A self-employed computer worker who claimed the law didn't apply to him has lost his appeal against conviction and sentence.

Timothy Ollerenshaw, 53, was convicted at a magistrates court in July of failing to give information about the driver of a vehicle caught speeding on camera in Hythe.

He's now appeared at Canterbury Crown Court in front of Judge James O'Mahony and two magistrates, who upheld his conviction.

Judge O'Mahony said a document which Ollerenshaw had given to the bench before the start of the appeal was "legal nonsense."

Frances Shaw, prosecuting, said: "Ollerenshaw claims that the law does not apply to him. This was the argument put forward at the magistrates' court in July."

She said a notice was sent to Ollerenshaw, the registered keeper of a car caught speeding on camera last year, asking him for the name of the driver.

He returned the form not filled in properly and then wrote return to sender and other comments on subsequent notices sent to him.

Judge O'Mahony told Ollerenshaw, of Fern Close, Hawkinge: "You were required by law to provide the name of the person who was driving that car if it wasn't you."

Ollerenshaw replied: "I have not seen any evidence which says that the law is applicable to me."

Three clerks who sent out notices to Ollerenshaw gave evidence that these had been returned, with comments such as "I have no international contract with you," "I do not recognise you" and "I do not understand your intent" written on the envelopes.

When Judge OMahony asked Ollerenshaw what his defence was he replied: "I have no defence. The burden of proof is on the prosecution," to which the judge said: "I am perfectly aware of that."

"Ollerenshaw believes that he is beyond the law. No defence has ever been put forward. We dismiss the appeal and the conviction stands" - Judge James O'Mahony

Ollerenshaw told the court that the prosecution had failed to provide any facts proving that the law applied to him but Judge O'Mahony said: "I rule that the Road Traffic Act is applicable to you, the same as it is to anyone else.

"There is a duty to provide that information and it is an offence to fail to do so. A document was submitted at the start of the proceedings which was legal nonsense.

"Ollerenshaw believes that he is beyond the law. No defence has ever been put forward. We dismiss the appeal and the conviction stands."

At the magistrates' court Ollerenshaw was fined £750 and was given six penalty points on his licence. He was also ordered to pay £620 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

The Crown Court also dismissed his appeal against the sentence and Ollerenshaw was told to pay another £450 costs for his failed appeals.

Ollerenshaw is believed to belong to a group of people called Freemen on the Land.

The group claims all statute law is contractual, and that such law is applicable only if an individual consents to be governed by it.

They believe that they can therefore declare themselves independent of government jurisdiction, saying the only "true" law is common law.

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