November 2013 Cases
R v P
Despite finger print evidence linking him to a domestic burglary crime scene our trial advocate was able to persuade the Magistrates to acquit our client of this offence.
R v A
This was an unusual large-scale commercial burglary involving several attacks on auction houses involving a total loss in excess of a 1/4 million pounds. The defendant was convicted after a lengthy trial exceeding 4 weeks. He then faced confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 but the court, on our application, allowed our client to retain property and, indeed, safe-guard his wife’s own property as well.
R v K
The client’s bail conditions infringed several of her rights under the Human rights Act 1998 including family life; she was prohibited from returning home and as a result nor could her children. Despite numerous attempts to persuade both the Magistrates and Crown Court that this was unlawful they would not vary the bail conditions to allow her to go home.
The local authority housing department would not move our client to appropriate housing for the family and attempts by the local MP were unsuccessful too. Finally, after suggesting to the Crown Court that we would seek a judicial review in the High Court, the Resident Judge agreed to revoke the bail conditions.
This was especially satisfying as it meant that the client’s family would spend Christmas together and, ultimately, because the client was acquitted of both charges.
R v B
This client was charged with section 5 Public Order Act 1986, whereas, in fact, he had been the subject of of an unlawful assault by the police.
We persuaded the police that the proceedings should be discontinued and our client was successful in recovering compensation.
R v S
This client was charged with serious historical sex offences against his brothers when they were young children. He avoided a lengthy immediate prison sentence because, after taking advice, he pleaded guilty to lesser charges and denied other more serious charges and was acquitted at his trial of all charges except one, which was the least serious.
R v M
This case involved serious historical sexual assaults against children stretching over three decades. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges and at his trial, due to skillful preparation and advocacy, he avoided a conviction as there was a miss-trial
R v S
The client was charged with benefit fraud, involving an amount of approximately £26,000, which was repaid. However, this left the client facing several serious charges involving dishonesty. After raising a complex defence against this on the basis of the client suffering from pernicious anamia, the Department for Work and Pensions agreed to reduce/amend charges, with the result that the Crown Court Judge did not impose an immediate imprisonment.
R v C
The client was charged with benefit fraud in a sum exceeding £30,000, which she claimed for a property in the UK, while she was living in the USA.
After negotiations regarding the repayment of the debt by the sale of assets in the USA, the court were persuaded not to impose an immediate prison sentence.
R v R
The client was charged with a speeding offence but due to an inordinate delay by the CPS, we successfully applied to the Magistrates to dismiss the charge.