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Clarkson avoids speeding rap

07/09/2007

Jeremy Clarkson, the gregarious host of the BBC's Top Gear programme, has been acquitted of a speeding offence.

The case related to an incident last year when an Alfa Romeo on loan to the television presenter and motoring enthusiast was clocked doing 82mph in a 50mph zone.

Clarkson was accused of failing to provide the name of a driver on a speeding ticket.

His lawyer, Nick Freeman, who has made a name for himself successfully defending celebrities accused of driving offences, said the case should never have been brought.

Mr Freeman said outside the court that the prosecution should have taken up the case with Alfa Romeo.

The car company was only able to provide evidence showing who the car had been lent to, not who was driving at the time of the offence.

Road safety campaigner Paul Smith, who runs the pressure group Safe Speed, said the case highlighted a wider problem with how driving offences are prosecuted.

"Mr Clarkson was rightfully acquitted, but thousands of ordinary motorists are being convicted in fatally flawed cases," he said.

"The problem is that most of us cannot afford the services of an expert defence solicitor like Mr Freeman."

Clarkson was not present in court and has been awarded costs.