Celebrity Lawyer “Mr Loophole” Jumps On Harrogate Battle Bus Ticketing Row!
The country’s leading road traffic lawyer has jumped on the Harrogate Vote Leave battle bus ticketing row.
Nick Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, called Harrogate Borough Council’s decision to pursue a parking enforcement notice after initially rescinding it as “yoyo” ticketing, and “tantamount to an abuse of process”.
Yesterday the bright red bus – parked in Harrogate town centre – was issued with a fixed penalty notice for allegedly parking illegally.
Ten minutes later, the same traffic warden who issued the ticket returned, having received advice, and removed it from the windscreen. Vote Leave campaigners were told it had “been rescinded”.
However, a few hours later the council issued a statement from its head of safer communities, which said: “the ticket was removed in error, and, as such, the council will now follow the matter up with the vehicle’s registered keeper.”
Mr Freeman said: “By removing the ticket this confirms: – 1, the vehicle was legally parked and/or 2, permission was given for the vehicle to be so parked. They are not ‘yoyo’ tickets. The ticket was clearly issued in error as opposed to being rescinded in error.
“Harrogate Borough Council has no power to require the registered keeper to nominate the driver. Such power is vested exclusively in the chief officer of police. Additionally, there is no financial penalty to be discharged because the original ticket was removed.
“It’s unfortunate that the parking enforcement officer didn’t feel it appropriate to have an advisory conversation with the bus driver who had purchased a ticket. Not really in the spirit of the regulations!”
About Nick Freeman
Nick Freeman is probably the best known solicitor practising in the country today.
He has been dubbed "Mr Loophole" by the press owing to his vast technical knowledge of motoring law matters and his ability to successfully challenge the prosecution over procedural irregularities.
Nick is widely known for his celebrity client list and high profile criminal defence cases.
Nick is the head of Freeman & Co. Solicitors and although based in Manchester, represents defendants in motoring and criminal cases all over the country.
After graduating from Chester Law School in 1979, Nick started his career as a prosecuting solicitor for Greater Manchester Police.
Nick soon became known for his technical legal abilities and robust court room style and he was soon recruited into private practice by the highly respected solicitors firm of Burton & Co. He was soon to be made a partner at the practice but in 1999 he decided to start his own firm following which Freeman & Co. was formed.
Owing to Nick's meticulous case preparation and technical legal skill he soon made Freeman & Co. one of the most respected and sought after criminal solicitors firms in the country.
Despite the celebrity client list and media attention, Nick and Freeman & Co. have built their practice on representing ordinary members of the public with the same tenacity as those more high profile cases that are reported in the press and on TV.
Outside of his professional practice Nick is a regular expert guest on TV and radio and is well regarded as an expert legal commentator. He is an ardent supporter of defendant anonymity in sex cases.
In recent times his credits have included Tonight With Trevor MacDonald, Close Up North West, Channel 4 News, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live to name but a few. He also appears regularly on Sky News, BBC News 24 and Legal Eagles on ITV's This Morning. Nick is a regular legal commentator for the Sunday Times.
A father of 2 children Nick is a keen golfer with a 2.9 handicap and enjoys vigorous exercise with his Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Contacting Nick Freeman
For professional matters and representation Nick can be contacted through Freeman & Co. on 0161 236 7007 or you can send him a confidential email by clicking here.
If you would like to contact Nick for a media appearance or legal comment please call David Simister on 0845 389 26 26.