Summary
In June 2024, our client was accused of and charged with assault by beating by her neighbour. This allegation followed a dispute where our client had confronted the complainant about trespassing on her land. The disagreement began as a verbal argument, eventually leading to the alleged assault. However, our client denied having assaulted the complainant and asserted that the opposite was in fact true. She felt that she had been treated unfairly by the police, claiming that she had been the true victim of assault. Our team collected extensive evidence in support of our client’s defence, highlighting inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence. Thanks to the diligent efforts provided by Lawtons Solicitors, our client was found not guilty and acquitted of the charge.
In Depth
Our client and the complainant had known each other for over twenty years but their relationship had deteriorated in the years leading up to the alleged assault. On said day, the complainant stated that our client had first verbally attacked him, then proceeded to strike him across the face, pull at his clothing and throw objects such as weeds, stones and bread at him. There were no witnesses to the alleged assault, although the complainant’s wife claimed to have heard our client shouting and saw the aftermath.
Solicitor Samantha Harmer represented our client in this case, who denied the offence completely. Although she accepted that there had been a verbal argument between herself and the complainant, our client asserted that it was in fact her neighbour who had grabbed onto her clothing and then punched her in the face with force. Contrary to what had been alleged, our client stated that the complainant had been the main aggressor.
Following the dispute, our client had immediately called the police, reporting herself as the victim of an assault. However, she hadn’t received any further correspondence on this matter. This was the second time that our client had reported an incident regarding her neighbour to the police and both times, nothing had materialised. Our client was concerned that she had been treated unfairly by the police in this matter as her complaints had been completely ignored.
Police acknowledged that our client had initially been considered the victim yet had not taken any further action on this matter. When Samantha followed up with the police as to why this was, no response was received.
Prior to the trial, Samantha thoroughly investigated and compared the evidence presented by both parties and uncovered some astonishing discrepancies; these not only detailed the complainant’s admission of assaulting our client but also showcased how the police had acted in complete favour of the complainant. Samantha prepared a thorough letter to the prosecution, outlining these inconsistencies and urging them to discontinue proceedings. However, they insisted on pursuing matters regardless.
The case was seen at Stevenage Magistrates Court in December 2024, where Barrister Andrew Rose of 9BR Chambers represented our client. During cross-examination of the complainant’s statement, our team presented phone evidence which highlighted the inconsistencies in the evidence he had provided. Similarly, the witness statement given in court by his wife completely contradicted all other evidence given, causing the prosecution’s already weak case to collapse further.
By comparison, our client’s evidence was consistent with previous accounts and she came across as a credible witness in stark contrast to the prosecution’s witnesses. Further photographic evidence was presented in court, showcasing the injuries that our client had suffered as a result of the assault from the complainant.
Our team’s defence in court was recognised as strong and thorough. Thanks to our meticulous preparation ahead of trial and our diligence in court, the Magistrates found our client not guilty of assault. Our client was extremely grateful to Samantha and the rest of the team for their extensive dedication to her case throughout and for the support she had received during this process:
“Such nice people at this firm. Always good communication and nothing was too much trouble. They have excellent attention to detail and prepared my case very well.”
“They helped me from the first interview at the police station through to trial and were brilliant from start to finish. I highly recommend Lawtons Solicitors.”
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We understand how difficult it is to face a criminal charge. At Lawtons, we’re 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.
