Matthew Bagnall (as a Leading Junior) instructed by Levy & Co Solicitors successfully defended a company director facing prosecution in one of the largest ever Trading Standards prosecutions for conspiracy to defraud.
The defendant was a director of multiple companies, concerned in the manufacture, sale and distribution of products in the domestic heating market, with a turnover of over £46.7 million.
Oxford City Council brought the prosecution on behalf of Trading Standards following a countrywide investigation. Trading Standards alleged that the Defendant and his fellow directors had dishonestly mis-sold products that were defective over a 6-year period between 2012 and 2018.
The defence made a section 8 application and, following a week of legal argument at the Southwark Crown Court, the Judge agreed with the defence submissions that the prosecution’s approach to disclosure had been defective.
Following that ruling, the prosecution offered no evidence and verdicts of not guilty were entered against all defendants. Thus bringing to an end an investigation and prosecution that had lasted over 8 years.