Summary
Our client was one of nineteen known defendants under investigation from the National Crime Agency (NCA), where it was alleged that the defendants conspired to traffic individuals to the Kent coast, subsequently hiding these individuals in lorries travelling to France.
Partner Joanne Cestaro represented our client throughout the Crown Court proceedings, where he completely denied the allegation. At the conclusion of a six-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court, our client was one of only two defendants found not guilty.
Details of the Offence
The NCA operation was an investigation into organised criminal groups who conspired to assist unlawful immigration. Conspiracy, in this context, is simply an agreement. In this case, the agreement was to transport people from the UK to France hidden in the trailer of an HGV.
There was no dispute that to assist migrants to evade boarder control in this way would be an offence contrary to section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971. There was also no dispute that the evidence gathered by the NCA showed that such a conspiracy existed.
The issue in relation to each defendant was whether or not they were part of the agreement. Our client claimed that he had no knowledge of this agreement at all.
The scale of this conspiracy was extensive, with huge amounts of evidence to be examined including surveillance evidence, CCTV, call data records, cell site evidence and ANPR.
Our Defence
In his Police interview our client was represented by Solicitor Kajel Doshi and was properly and appropriately advised to provide a full and detailed account outlining his defence. He maintained that he had no knowledge of a conspiracy and that he was simply employed as a taxi driver.
Our client’s case was later transferred to Partner Joanne Cestaro, who crafted a robust defence. Given the nature and scale of the offence, if our client were convicted, he was at considerable risk of receiving a lengthy prison sentence. Therefore, it was essential that we considered and examined all aspect of the voluminous and complex evidence in this case.
Joanne made sure to instruct several experts to check the accuracy of the data and the schedules provided by the Prosecution.
Court
The case was heard at Isleworth Crown Court over a period of six weeks, where nine defendants stood trial. The majority of the other defendants pleaded guilty to their charges.
Joanne instructed Barrister Michael Newport of Lamb Building Chambers, who meticulously dissected the case against our client. His cross examination of the NCA officer was expertly undertaken, as was his analysis of the complex evidence.
At the conclusion of the trial, our client was unanimously acquitted and was extremely grateful that he had chosen Lawtons from the outset.
Client Testimonial
I am extremely satisfied with the outstanding service I received from Lawtons Solicitors. Joanne and Michael are both incredibly talented professionals who gave me strong and dedicated support throughout my case.
Last week, I was unanimously acquitted. Joanne was not only supportive to me, but also to my wife during a very difficult time.
Michael was brilliant in court – confident, calm, and very strong in presenting my case. His professionalism gave me real confidence when I needed it most.
They are a fantastic team, and I genuinely recommend Lawtons Solicitors to anyone who needs talented legal representation. Thank you so much Joanne and Michael!
Looking for a specialist immigration solicitor?
Being charged with any type of criminal offence can be stressful and confusing. It’s not something you have to go through alone. If you or someone you know has been charged with a similar offence, contact our specialist team on 0333 577 0522 or visit our enquiries page.
