How can we help?

Accused of sexual offences or being a sex offender? Need urgent help? Lawtons criminal defence solicitors are available now. Call us immediately on 0333 577 0522

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Have you or a loved one been arrested? Futures are on the line – don’t delay and get in touch

How can we help you?

Being charged with or accused of any kind of criminal offence brings anxiety and stress, even if you’re innocent of the accusation. If it’s a particularly serious offence, the effects on your personal and professional life – often including your relationships – can be severe and long-lasting.

If you’re accused of a crime, it’s likely that you’ll be asked to attend a police interview, during which you might be charged with the offence. Even at the accusation stage, it’s essential to have legal advice on hand.

We can advise you on the best way to respond to accusations, guiding you so that you don’t incriminate yourself or make matters worse. In some cases, we can even head off the threat of charges, helping the police to see that there’s no case to answer.

If you are subsequently charged with an offence, you could be released until your court hearing – potentially under bail conditions – or you could be kept in custody until your court date. Much will depend upon the charges and any criminal past you may have.

Experts on your side

Throughout all this, you need criminal defence solicitors who not only use their expertise to secure the best legal outcome for you, but also empathetically guide you through the legal processes and provide reassurance. 

Speaking in plain English, we’ll explain your options and recommend tried-and-tested legal strategies, without passing any judgement. We’re on your side and work tirelessly to safeguard your future.

No matter what accusations you face, it’s always best to have expert legal representation from the very start of the process. The earlier you seek legal advice, the better your chances of a favourable outcome. 

Being released on bail

Upon being charged with a crime, you’ll usually be released from police custody until your hearing or trial. You might be released on bail, which means you have to comply with certain conditions – or potentially face imprisonment until your court date.

Held on remand

Also known as pre-trial detention, remand is when you’re sent to prison before your court date, usually due to the serious nature of the offence – armed robbery, for instance. 

Or the court could believe you might commit a crime if released on bail, or you might not attend your court hearing.

Call us today on 0333 577 0522 and make sure you have an expert team on your side.

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FAQs

What does being charged mean?

A charge is simply a formal accusation of a crime. If you plead not guilty, it’ll go to court and a trial, where you can dispute the version of events put forward by the police. Sometimes people are charged at a police station, with a custody sergeant reading out the offence/s to you. Alternatively, you might receive a requisition by post, detailing the date you’ll be required to attend court.

What are bail conditions?

While bail conditions are unique to every individual case, there are some common conditions, which include:
  • Not contacting particular people
  • Staying at a certain address
  • Giving your passport to the police to prevent you leaving the UK
  • Attending a police station on pre-agreed times and dates

Do charges stay on my criminal record?

Not unless you’re convicted of the crime or cautioned for it.  Convictions and cautions are either spent – meaning you don’t need to tell anyone about them – or unspent, in which case you need to reveal them to potential employers. Charges which come to nothing, on the other hand, don’t need to be disclosed – since you weren’t found guilty of the offence. They were only accusations.

Been arrested? Contact us now to safeguard your future

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Criminal charges or accusations of any nature can be damaging to your future, whether it’s your career or personal life that’ll be most affected. We offer expert legal defence alongside personal service, so we’ll seek to limit the damage as much as possible.

We specialise in several areas of criminal law, including but not limited to:

Our Team

Nick Titchener headshot

Nick Titchener

Managing Partner

A dedicated defence solicitor and Solicitor Advocate, Nick is one of the founding directors of Lawtons and specialises in complex and serious crime – particularly drug crime, violence and sexual offences. Nick tends to deal with privately funded cases, where clients demand a higher level of service and attention to detail.
Stephen Halloran headshot

Stephen Halloran

Managing Partner

Stephen Halloran is one of the founding directors of Lawtons and is a specialist criminal defence solicitor, with over 25 years’ experience in criminal law. He is a Solicitor Advocate and helps his clients to navigate through complex litigation, presenting the best possible defence.
Dawn McKnight headshot

Dawn McKnight

Partner

Dawn qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and joined the firm in 2006. Dawn has experience in all aspects of Criminal work and regularly appears in the Magistrates Court and Police Station.
Joanne Cestaro headshot

Joanne Cestaro

Partner

Jo is a solicitor at our Luton office whom primarily deals with our cases at Luton Magistrates Court. She be contacted at our Luton and Bedford offices.
Paul Dillon headshot

Paul Dillon

Partner

Paul is a senior solicitor and consultant with over 20 years’ experience in all aspects of criminal law and with an increasing emphasis on the private instructed individuals who want to ensure a guaranteed level of service.
Massimo Trebar headshot

Massimo Trebar

Partner

Massimo Trebar has extensive knowledge of all criminal offences, specialising in road traffic law. He combines his legal expertise with the ability to build relationships with all his clients, quickly identifying their interests and needs.
Andy Hobdell headshot

Andy Hobdell

Partner

Andy Hobdell is a highly motivated and experienced Criminal Solicitor and consultant. With over 20 years of experience Andy has dealt with a wide range of cases within the Magistrates Court and Crown Court. Andy primarily deals with cases within Hertfordshire and London.
Glen Henry headshot

Glen Henry

Solicitor Advocate

Glen is Solicitor Advocate and has 25 years experience in dealing with serious and complex criminal cases. He regularly appears in the Crown Court as well as appearing in the Magistrates Court on a range of cases including Proceeds of Crime enforcement.