Chaynee Hodgetts secures Not Guilty verdict

in complex 23-defendant fraud case at Teesside Crown Court.

Chaynee Hodgetts, instructed by Mr John Goodwin and Ms Vanda Haunch of Ison Harrison Solicitors, represented Ms CF in Operation Bale, a substantial multi-handed fraud and money laundering prosecution at Teesside Crown Court arising from a National Trading Standards investigation and involving 23 Defendants. Ms Hodgetts’ client was the only Defendant against whom the Prosecution ultimately did not proceed on the day of trial.

The wider Prosecution case concerned allegations that vulnerable customers had been dishonestly overcharged for building and maintenance work, together with associated allegations of converting criminal property through the use of third-party bank accounts.

Ms CF faced an allegation of conspiracy to convert criminal property, arising principally from the receipt of funds into a bank account held in her name. A central issue in her case was whether she possessed the requisite knowledge of the alleged offending, and whether she was able to do it.

The case was listed for a lengthy multi-handed trial and involved extensive evidential material and complex issues concerning attribution, knowledge and participation within an alleged wider conspiracy. Ms Hodgetts had conduct of Ms CF’s case from PTPH onwards, including the Defence Statement, setting out the problems in the Crown’s case insofar as the evidence and public interest regarding Ms CF was concerned.

Following a plea from the Client’s former partner, the Crown reviewed the evidential and public interest position in relation to Ms CF, with regard to points made in the Defence Statement, and concluded, on the day of trial, that it was no longer in the public interest to continue proceedings against her. The Crown subsequently offered no evidence against Ms CF, bringing the case against her to an end.

Ms CF was the only one of the 23 Defendants in Operation Bale against whom the Prosecution ultimately did not proceed. The outcome meant that Ms CF did not have to participate in the lengthy and complex multi-handed jury trial which continued against the remaining Defendants – and a formal verdict of Not Guilty was ultimately recorded.