Good afternoon all

I hope you're keeping safe & well. 

Welcome to the crime team blog for the week commencing 31st May 2021:

Nigel Edwards QC, initially instructed by direct access and following close LIASON by Ian Anderson of Ison Harrison, secures directed not guilty verdicts on behalf of a company and a man alleged to be a director of the same. The offences alleged involved significant and very high value matters of comped fraudulent trading. Mr. Edwards had dealt with this case for more than 2 years, in the course of which many complex arguments had taken place. In the end the case resolved with one director admitting minor offence and Mr. Edwards client being exonerated by the case being dropped and costs being awarded for him.

Nigel Edwards QC instructed by Ashcotts solictors secures a not guilty verdict in relation to a count of rape. The case was heard in the unusual, but very comfortable and safe, surrounds of the University of Bolton Stadium Nightingale Court. The case lasted 5 days with Mr. Edwards being instructed alongside his solicitors Ash at ghe last minute following sacking of previous representation.

Robert Fitt succeeded in having a case against his client stayed as an abuse of process at the Old Bailey. The Prosecution had brought an application under section 22 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 seeking a payment of more than £200,000 from Mr Fitt’s client nine years after a confiscation order had been made against him. In the meantime, all independent records of the confiscation proceedings had been lost. Mr Fitt was able to persuade the court that the Prosecution’s delay amounted to an abuse of process as it was now impossible to know with any certainty how much his client was liable to pay under section 22.

Emma Scott represented a client charged with five counts of rape, one count of voyeurism and two common assaults. Emma’s client pleaded Guilty to two common assaults and after trial was convicted of three rapes and voyeurism. The jury acquitted of two rapes.  Emma’s client was sentenced on 27 May to a total of 14 years’ imprisonment.  The news article can be found below:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/jarrow-rapist-dragged-woman-down-20688982.amp

This week ​Ayesha Smart prosecuted a repeat offender who faced 12 offences of possessing and distributing indecent images of children between 2016-2021. This was in spite of the Defendant being released under investigation in 2017 and later being subject to court bail in 2021. ​There were thousands of images found on the Defendant's various devices which included the penetration of children as young as 1 year's old. He was sentenced to 4 years and 4 months imprisonment and an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Full details can be found here:

Paedophile jailed after sharing 'disgusting and horrific' images of children | Bradford Telegraph and Argus (thetelegraphandargus.co.uk)