Caprice hires 'Mr Loophole' to rebuff drink-drive charge

The model Caprice has hired a celebrity lawyer nicknamed "Mr Loophole" to defend her against a charge of drink-driving.

Ms Bourret, 33, was stopped as she drove her Mercedes car on Tottenham Court Road in central London in the early hours of 10 December. The model reportedly told officers: "Don't you know who I am?" before being arrested. She was subsequently charged with driving with excess alcohol.

The American-born model did not appear in court yesterday morning, but a plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf by her legal representative, James Waddington, at the preliminary hearing at Highbury Corner magistrates' court in north London.

But Ms Bourret will employ Nick Freeman - who has earned the nickname "Mr Loophole" after winning court victories for celebrities including David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson and Wayne Rooney - to challenge police evidence on the alleged traffic offence at a full hearing, to be held later this year.

When Mr Waddington entered a plea of not guilty and asked for the court to consider a trial date at the start of May because of Ms Bourret's work commitments, district judge John Perkins said he was not prepared to put the case back until then, "just for her convenience". But despite the comments, a trial date was fixed for 2 May.