Comedian Jimmy Carr Guilty of Speeding in Suffolk

12 January 2010

Comic Jimmy Carr, 37, has been convicted of speeding for driving at 10mph over the limit at 50mph in his Bentley GT through the village of Boxford in Suffolk on 30 April 2008.

Mr Carr, of north London, who did not attend the hearing at Bury St Edmunds Magistrates' Court, was caught by police using a speed gun. He was awarded three points on his licence, fined £300 and ordered to pay £1,860 prosecution costs.

'Mr Loophole'

Mr Carr was found guilty by District Judge Stuart Miller after a trial which began in September.

Outside court the comedian's lawyer Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole, said his client has 21 days to decide whether to appeal against the outcome of the case.

The nickname "Mr Loophole" comes from Mr Freeman's success in helping high-profile clients to be cleared of motoring offences.

After the hearing Crown Prosecution Service lawyer David Hutson said: "We take motoring offences very seriously and driving over the legal speed limit means the driver poses a danger to other road users. We are pleased with today's verdict and hope it acts as a deterrent to other speeding motorists."

Limit Legality

At a hearing in September before Sudbury magistrates, Mr Freeman questioned the legality of the 40mph speed limit.

The court heard the speed limit on the A1071 started from 340m west of Boxford Lane, but Mr Freeman said the road was in fact called School Hill.

He said: "The speed limit is void because the wrong road has been referred to as being the start of the speed limit."