Another Court of Appeal Success for LN

Tony Meisels has successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal focusing upon a condition of a Sexual Offence Prevention Order (SOPO) which prohibited the appellant from using any internet enabled device except for the purpose of his employment.

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal which in part was lodged due to the appellant’s heavy reliance on the internet for social and domestic purposes. The Court also recognized the appellant’s efforts towards rehabilitation as since the time of his arrest. The newly worded Sexual Offences Prevention Order now merely prohibits the appellant from using the internet to access child pornography and this will now become a leading case when the courts determine the wording of Sexual Offences Prevention Orders as they relate to access to the “internet”.

Jeremy Lynn of Farringdon Chambers ably repesented the appellant.

New Multi-Million Revenue Fraud Case

Miles Herman has been instructed by two clients charged with a multi-million pound Revenue fraud. The allegations concern the clients’ self-assesments to the Revenue.

Conviction Overturned at The Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal has overturned the convictions of indecent assault for one of this firm’s clients.

Siobhain Egan has represented a individual whose convictions of indecent assaut were decreed to be unsafe by the Court of Appeal. Information uncovered by enquiry agent Stephen Cooper (www.falselyaccused.co.uk) indicated that the complainant had lied about the allegations. It was also discovered that the CPS had failed to disclose, both to their own counsel and the defence, important contradictory information supplied by the complainant about the allegations which she had made.

The client was ably represented by Nadine Radford QC.

Trainee Solicitor Receives LSC Funding

Melissa Rollins was chosen as one of the first trainee solicitors to have her training contract funded by the Legal Services Commision.

For further information on the 2008 Training Contract Grant Scheme, please read the article at page 13 of the LSC Focus magazine, downloadable at:

www.legalservices.gov.uk/docs/news/Focus_60_June_09.pdf.

Fraudster Sentenced at Old Bailey

Misbah Ali represented a former employee of American Express, who was sentenced in the Central Criminal Court and whose case was reported in both UK and USA.

The client was sentenced to 15 months in custody which, considering the gravity of the offences, was an excellent result for our client.

For further information, see the article in The Daily Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1197820/American-Express-workers-67-000-spending-spree-revenge-firm-ruining-life.html

FSA Increase Fines

The FSA has announced that it will increase fines to be levied against those found guilty of market abuse, in regulatory proceedings, to a minimum of £100,00 for individuals and a maximum of £50 million for companies.

There is, however, increasing pressure upon the FSA to institute more criminal proceedings against those suspected of insider dealing and misleading shareholders.

SOCA Arrests

Penny Muir has just been instructed to represent a defendant arrested by SOCA and who is facing allegations concerning possession with intent to supply 10kg of cannabis. This represents a departure for SOCA who have recently been severely criticised for being focused solely on intelligence gathering.

Operation Ore to be challenged in the Court Of Appeal

Operation Ore, the largest in depth online paedophile investigation, is to be challenged in the Court Of Appeal. The legal challenge will focus upon Crown evidence regarding the use of credit cards to access an American online trading company that provided access to adult pornography and paedophile images.

The Appeal raises issues concerning the disclosure of material and evidence showing the fraudulent use of the Appellant’s credit card.

Home Secretary to Increase Powers to Restrain Assets

The new Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, has just announced that he intends to increase the already draconian powers held by a range of State agencies to restrain assets. He appears to be concerned that various agencies to date have a poor record when seeking, in particular, the luxury items held by those suspected to be serious criminals. This means that the UK will have the most draconian and wide sweeping powers of all western jursdictions.

SFO to Investigate MG Rover

The SFO has just anounced that it will begin a criminal investigation after a recommendation from the long running Macgregor- Newey Inquiry into the collapse of MG Rover.