Mr Loophole: I’m a hypocrite

LOOPHOLE lawyer Nick Freeman described himself as a “hypocrite” – because he would not defend terrorists.

He also told students at MediaCityUK that he would not represent paedophiles or people who hurt animals.

Mr Freeman, who shot to fame after defending a string of celebrities, said: “I’m a hypocrite because we should defend everyone but I’m not keen on paedophiles and people who are cruel to animals.

“I look at every case and if a paedophile or someone who is cruel to animals asks me to defend them I’d probably say: ‘Look, thank you very much but I’m very busy, go elsewhere!’

“At the end of the day, I’m not being paid by the state, I’m being paid privately, so I like to think I can make the choices to whether I defend or not.”

Mr Freeman, speaking at the University of Salford building at MediaCityUK, also called on the Government to bring back corporal punishment.

Nick Freeman Hypocrite-Team One by Quays News

He said: “We need to have a little bit of fear, a little bit of discipline, a little respect and I think some youngsters and adults behave in a terrible way so I would bring it back.”

The 56-year-old also revealed he had been beaten as a child.

He said: “It terrified me… It has not been replaced by anything.”

Mr Freeman, who lives in Mere, Cheshire, attended the press conference with Ashton on Mersey School pupils yesterday following the release of his new book, ‘The Art of the Loophole, Making the Law Work for You’.

He earned the nickname Mr Loophole - and became one of Britain’s leading lawyers - after helping star clients including David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson beat motoring charges.