Summary
In this case, our client was a company who run a fleet of vehicles and were informed that one of those vehicles was involved in a possible road traffic accident. They were later charged with failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of said vehicle. Our client pleaded not guilty to this offence as they had responded to the Police via post on the same day as receiving the letter requesting the information.
The company were referred to Lawtons Solicitors by a different Firm of Solicitors who did not have the expertise to deal with criminal cases. We represented this client on a privately funded basis where we collated all evidence to support their case. Ultimately, the case was dropped by the Prosecution Pre-Trial thanks to our engagement and the issues highlighted by us as part of case preparation.
About the Case
The alleged incident took place in March 2024, when a third party reported a possible road traffic incident to the Police. It was reported that a vehicle registered to our client’s company was driving recklessly at excessive speed on the motorway.
The vehicle reportedly undertook the complainant before moving over into the complainant’s lane. In doing so, the rear of the vehicle made contact with the front of the complainant’s car, displacing the wing and bumper. The complainant reportedly made attempts to gain the attention of the vehicle’s driver in order to pull over, but these attempts were allegedly ignored.
Our client was informed of this claim against one of their vehicles and were asked to provide details of the driver at the time of the offence to the Police. After viewing the dashcam footage of the incident, our client responded to the Police’s request with the driver’s personal information via post – as they are required to do.
Receipt of receiving the Police’s letter and confirmation of response were recorded in our client’s records. Despite this, the Police said that no letter containing the driver’s details had been received. They therefore charged our client with failing to provide said information.
Managing Director Stephen Halloran represented our client on a private basis, where he compiled extensive evidence to support our client’s not guilty plea. This included evidence of the tracking system in place at the company which ensured compliance with requirements to record vehicle details.
Outcome
The case was due to be heard at Newport Magistrates Court, over 200 miles away from where our client was based. Due to scheduling conflicts affecting our key witness’ ability to attend, Stephen successfully applied for a special measures application so that she could give evidence over video link.
Before the Trial date, we received a letter from the Prosecution informing us that they had reviewed the case in light of our representations and decided to discontinue proceedings as there was not enough evidence to support their case.
Our client was extremely grateful to Stephen for his diligence and guidance throughout this stressful period. Thanks to Stephen’s support, the client avoided the distress and challenges associated with court proceedings. This case highlights the importance of securing specialist legal representation, as our involvement in this matter ensured the best possible outcome.
The referring Solicitors were also delighted to be informed that the case had been successfully concluded, as it reflected well on them and the referral that they had made.
Contact Us
We understand how difficult it is to face a criminal charge. At Lawtons Solicitors, we are here to guide you through each stage of the legal process and to support you however we can. If you or someone you know is facing a criminal charge, contact our specialist team on 0333 577 0522 or visit our enquiries page.