Jeanette Stevenson, instructed under the public access scheme, successfully obtains a conditional discharge for her client, a retired GP.
The defendant was charged with a s5 public order offence and harassment of her neighbours following a long standing neighbour dispute. The client, who had compiled hours worth of CCTV over the last 4 years, argued that it was in fact her that had been harassed by a group of neighbours but, that it was her that had been wrongly charged by the police.
After representations to the CPS, they agreed to withdraw the S5 public order and proceed only with the harassment charge. After advice, the client pleaded guilty on the first occasion to harassment. However, after spending some considerable time before the hearing viewing the client’s CCTV, Miss Stevenson was able to inform the court of some of the behaviour of the neighbours towards the defendant caught on CCTV. Following submissions, the Judge agreed to a conditional discharge and refused the Crown’s application for compensation given the issues brought to the courts’ attention.
The client was extremely grateful for Miss Stevenson’s commitment and tenacity.