From diarrhoea to escaping paparazzi: Mr Loophole's most notable loopholes while defending speeding celebrities

Tummy troubles, urinating problems and speed gun misuse - motoring lawyer to the fast and famous Nick Freeman's most novel defences

Lawyer Nick Freeman who is known as 'Mr Loophole' (PA)

His nickname is Mr Loophole and it is a moniker he has more than earned down the years.

Millionaire lawyer Nick Freeman has made a career getting the fast and famous off potential motoring convictions – generally via technicalities.

He has been in the news again this week after helping David Beckham avoid prosecution on a speeding charge.

The former England football captain was accused of driving a loaned Bentley at 59mph in a 40-zone in Paddington, London, on 23 January. But Mr Freeman argued a police notice arrived one day too late, resulting in the case being dropped.

Safety groups have labelled the decision “disappointing”.But, then, it is just such frustration that Mr Freeman has specialised in for more than 20 years. Because, it seems, when getting his clients out of travel-related trouble, there is no defence too, well, creative.

Diarrhoea

Perhaps the 62-year-old's most famous success was in helping Sir Alex Ferguson avoid a fine after the legendary Manchester United manager was caught illegally motoring down the hard shoulder of the M602 in Eccles in 1999.

The silky solicitor argued Fergie was suffering from gastric problems and was using the emergency lane to avoid jams in order to get to a toilet as soon as possible. Hitting the accelerator, it was suggested, was safer than driving as one’s bowels exploded.

"It's not easy for someone in his position to come into court and, with respect, explain his toilet difficulties on that day," Mr Freeman said at the time - although the fact he was found not guilty and allowed to keep driving presumably helped ease the embarrassment.

Unknown identity

Well, not that unknown. Police were pretty sure it was Jeremy Clarkson. The then Top Gear presenter was accused of topping out at 82 mph in a 50-zone in west London in a loaned Alfa Romeo – but the 2006 case was dropped in mere minutes at court after Mr Freeman pointed out that, although Mr Clarkson's name was on the loan form, it was for the show and could have been any one of the team driving.

"Nick is wonderful," said the star some years later. "He gets you off everything. Well, doesn't get you off; shows you're not guilty."

Depression

Another fine moment for the scourge of road traffic police. In 2007, Ronnie O'Sullivan found himself in a world of potential trouble after failing to provide a urine sample when suspected of drink-driving in east London.

But he was cleared of any crime after Mr Freeman, who lives in a Cheshire mansion, argued the snooker superstar's depression had prevented him from peeing on demand.

Two-week limit

It's not just Becks who escaped a speeding conviction because paperwork apparently arrived too late. It seems, improbably enough, this practical oversight has occurred numerous times to celebrities being represented by Mr Freeman.

Cricketer Andrew Flintoff - who was caught doing 87 mph in a temporary 50-zone on the M60 - and Van Morrison (36 mph in a 30 in Avon) are both among those who benefited from prosecutors somehow failing to post papers within the statutory time limit of two weeks.

Escaping paparazzi

Becks again! In 1999, Golden Balls was banned from driving his Ferrari after being caught whipping down the A34 near Cheadle at 74 mph - 24 mph above the limit.

But the conviction was later overturned after Mr Freeman argued the then Man Utd star was simply attempting to escape newspaper photographers who had been snapping him outside his home - 10 miles away.

Police no-show

Former Eastenders star Dean Gaffney was looking at potential prison time after being caught travelling at 131 mph down the M40 in 2006. Fortunately for him, a police officer failed to turn up to court, allowing Mr Freeman to successfully argue the case should be dropped.

"Dean was over the moon, he couldn't believe it," the lawyer said afterwards. Neither, indeed, could road safety campaigners.

Misuse of speed gun

Golfer Colin Montgomerie was actually found guilty of speeding in Carlisle in 2010: he was doing 37 mph on a 30 road in his BMW X5. But the conviction was overturned after Mr Freeman - who has actually trademarked the Mr Loophole nickname – got involved.

He found the speed gun operator had also trained the device on joggers, which is against the rules for operating such equipment. Case struck off!

Too famous to catch the bus

Or, as it might be called, the one that got away. In 2013, Mr Freeman represented Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding after she was spotted using a mobile while driving.

He told magistrates depriving the singer of her licence would be unduly harsh as she was too well-known to catch a bus. District juge Nina Tempia was singularly unimpressed. "Pay someone to drive you," she told Ms Harding before banning her.