A police chief who escaped a speeding ticket after claiming he did not know who was driving his car could still be prosecuted, it emerged last night.

Detective Superintendent Adrian Roberts, head of Middlesbrough CID, may face a speeding charge under the terms of a review being carried out by Cleveland Police.

The force confirmed yesterday that it is to look again into the circumstances surrounding the affair once Assistant Chief Constable Della Canning returns from holiday.

This followed concerns expressed by Councillor Ken Walker, chair of Cleveland Police Authority, who said he was "very disturbed" by the affair.

Det Supt Roberts's white Citroen AX was caught on camera exceeding the 30mph speed limit in Yarm Road, Stockton, on Sunday, April 8. He was then issued with a fixed penalty ticket by post.

Det Supt Roberts was given the option of accepting a £60 fine plus three penalty points on his licence or pleading not guilty to a speeding charge.

But he then claimed he could not remember whether he was in the car at the time.

It was eventually decided that, because the camera did not clearly identify the car's driver, the ticket would be written off.

Lawyers say that the defence of not knowing who was driving a car when it is "flashed" by a speed camera has previously been successfully used in law.

This is particularly the case when a car is used by a number of insured drivers.

Last night, a Cleveland Police spokeswoman said several possibilities could result from the review, including a prosecution of Det Supt Roberts. She again defended the force's stance, adding: "There is no loophole here that is being fiddled.