Oxford Untied chairman Nick Merry has had a drink driving-related charge dropped after the intervention of his lawyer, Nick Freeman.

Instead, District Judge Brian Loosley, sitting at Oxford Magistrates’ Court acquitted Mr Merry of the charge which he faced of failing to provide a specimen of breath at the police station.

Mr Merry pleaded guilty to the token charge of failing to provide a specimen of breath at the roadside, which resulted in the 46-year old being fined £100, £60 costs and his license endorsed with four penalty points.

Mr Merry was awarded his defence costs in relation to the substantive matter of which he was cleared. He was also found not guilty of permitting a vehicle to be used without insurance, which could have resulted in an endorsement of between six and eight penalty points, a heavy fine and a discretionary ban.

Speaking after the case, Mr Merry said: “At this moment in time I’m feeling extremely relieved it’s all over and the drink driving-related charge was dropped. For that I have to thank the professionalism of my solicitor, Nick Freeman.”

Mr Merry had pleaded not guilty to failing to provide a breath test after being stopped by police in August.

 Speaking outside the court Mr Freeman said: “This is another classic example of the police failing to follow complex procedural statutory points which went unnoticed by the Crown Prosecution Service.”