Julia Mackworth, leading Jack Preece, secured unanimous acquittals for their client.

Julia Mackworth, leading Jack Preece, secured unanimous acquittals for their client involving allegations of rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, threats to kill, and intentional strangulation.

The Crown alleged that the Defendant subjected his girlfriend to repeated abuse during “staycations” across the country, controlling her movements and finances, raping her, strangling her, and threatening to kill her whilst armed with knives.

The Defence case was that the complainant was an escort who employed the defendant as a security guard, that the trips were for her work, and that the allegations were fabricated following the breakdown of their working relationship.

Following detailed defence preparation, including multiple successful applications under section 8 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996, the Defence obtained thousands of pages of unused material, including text messages between the parties, which significantly undermined the prosecution’s case. As a result, the indictment was reduced from 13 counts to six counts before trial.

Following a seven-day trial at Isleworth Crown Court, Julia and Jack’s client was unanimously acquitted of all remaining counts, including two counts of rape.

Julia and Jack were instructed by Tahir Aslam of Adamson Solicitors.