We represented a vulnerable young person of previous good character who had been charged with two offences off assault by beating which dated back to 2020, when our client was only 15 years old. It was the Crown's case that our client had sprayed his neighbours with water from a hose over a garden fence. The Crown relied on CCTV footage of the incident.
We made repeated written representations to the Crown Prosecution Service that it was not in the public interest to prosecute our client for these offences but also, that they had insufficient evidence to prove their case. Each time, the Crown Prosecution Service maintained that they were proceeding with the case against our client.
On the day of the trial, the Crown Prosecution Service informed us that if our client was to admit the offences, he would be referred back to the police for an Out of Court Disposal to be administered. We advised our client to decline this offer.
The trial proceeded and through cross examination of the complainants, we were able to illicit evidence that supported our client’s case. At the close of the prosecution’s case, we made a submission that our client had no case to answer. After considering the submissions advanced on our client's behalf, the Court agreed; dismissing the case against our client and recording not guilty verdicts in respect of both matters which meant that he remained a young person of good character.
Our client was represented by Sabrina Neves, a solicitor in our specialist Youth Team.
