Unanimous Not Guilty Verdict Secured in Bournemouth Harassment Trial

Defence submissions on jury unanimity and course of conduct allegations adopted following six-day trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Published: 13th May 2026

Chaynee Hodgetts, instructed by Mr Nathan Jones and Ms Chloe Lawton of Pure Law Solicitors, secured a unanimous Not Guilty verdict for the Client, following a six-day jury trial at Bournemouth Crown Court involving allegations of putting a former partner in fear of violence by harassment.

The Prosecution case alleged a course of conduct spanning multiple incidents over several months, including allegations of assaults, threatening communications, repeated attendances at the Complainant’s address. The Crown relied upon a combination of CCTV, BWV, a pocket 999 call, telephone messages, and evidence from civilian and Police witnesses.

The case became significantly more complex during the course of proceedings, as:

  • the indictment was amended by the Crown on three separate occasions (including during trial);
  • the estimated two-day trial ultimately lasted six days; and
  • the Crown successfully applied to adduce aspects of bad character, despite detailed Defence opposition under s.78 PACE 1984.

A central issue throughout the trial concerned the legal structure of the alleged “course of conduct” under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Ms Hodgetts drafted detailed legal submissions addressing the requirement for jury unanimity as to the underlying incidents said to constitute the course of conduct. Following legal argument, the trial Judge adopted the Defence approach, directing the jury that they had to agree upon the same underlying incidents before any conviction could properly follow.

The Defendant, who had significant mental health difficulties, gave evidence at trial. The Defence case maintained that the Prosecution had sought to criminalise what was, in substance, a difficult and emotionally charged relationship breakdown, rather than conduct properly amounting to harassment causing fear of violence. Following retirement, the jury returned a unanimous Not Guilty verdict in around 2 hours and 40 minutes.