicle, a Mercedes, hit speeds as high as 85mph in a temporary 50mph zone on the A66 near Long Newton, Teesside on 14 January, at around 9 in the morning.
At the time of the alleged speeding offence, Mr Woodgate, 28, was pulled over by an unmarked police car and he was in his Middlesbrough training kit at the time.
The prosecutor at Teesside Magistrates' Court, Clodagh Maguire, said that Woodgate's speed was on average 67mph in the 50mph temporary zone, but the footballer's lawyer defended his speeding offence by arguing that the speed check made by the Cleveland Police was unreliable.
In court the prosecution said that the speed check was carried out over a distance of 519m, but the defence told the court that the stretch of road where the temporary speed limit was set up was, in fact, only 405m. The prosecution accepted in court that the speed check was void.
After hearing the discrepancy in the prosecution's evidence and after dismissing the case, the District Judge, Sandra Keen, said to Woodgate: "I take the view that any court properly conducting itself could not direct itself that it could convict you in these circumstances. This matter will be dismissed. Thank you Mr Woodgate, you are free to go."
The soccer star walked away from court not guilty and was awarded costs.
Mr Woodgate is not the only sportsman to escape a speeding fine. In May cricketer Andrew Flintoff also had his case acquitted.
Mr Flintoff was clocked doing 87mph in a 50mph zone in a friend's car in July last year, but he was acquitted in just 41 seconds after his lawyer argued that the prosecution hadn't followed the procedure correctly.
Flintoff's prosecution notice was served two days' late, even though, in any speeding case, it's fundamental that the notice is sent and received within 14 days.
Jeanette Miller, of Geoffrey Miller Solicitors in Manchester, is one of the UK's leading experts on motoring law. Author of Lawpack's Fight a Motoring Ticket Kit, she knows all of the legal loopholes you can use to get off a parking ticket or be cleared of a speeding fine.
She says: "If you get a motoring ticket, it's important that you know all about the procedures the police, or the local council, should follow as you can be cleared of the charge if these procedures don't take place. For example, if your get charged with speeding and the police fail to record a check of their speed testing equipment, you can escape your penalty.
"Also, if you receive a parking ticket and you think it's unfair, then appeal. Only 1% of people can be bothered with appealing over their ticket, but if you do, you have 60% chance of success."
Other speeding celebrities cleared by a technicality
Kieren Fallon, the champion jockey, was clocked doing 40mph in a 30mph zone in Cambridge last year. Mr Fallon said that he wasn't driving the car, but he didn't inform the police of the driver's identity within the statutory 28-day limit and, as a result, was issued with a court summons. He was cleared due to a number of minor administrative errors that occurred when the police were handling the case and his lawyer argued that their evidence was unreliable.
Jeremy Clarkson, the Top Gear presenter, was charged for failing to name the driver on a speeding ticket he was sent by Alfa Romeo, from whom he had loaned the vehicle. The car was caught doing 82mph in a 50mph zone in September 2007. The case was dropped due to a technicality as Alfa Romeo only had information on who they had loaned the car to and not on who the driver was.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, was cleared of driving his BMW on the hard shoulder of the M602 in Eccles, Greater Manchester in October 1999. His lawyer argued that it was due to an emergency as Sir Alex had an upset stomach and needed to use the toilet. Later that same month, Sir Alex was cleared of speeding due to there being no proof that he was driving at the time.
Colin Montgomerie was cleared of speeding in September 2004 after he was accused of driving at 96mph on the A3, near his Surrey home. The case collapsed as the prosecution failed to prove that the golfer was driving as the officer who stopped him failed to appear in court.
Matthew Vaughn, husband of supermodel Claudia Schiffer, faced a ban from driving after he was clocked driving his car at 95mph on the M11 in Essex in December 2005. The film director’s case was dropped due to an error in police procedure.
Dean Gaffney, the actor formerly in EastEnders, was charged with speeding at 131mph on the M40 in June 2006. He was cleared after a police officer in the case failed to turn up at court and Gaffney's lawyer argued that the case shouldn't be adjourned.
Further information
Want to get off your speeding ticket? Speeding loophole myths explained.