Insights / News
Insights / News
On 9 January 2025, the fourth day of a projected four-week trial at Norwich Crown Court, the Crown agreed to offer no evidence against the Transport Manager of a Norfolk logistics company who (along with two other defendants and the company) had been under investigation by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for more than three years. All were duly acquitted.
Jeremy Scott- Joynt represented the Manager, who had faced five counts of aiding and abetting the falsification of tachograph records by four drivers working for the company. Two of the drivers had already pleaded guilty to such a falsification; the other two denied it, and consequently were in the dock alongside the Manager.
The successful outcome was achieved after Jeremy brought the implications of a mixture of new and existing evidence to the Crown’s attention: evidence which undermined critical elements of the prosecution case.
Within 48 hours, the Crown confirmed that DVSA had decided to drop all charges against the Manager and the two other defendants (the case against the company having already been conceded), without ever opening its case to the jury.
The events which led to the trial had taken place in April-June 2021. DVSA’s investigation had begun late that year, with charges brought in 2022. By the time of the trial, therefore, the Manager had been facing prosecution for more than two years. Jeremy had taken over the case only in late 2024.
Jeremy was instructed by Chris Harrington at CE Transport Law.
Jeremy specialises in business crime, regulatory and sanctions work as well as health & safety and connected commercial matters. He appears in courts and tribunals at all levels across the civil, criminal and regulatory jurisdictions, both led and unled. He advises regulators, government departments, corporates and individuals across these areas.
To find out more about Jeremy, contact Andy Hunter on +44 (0)20 7427 4905 for a confidential discussion.
News 24 Jan, 2025