Acquittals for two clients accused of involvement in Gray’s Inn fake bomb plot
Following a four-month trial at the Central Criminal Court, Carson Kaye’s two clients CB and JB were unanimously acquitted by the jury on all counts in relation to their alleged involvement in the Gray’s Inn bomb hoaxes. Our clients, the youngest of six defendants, were both alleged to have been part of conspiracies to plant two fake devices with intent at a set of barristers’ chambers on Gray’s Inn Road in central London in September 2021. CB was also charged with possessing an explosive substance and JB with a money laundering conspiracy in relation to alleged ‘hush money’ and payment for the bomb plot.
The prosecution case was that Jonathan Nuttall, a wealthy businessman, had orchestrated a campaign of intimidation and harassment against two barristers (one a deputy High Court judge) working with the NCA in a multi-million pound case against Mr Nuttall and his wife, a plot which included the planting of two IEDs at their place of work. Mr Nuttall was said to have used his chauffeur to recruit a former Royal Marine (CB and JB’s father) to carry out the work. It was alleged by the prosecution that our clients were also knowingly involved and had been recruited by their father to assist in various ways.
The case was high-profile, unusual, and factually and legally complex. It involved large volumes of evidence and the defence cases required rigorous analysis of CCTV, call records, internet search history, cell site evidence, substantial digital material from device downloads, prison call recordings and a covert recording of a prison social visit. A number of legal arguments were advanced by the defence, including in relation to the contents of the indictment, disclosure, the admissibility of prison material and the money laundering count.
Our clients were represented by Sophie Clarke of Carson Kaye and the following counsel:
- Simon Pentol KC of 25 Bedford Row for CB
- Jonathan Lennon KC and Rabah Kherbane of Doughty Street Chambers for JB
Further details can be found in press coverage here:
BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-66544098
Evening Standard https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/fbi-national-crime-agency-counter-terrorism-command-philip-met-police-b1101619.html
