Likable, Cheeky Northern celeb and ex England Cricketer Freddy Flintoff appears to have escaped a 6 month driving ban, basically for being famous. UK Police reportedly caught Flintoff doing 87 miles per hour, 17 mph over the limit, in his Bentley Continental GT. Flintoff has already been busted for speeding three times in the past three years and has nine points on his license. This latest offense would have raised that to 12 points, which in England means an automatic six-month suspension of driving privileges.
He won't have to worry about that, though, because his lawyer Michael Neofytou successfully argued that Flintoff would endure "exceptional hardship" if he weren't allowed to drive. See, Flintoff runs a charity with his wife, is active in philanthropic work outside of that, puts in television appearances and drives his three kids to "school and various activities." Among other scheduled events, Flintoff's representation claimed he would have to miss the recording of a television show that involved the athlete driving a fish and chips food truck on a road trip powered by the vehicle's own cooking fat.
Noting his work and the need for the children's privacy, chair of the bench David Johnson said, "Because of your position, the fact that you are well known, clearly the impact has to be on others, more than you yourself," and fined Flintoff a total of £445 - a sum the millionaire should have no problem paying.
It's not the first time Flintoff has escaped the long arm of the law. In 2005, he got caught doing the same speed in a temporary 50 mph zone, but got away without a fine when an attorney known as "Mr. Loophole" argued that the notice was sent to Flintoff two days later than permitted by law.
