David Beckham was today slammed for ‘shirking his responsibility’ as a role model for escaping a speeding conviction on a technicality.
A road safety campaigner said he should consider himself lucky to have avoided a tragedy after being clocked at 59mph in a 40mph zone.
The case against the former England football captain, 43, was dismissed as the letter informing him of the charge arrived in the post a day too late.
Beckham, represented by celeb lawyer Nick “Mr Loophole” Freeman, said: “I’m very relieved with the verdict and very happy with my legal team.”
But Joshua Harris, director of campaigns for Brake, suggested the star should have taken his punishment.
He said: “It is hugely disappointing to see a role model like David Beckham shirking his responsibility and getting off a speeding prosecution on a mere technicality.
“At the speed Mr Beckham was reported to be travelling, his stopping distance would be double that of someone driving within the limit.
“He should count himself very lucky that no incident occurred and tragedy was avoided.
“Speeding is a dangerous and selfish act for which there is no excuse."
Beckham did not attend the hearing at Wimbledon magistrates court.
But as it took place, the arrogant star posted a picture online with a moan about traffic.
The Instagram selfie, showing him in the back of a car looking relaxed in a beanie hat and shades, had the caption: “Angry: London traffic.”
He was heading towards the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras to catch a train to Paris, where wife Victoria, 44, was attending Paris Fashion Week.
Beckham, of Holland Park, West London, was accused of speeding in a borrowed Bentley on the A40 in Paddington on January 23.
Mr Freeman told the court he acknowledged the case “may cause some disquiet”.
He said Beckham, “accepted he was driving, he’s accepted the speed – that’s not the issue here”.
The lawyer argued that the notice of intended prosecution arrived at Bentley Motors – the owner of the vehicle – a day outside the statutory 14-day window and was therefore “defective”.
It was sent on February 2 and arrived on February 7.
Mr Freeman said: “It could be simply and inexplicably there was a delay in the sorting office in London. It might simply be a fault of the system.”
Dismissing the case, District Judge Barbara Barnes said simply: “The defendant cannot be convicted.”
Mr Freeman, 62, previously represented ex-Manchester United star Beckham in 1999.
He helped him avoid a speeding rap by claiming he was fleeing paparazzi for 10 miles through Cheshire.
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