Client of Good Character Acquitted Of Conspiracy To Rob and Conspiracy To Kidnap

Following the robbery, calls were made to the complainant’s stolen mobile telephone threatening harm to his family if he did not provide access to his cryptocurrency accounts. The prosecution also relied upon messages exchanged between others allegedly involved in the offending, including references to being unable to “grab him”, which the prosecution contended supported an allegation that the original plan had been to kidnap the complainant.

Although it was accepted that our client was not present during the robbery, the prosecution alleged that the motive for the offending arose from a significant financial dispute between the complainant, our client and his brother following a failed business deal. There were numerous messages between our client and the complainant concerning the money owed.

The prosecution case was that our client’s brother had been in contact with other defendants involved in the alleged conspiracy. Photographs of the complainant had been provided to others, some of which had been taken at our client’s address. The complainant’s movements had also allegedly been monitored using trackers fitted to vehicles, with one of the trackers said to be linked to our client’s family address. The Crown further relied upon contact between our client and his brother, including communications following the robbery.

Our client accepted that the complainant owed him money and maintained that he had himself effectively been defrauded by the complainant. However, he consistently denied having any knowledge of, or involvement in, a plan to rob or kidnap him.

Our client gave evidence in his defence during the six-week trial, and character evidence was also called on his behalf.

At the conclusion of the trial, all defendants were acquitted of conspiracy to kidnap. Significantly, our client was the only defendant to be acquitted of conspiracy to rob. Other defendants were convicted of offences including blackmail and received substantial custodial sentences, with the longest exceeding six years.

Oliver Renton and Alex Monaghan of Crucible chambers were instructed. The case was prepared by Amy Cox and trainee solicitor Izzie Bond-Mills.