Recent notable cases:

Criminal

• Following a 7 day trial at Newcastle Crown Court, Anna Bond secured the unanimous acquittal of the defendant charged with rape. Anna was instructed by Lauren Fisher of GSB Solicitors.
• Following a 9 day trial at Bolton Crown Court, Anna Bond secured the acquittal of a defendant facing 5 counts of coercive control, witness intimidation and non-fatal strangulation. Anna was instructed by Imogen Robinson of Robert Lizars solicitors.
• Successfully represented defendant charged with s.18 wounding – Judge at Bolton Crown Court refused the Crown’s application, forcing them to offer no evidence against the defendant who was immediately released from custody.
• Successfully prosecuted a man accused of Class A drugs conspiracy in Bolton after police raid finds almost 200k worth of drugs.
• Successfully prosecuted a prisoner at HMP Forest Bank for prison attack on officer.
• Successfully prosecuted Vietnamese foreign national found in cannabis farm worth up to £339,350.
• Successfully secured an acquittal for her client in a Covid-19 Bounce Back loan prosecution.
• Successfully appeared for 1 of 3 defendants charged with s.18 GBH at a retrial following a hung jury at the first trial. The defendants were accused of being part of a gang who spontaneously attacked the complainant whilst armed with weapons, including a machete, knuckle duster and cosh. The Crown produced CCTV and the complainant picked out the defendants in an ID parade. The issue in the case was identification. The defendant was acquitted when the case was withdrawn from the jury following a successful half time submission of no case to answer. Anna was instructed by Tahir Mahmood of Abrahams Solicitors.
• Successfully applied to vacate the guilty plea of a young woman with a multitude of mental health issues after she was charged with perverting the course of justice.
• Obtained a conditional discharge for a defendant who procured the renewal of a shotgun certificate under the Firearms Act 1968 after failing to disclose relevant medical information.
• Suspended sentence for a 22 year old defendant charged with 3 offences of possession of class A and B drugs with intent to supply.
• Suspended sentence for a defendant who supplied a 17 year old with class C drugs resulting in her being hospitalised.

Driving

• Successfully argued special reasons for a driver who hit a woman, who subsequently died, after she ran in to the road and he failed to stop at the scene of the accident. The driver was given an absolute discharge.
• Persuaded the court to give a suspended sentence of imprisonment to a woman who pleaded guilty to a serious charge of dangerous driving, driving with excess drugs, no insurance and driving whilst disqualified.
• Successfully argued exceptional hardship for a young driver who had been disqualified under the ‘totting up’ provisions and who would struggle to have worked without his license.