A JUDGE has tossed out a legal bid by comedian Jimmy Carr to have speeding charges against him dropped.

A JUDGE has tossed out a legal bid by comedian Jimmy Carr to have speeding charges against him dropped.

The 37-year-old, who drove his Bentley GT at 50mph in a 40mph zone in Boxford, near Sudbury, nearly two years ago, will be fined �300 and have three penalty points added to his licence.

Carr, who denied the offence, was not at court to hear the verdict when it was delivered by District Judge Stuart Miller.

The guilty verdict followed extensive legal argument which centered around the validity of the original traffic order under which Carr was prosecuted.

At no stage had Carr denied driving along the A1071 at Boxford on the day in question. However, his lawyer Nick Freeman, known as “Mr Loophole” and who has also represented the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham and actor Steve McFadden, questioned whether the order itself was valid because it referred to the A1071's junction with the C749 Boxford Lane.

Mr Freeman said the only sign on the C749 in the area referred to the road at School Hill and not Boxford Lane - and that, as a consequence, there was no Boxford Lane.

“To prove their (the prosecution's) case, they have to produce evidence showing the road was not School Hill but Boxford Lane. There's no sign on School Hill saying it is Boxford Lane.

“Whilst I concede the probability is the document (the traffic order) is correct - you (Judge Miller) cannot be certain beyond reasonable doubt.

But Judge Miller said: “It could be called Jimi Hendrix Villas - it doesn't matter.

“The issue I have to establish is whether parts of the road covered by the order are identifiable - I am satisfied. The next issue is whether Jimmy Carr was driving his vehicle along the road - I am satisfied that he was driving at a speed in excess of the limit.”

Today's verdict marked an end in a case which has involved 15 separate hearings held and a trial, which got underway last September, adjourned because of Mr Freeman's questions about the legality of the order.

After the court hearing, Mr Freeman said Carr had 21 days to decide whether to appeal the outcome of the case.

David Hutson, who prosecuted the case, 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.”

Carr will also have to pay �15 as a victim surcharge, �1,860 in prosecution costs and �1,344 for expert witness costs.