Summary
Our client was facing nine domestic abuse charges all made by his ex-girlfriend. From the outset, he denied all the allegations against him and in fact stated that he had suffered abuse and controlling behaviour from the complainant. Partner Joanne Cestaro represented our client, where he was ultimately found not guilty of all charges after a jury trial at Huntingdon Crown Court.
Details of the Case
Our client and the complainant were in a relationship for four years, however the allegations were made after their relationship ended. The complainant alleged that across the duration of their relationship, she had been the victim of physical abuse and controlling behaviour.
The allegations included instances of allegedly being slapped, kicked and strangled, as well as causing damage to her phone and controlling who she was in contact with.
Lawtons represented our client at Luton Police Station where he gave a prepared statement completely denying the allegations. He denied ever strangling the complainant or physically assaulting her in any way. He maintained that the allegations were of malicious intent after the relationship ended due to him having a new partner.
Our Defence
Following his Police interview, our client was charged with nine domestic abuse offences, including controlling and coercive behaviour, strangulation, criminal damage as well as six counts of actual bodily harm (ABH).
Partner Joanne Cestaro represented our client throughout his court proceedings where she prepared a robust defence. Our client maintained that he had never assaulted the complainant on any occasion. He stated that all the allegations were untrue and motivated by jealousy.
Our client was a man of completely good character who had a long-standing diagnosis of autism, ADHD and depression. Joanne collected several witness statements from our client’s friends and family which supported that the complainant had repeatedly exploited these vulnerabilities throughout their relationship.
This included her seeking to isolate him from his family and friends, controlling his movements and assaulting him both physically and verbally. After going through our client’s phone downloads, Joanne also uncovered evidence that contradicted the complainant’s account and significantly changed the landscape of the case.
Court
Our client’s case was heard at Huntingdon Crown Court where he was represented by Barrister Janice Brennan of Lamb Building Chambers. Given his mental health conditions and the severity of the charges he was facing, our client was understandably very distressed by the court proceedings. Given the number of charges, our client was at risk of receiving four years in prison if found guilty.
The trial lasted for eight days, where Janice expertly advocated on our client’s behalf and asserted that it was in fact our client who had been the victim of prolonged controlling behaviour and abuse. She also put forth that the Prosecution’s evidence did not reveal the true behaviour of the complainant.
Thanks to the strength of our client’s evidence and Janice’s excellent representations, our client was ultimately found not guilty of all nine charges against him. This was a truly fantastic result and a testament to both Joanne and Janice’s expertise.
Looking for a specialist domestic abuse solicitor?
Being charged with domestic abuse has the potential to have serious and life-long consequences on your future. You need a team of specialist criminal defence solicitors on your side to make sure that you receive the best possible outcome. With over 250 years combined experience, Lawtons will be there for you every step of the way and will ensure that you receive the highest level of care and attention. If you or a loved one are facing a criminal charge, get in touch with a member of our team today.
