We represented a vulnerable client who had been charged with possession with intent to supply class B drugs and two offences of possession of class A drugs. The police executed a warrant at our client’s home address and found five large jars of cannabis and scales. When the scales were examined traces of class A drugs were found. Our client denied the offences and entered not guilty pleas to all matters.

Our client’s instructions gave rise to concerns to that his property had been ‘cuckooed’ by others involved in criminality. We instructed a Dr Dan Cleall, a psychiatrist, who confirmed just how unwell our client was. We also instructed Dr Craig Barlow who concluded that in his expert opinion, our client had in fact been cuckooed. We provided the Crown Prosecution Service with these reports and made representations that it was not in the public interest to proceed with the case against our client in the circumstances. However, the Crown Prosecution Service maintained that they were proceeding to trial.

On the first day of our client’s trial, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that having reconsidered our expert reports, they would be willing to accept a guilty plea to simple possession of cannabis only. Our client pleaded guilty to simple possession of class B drugs and after considering the mitigation put forward on our client’s behalf, our client was sentenced to a 12 month conditional discharge.

Our client was represented by Sabrina Neves and Elena Papamichael, assisted by Niall Shiels, and at trial, by Daniel Cohen of 9 Kings Bench Walk.