Coronation Street star Barbara Knox claims she was 'manhandled' by police as she pleads not guilty to drink-drive charges with celebrity lawyer 'Mr Loophole' by her side

• Barbara Knox, 80, appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court yesterday
• She has pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving under the influence
• Veteran actress plays Rita Tanner in ITV soap Coronation Street
• It was claimed in court that Mrs Knox was 'manhandled' by police officers
• She has been granted unconditional bail until her trial on July 23

Case: Barbara Knox arriving at court yesterday where the actress pleaded not guilty to drink driving

Coronation Street actress Barbara Knox has claimed she was 'manhandled' by police after her arrest for drink driving, a court heard yesterday.

Mrs Knox - who plays the role of Rita Tanner in the ITV soap - entered a not guilty plea at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court, in relation to an incident in Knutsford, Cheshire, on March 10.

She arrived at the court, dressed in a black quilted coat and pearls, with Nick Freeman, a lawyer who has represented a slew of celebrities charged with traffic offences, including David Beckham, Jimmy Carr and Jeremy Clarkson.

Mr Freeman, who is reported to be one of the country's highest paid solicitors, has been nicknamed 'Mr Loophole' by the tabloid press because of his success in motoring cases. It's a moniker he trademarked in 2008.

The 80-year-old Mrs Knox, who suffers from high-blood pressure and hearing difficulties, also claimed that police 'physically manhandled' her.

Mr Freeman told the court: 'She was physically manhandled in the police station. It was agreed she was in a highly emotionally-charged state. She was described as tearful.'

Mrs Knox was said to have been a passenger in a Jaguar driven by her daughter, Maxine Ashcroft, 56.

The car was stopped by police after a member of the public reported they thought the driver was under the influence of alcohol.

Ashcroft was found to be nearly three times over the legal limit when she gave a breathalyser reading at Middlewich police station.

Mrs Knox, from Knutsford, later arrived at another station and was arrested herself on suspicion of drink driving. She was bailed pending further inquiries until she too was charged on April 4.

Mrs Knox entered a plea of not guilty to the charge when she appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court

Mrs Knox is represented by solicitor Nick Freeman, right, whose celebrity clients have included David Beckham 

 

The actress has been granted unconditional bail until her trial which is set to start on July 23

Prosecutor Simon Pover explained: 'Police officers initially dealt with an incident where the driver of the Jaguar was found to be over the limit and was dealt with.

'A passenger in the car, Mrs Knox, was assisted at the roadside by police officers who were concerned to leave her alone. They drove her home to an address in Knutsford.

'About an hour later Mrs Knox attended Knutsford Police Station and appeared to still be intoxicated.

'Police officers were concerned about how she arrived at the police station and gave her advice about how she should return home, and offered to give her a lift home but she declined.

'She was then seen to get into and drive a Jaguar motor car a short distance - police stopped the motor car and spoke to Mrs Knox.

'There was a positive breath test. She was arrested and taken into custody at Middlewich. A sample of blood was taken.'

The blood contained 85 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, with is fractionally over the limit of 80 microgrammes.

Solicitor Nick Freeman, right, has made his name representing celebrities in motoring cases

Mr Freeman said: 'She went into her car. She reverses a short distance, that is not in dispute. She doesn't dispute driving or being in a public place.'

He explained the two-day trial, scheduled for 23 July, may hear from expert medical witnesses to give evidence of his client's blood pressure at the time the alcohol blood sample was taken and also of her hearing difficulties.'

She has been granted unconditional bail until her trial, which will again take place at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court.

Mr Freeman claimed in court that Mrs Knox was 'physically manhandled' by police officers

Left: Nick Freeman is confronted by a man dressed as a Dalek, a villain from TV's Doctor Who, on his way into court. Right: Mrs Knox leaves court with her lawyer, she has been granted unconditional bail until the trial

Ashcroft, from Lechlade, Gloucestershire, was banned from driving for two years in a hearing at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court earlier this month.

Mrs Knox left school at 15 and worked as a telegraphist in the Post Office before appearing in amateur theatre.

She first appeared in Coronation Street in 1964 for one episode before becoming a regular character in 1972, winning a TV Times best actress award in 1989, and a Lifetime Achievement honour at the British Soap Awards in 2004.

She was also made an MBE in 2010 for her services to drama and describes her hobbies as gardening and tapestry.

She has been married twice- first to Denis Mullaney in 1956, having three children John, Amanda and Maxine. The couple later divorced in 1977 when she married John Knox. She and Mr Knox then divorced in 1994.

Apple's iPhone 'lock-out’ patent could end texting while driving

A new automatic system to preventing phone use while driving could ‘change the culture’ of texting addiction, say experts

 

A campaign thumb-band, which reads 'texting while talking kills'.

 

 

A new technology proposed by Apple would seek to address the dangerous and ubiquitous problem of drivers who use their phone behind the wheel, according to experts.
A new patent by the technology giant could “change the culture” and help stop driver distraction with an automated system that would disable certain smartphone functions when an iPhone user is driving.

One recently published patent describes a "driver handheld computing device lock-out" system that detects when a user is driving using on-board sensors or pulling information from the car when connected, blocking the use of text messaging or using other smartphone functions from the person driving.
“As a market leader, Apple could have the power to change the culture behind texting and driving, if it works and is intuitive; that would be a very good step,” said Paul Watters, head of motoring policy for the AA. “What we find in our research is that there’s an addiction here, to texting and using smartphones, it’s an addiction that is very hard to break even when in the car — it will take some system to help people break that addiction.”

Boosts likelihood of a crash by 23 times

Texting while driving is a hot-button issue that has been labelled as a “widespread menace” by Brake, the road safety charity, which has been shown to slow driver reaction times by 35% and increase the likelihood of a crash by 23 times for commercial drivers.
It is illegal to use a hand-held phones while driving, even when stopped at lights or in traffic in the UK, with an automatic fixed penalty of three points on the driver’s licence and a fine of £100.
Three in 10 of all drivers admitting sending or reading messages while driving, according to research by Brake and insurance company Direct Line. That number increases to more than four in 10 for drivers aged 18 to 24, while one in eight drivers admitted to using smartphone apps while behind the wheel.

‘Technology has a role to play’

Attempts to disable smartphones or limit distracting features of phones have been made in the past. Several developers have released apps that prevent drivers from texting behind the wheel for Android, but it has not been possible for the iPhone due to Apple’s restrictions on apps and system control.
“Technology has a role to play, but there is no single solution to the problem of distracted driving,” said Ellie Pearson from Brake.
Apple is currently making a large push into software for cars with its CarPlay system, which integrates an iPhone with a car's entertainment and communication tools, including connecting the car’s navigation system using Apple’s mapping app.
The patent for locking down the device was filed in 2008, but has only now been published. Apple could have a system in place that plays well with CarPlay, preventing the driver from texting using the smartphone other than via voice control through the car’s systems.
“Even if you cut off some functionality, it doesn’t necessarily remove the distraction the phone causes for drivers,” warned Watters. “There is no greater safety system than simply turning off the phone while driving.”

Amy Childs and Jim Davidson set 'to teach people to drive in new reality show Driving With The Stars'

She is not known for his teaching skills.

But Amy Childs could soon be putting her training cap on after it was reported the former TOWIE star is one of the names rumoured to be in the frame to appear in a new programme which will see celebrities teaching members of the public to drive.

TV bosses are hoping to capitalise on the popularity of celebrity-led reality shows like Splash! and The Jump with a new car crash viewing experience, provisionally dubbed Driving With The Stars.

Reality show queen: Amy has appeared in Celebrity Big Brother and The Jump since leaving TOWIE

According to The Sun newspaper, stars including former Coronation Street favourite Julie Hesmondhalgh is also in line to mentor 'problem' motorists who have proved to be a menace behind the wheel.

Joey Essex has also been linked to the rumoured series, but he will not be taking part in the programme.

A representative of Joey told MailOnline: ‘We have not had any enquiries about this show and I can therefore confirm that Joey is not involved.'

Success: Jim Davidson returned to reality TV earlier this year when he won Celebrity Big Brother 

 

A source told The Sun newspaper: 'It’s a definite goer. Imagine seeing Joey Essex trying to explain to someone how to do a U-turn, or Amy Childs giving a masterclass on the three-point turn — it could be comedy gold.'

Celebrity Big Brother winner Jim Davidson, who was hit with a driving ban in 2011, is also a hot favourite to join the line-up.
Motoring experts will help the stars teach the hapless learner drivers the basics, as they attempt to get them ready to pass their driving tests.

Driving to success? Julie Hesmondhalgh's Coronation Street character once taught her husband Roy Cropper to drive 

 

The show is rumoured to be planned for ITV this summer, but a spokesman for the channel told MailOnline: 'ITV has not commissioned this show.'

Amy has appeared in Celebrity Big Brother and more recently The Jump since leaving TOWIE.
She also splashed out £80,000 on a 'WE11 JEL' (Well Jel) number plate for her white Range Rover.

Julie has driving instructor experience of some sort as her Coronation Street character Hayley Cropper once taught her husband Roy Cropper - played by David Neilson - how to drive in the soap.
 

No show: Joey Essex will not be taking part in Driving With The Stars

Driving tests in English will make roads safer

Is BANNING translators for driving theory tests is an excellent decision by the Government?

 

There will be some critics who will decry the ban as racist but making everyone take exams in English, Welsh or British sign language will help immigrants learn the language of their adopted country.
Since 2008 almost 1,300 passes have been revoked following investigations into the improper conduct of interpreters.
Between February 2008 and December 2009 one in five tests using an interpreter was found to be fraudulent. That is a vast number of people to have progressed through the system despite falling short of the required knowledge.

Once they have passed the theory test learner drivers are then able to apply for the practical test, meaning they are just one step away from heading out on to the roads by themselves.

Cars are dangerous and we have to take all the precautions necessary to make sure that people are honestly good enough to warrant receiving their licence.

Transport Minister Stephen Hammond said: “By stopping driving tests in foreign languages we will cut out the risk of fraud and help to ensure that all drivers can read road signs and fully understand the rules of the road.