Manchester criminal solicitor Nick Freeman, aka Mr Loophole, has a new breed of client: the Staffordshire bull terrier. Freeman, renowned for helping celebrities escape motoring convictions, aims to rehabilitate the image of the dog following an incident involving a Staffie suspected of biting off another dog’s head.

Freeman has owned Staffies for almost 20 years. His latest is a 12-month-old called George. ‘I am fed up and concerned about the adverse publicity they seem to get, as they are affectionate, loving dogs,’ he tells Obiter. His new website savethestaffy.co.uk aims to promote ‘all that is good’ about the breed.

Freeman’s clients have included Jimmy Carr, David Beckham and Jeremy Clarkson. But he has also defended dogs, including a cocker spaniel accused of biting someone in a Post Office.

‘I have never lost a dog yet,’ he says.