David Beckham cleared of speeding charge due to late paperwork

David Beckham has been cleared of speeding, despite admitting he was driving too fast because police paperwork turned up late.

The former England captain will not be prosecuted after celebrity lawyer Nick Freeman, nicknamed "Mr Loophole", successfully fought the allegation on a technicality.

Beckham was accused of driving a Bentley he had borrowed at 59mph in a 40mph zone on the A40 in Paddington shortly after 5.30pm on January 23.

District Judge Barbara Barnes told the court that the Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) was sent on February 2 and should have arrived at Bentley Motors Ltd, the registered keepers of the vehicle, by February 6.

But she said she was satisfied on the evidence heard that it did not in fact arrive until February 7 - one day outside the statutory 14-day window.

Summing up, she said the law allowed for the "vagaries" of the postal system to be taken into account. She said: "In this case I'm satisfied that the NIP was indeed sent within the 14 days to allow for it to be delivered within the 14 days.

"I find that on the balance of probabilities it's more likely than not this NIP was actually not served on the registered keeper of the vehicle within the 14 days as required.

"What I find is the fact it did not arrive in the post room of Bentley Motors Ltd until February 7 and therefore was one day outside the legal limit. The defendant, in this case, cannot be convicted."

Beckham did not appear in person at Wimbledon Magistrates Court.

Freeman has helped several celebrities avoid fines for speeding or parking which includes clients such as Andrew Flintoff, Sir Alex Ferguson and Pepe Reina.