‘Mr Loophole’ helps Fiennes escape driving prosecution

Sir Ranulph Fiennes has escaped prosecution over a speeding charge thanks to the efforts of the lawyer known as Mr Loophole.

The explorer was due to appear before magistrates in Market Drayton, Shropshire, after he allegedly failed to reveal who had been driving his Land Rover when it was caught by a speed camera on 30 March last year.

The barrister Nick Freeman, who earned the nickname Mr Loophole after helping celebrities such as David Beckham and Jeremy Clarkson escape prosecution on similar charges, said he represented Sir Ranulph and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Last year, Mr Freeman told The Independent he had offered his services to the Government to help it iron out the many legal loopholes he had found while defending motorists.

In Sir Ranulph's case, Mr Freeman said a series of "technical failures" by prosecutors had led to the case being dropped. "The initial paperwork was addressed to Mr Ran Flenns, who does not exist," he said.

A CPS spokesman said the case had been discontinued on 25 November, on evidential grounds.