Crime

“All Randox Cases Must Be Reviewed Now”, Demands Mr Loophole!

Commenting on the news that data relating to more than 6,000 samples tested at Randox Testing Service’s Manchester site may have been manipulated, criminal defence lawyer Nick Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, said: “My worst fears have now been realised. I said last time that this could be the tip of the iceberg. Once a Government approved organisation, or its employees, has been found to have manipulated data, their credibility is shot, and every case in which they have been involved in forensic analysis should be the subject of an urgent…Read more

Published: 10th May 2017

Categories: Crime, Legal Comment, Nick Freeman, Press Releases

Nick Freeman Interviewed On BBC Over Hugill’s Law

Kenneth Hugill is the 83-year-old farmer who was acquitted after just 24 minutes by a Hull jury when he faced a trial for GBH. Despite being acquitted, he faced huge legal costs that would have taken him decades to repay. Nick Freeman, AKA Mr Loophole, was so insensed by the injustice that he set up a Just Giving campaign to help Mr Hugill with his legal fees. In a short time, a massive amount of public support and donations meant that Mr Hugill could pay his legal fees with the…Read more

Published: 5th May 2017

Categories: Crime, Legal Comment, Mr Loophole, Nick Freeman

Mr Loophole Launches “Hugill’s Law” Campaign On Day He Presents Acquitted Farmer With Cheque To Cover Court Costs

A farmer cleared of shooting a suspected burglar at his isolated East Yorkshire home is backing a campaign to change the law enabling defendants acquitted at court to recover their legal fees. Despite being cleared of a charge of grievous bodily harm by a jury at Hull Crown Court, Kenneth Hugill, 83, faced paying legal fees of more than £20,000, which he said would take him “20 to 30 years to pay back”. Following the trial, celebrity lawyer Nick “Mr Loophole” Freeman - who had no involvement in Mr Hugill’s…Read more

Published: 28th April 2017

Categories: Crime, Mr Loophole, Nick Freeman, Press Releases

Mr Loophole Launches Petition Calling For Defendants Acquitted By The Courts To Recover Legal Fees

Lawyer Nick Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, has launched an online petition calling for a reversal in the law which prevents defendants acquitted in the courts recovering their costs. In 2012, the law was changed without proper consultation, leading to hundreds of people each year facing financial ruin despite being cleared of the charges they were facing. Last week, 83-year-old North Yorkshire farmer Kenneth Hugill was cleared of GBH by a jury at Hull Crown Court. Despite him walking free, the pensioner – who has never been on the wrong side…Read more

Published: 16th March 2017

Categories: Crime, Legal Comment, Mr Loophole, Nick Freeman, Press Releases

Mr Loophole Launches Just Giving Page To Help Pay £30k Legal Fees Of 83-Year-Old Farmer Cleared Of GBH

Nick Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, has launched a crowd funding page to help an 83-year-old farmer - who shot a convicted criminal he suspected of trying to steal diesel - pay his £30,000 court costs. A jury last week at Hull Crown Court took just 24-minutes to clear Kenneth Hugill of GBH, after the incident at his isolated East Yorkshire farmhouse, in November 2015. The court heard the man whom he shot in the foot has convictions for burglary, theft and possession of an offence weapon, and, at hospital, gave three different…Read more

Published: 12th March 2017

Categories: Crime, Legal Comment, Mr Loophole, Nick Freeman, Press Releases

New Bill Widens The Fairness Over Anonymity

I have always been a strong believer that the courts do not only exist to convict the guilty but are also there to free the innocent. As a fundamental right in this country, we are all presumed innocent until proven guilty. In reaching that difficult balance there has to be a level playing field, administered by dedicated legal professionals and each side coming to criminal litigation with an equality of arms. Over the past few years I have been publicly campaigning for defendants in sex cases to be afforded the same…Read more

Published: 4th November 2016

Categories: Crime, Legal Comment, Nick Freeman

Put Three Year Limit On Time Sex Abuse Allegations Can Be Reported, Says Mr Loophole

Criminal defence lawyer Nick Freeman has reiterated his call for a time limit when it comes to reporting sexual crimes. The call comes after the Crown Prosecution Service revealed its decision not to prosecute Sir Cliff Richard over claims of historical claims of abuse is being reviewed after an appeal by one of the singer’s four accusers. The highly publicized case against the singer - who was never arrested or charged over the allegations - was dropped in June on the grounds of insufficient evidence. The celebrity lawyer, commentator and…Read more

Published: 4th September 2016

Categories: Crime, Legal Comment, Press Releases

Why Should We Care About The Yorkshire Ripper?

Recent reports of Peter Sutcliffe's move from Broadmoor to a category A prison have sparked another round of column inches for the Yorkshire Ripper. Not because of the horrendous crimes he committed but that he now fears for his own life after being transferred to a category A prison. Following his recent evaluation, Sutcliffe was declared sane and as such had been moved from Broadmoor Psychiatric Hospital to HMP Frankland in County Durham. Broadmoor had been his home for some 32 years. Now he shares HMP Frankland with the likes…Read more

Published: 2nd September 2016

Categories: Crime, Legal Comment, Nick Freeman

Sir Cliff Richard – The Damage Is Done

So here we are at the end of the Sir Cliff Richard Sex Allegation circus only to hear that the case has been dropped by the CPS. This is after a 2-year police investigation where the media has served every sordid titbit to an ever-hungry public, seemingly with the blessing of the police. A 2-year investigation that has reportedly cost around £800,000. So what do we have at the end of the investigation? We have a man who’s reputation has been totally traduced and a career spanning decades tarnished beyond…Read more

Published: 17th June 2016

Categories: Crime, Legal Comment, Nick Freeman

Interview On TV For Anonymity For Defendants In Sex Cases

Nick Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, today appeared on the This Morning TV programme in relation to the sexual offence allegations being levied at Sir Cliff Richard. A strong advocate for the anonymity for defendants in sex cases, Nick has often spoken out about anonymity being granted to both alleged victims and defendants in sex cases. This is of course, subject to the discretion of the presiding Judge and where the public needs protection. Allegations of a sexual nature are damning to the defendant and have a dramatic effect on their…Read more

Published: 11th May 2016

Categories: Crime, Mr Loophole, Nick Freeman