Acquittals in conspiracy trial

March 24, 2015

Barristers from Exchange Chambers have secured acquittals for their clients in a complex conspiracy trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

In the ninth week of the trial, the prosecution offered no further evidence against four coach drivers each represented by counsel from Exchange Chambers – Ian Harris (instructed by ABR solicitors), John Rogers (instructed by Quinn Melville), Paul Hodginson (instructed by Robert Lizar) and Sarah Barlow (instructed by Middleweeks).

The case involved alleged falsification of drivers’ tachograph charts and timesheets and required detailed knowledge of labyrinthine EEC regulations, Sage wage records and computer interrogation.

The trial was the culmination of a 3 year investigation; it started in January 2015 and was scheduled to finish at the end of May 2015.

Said Tom Handley, Director of Chambers at Exchange Chambers:

“Heavyweight, complex and regulatory-style criminal litigation requires barristers with a proven track record in this area of law.

“Our instructing solicitors are particularly pleased with this result; one of them described the defendants as ‘fundamentally very decent people who deserved this result!’ ”