Share to friends















161 Shares

A British man has spent £30,000 of his savings on a failed legal battle “for justice” over a £100 speeding fine, BBC reported.

Richard Keedwell of Yate near Bristol, said a “seriously flawed” legal system meant fighting the fine had taken nearly three years and used up his sons’ inheritance money.

Keedwell,71, said he was wrongly clocked doing 35mph in a 30mph zone on a day trip to Worcester in November 2016. He claimed he “was certainly not doing more than 30mph” in New Road.

Keedwell, a retired engineer, said: “I was very surprised when a couple of days later I got the NIP [Notice of Intended Prosecution].

“I really could not believe that I had been speeding. It made a simple day out turn very sour actually.”

The man said he had “no case to answer” and recruited the help of a video and electronics expert who told the court the speed camera may have been triggered by a car in an adjacent lane or have been faulty.

Keedwell said it took four trips to Worcester Magistrates’ Court before his appeal was heard. After losing the case, he lost a further crown court appeal in August.

Mr Keedwell said he expected the case would be “fairly quick” but had spent “the best part of £30,000”, including about £21,000 in barristers’ fees and £7,000 in court costs, as well as travel expenses.

But the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the case involved a “multiplicity of issues” which added to its length.

A CPS spokesman said some issues raised by the defence led to the need for additional hearings and for expert evidence to be obtained.

“As the case involved both a lengthy trial at the magistrates’ court and subsequent hearings at the crown court to progress an appeal against conviction, the overall length of the case took some time to conclude,” they said.