Sam March and Andrew Cohen instructed in successful defence of defendants charged in violent conspiracy case

After a 6-day trial at Wood Green Crown Court, a jury acquitted four defendants accused of being part of a violent conspiracy and joint enterprise criminal damage. Samuel March and Andrew Cohen acted for D1 and D2 respectively, both men of good character.

The case began as a 6-handed conspiracy to commit GBH and joint enterprise criminal damage. The case concerned an incident in which a then-serving police officer had conspired with a new boyfriend to lure an ex-partner to a quiet industrial estate where the boyfriend and 4 associates would jump out of a car and confront him.

The confrontation took place, the complainant ran away unharmed and unfollowed, and an unknown number of men caused damage to his car. The new boyfriend and D4 later accepted responsability for the damage.

The central issues revolved around the meaning of text messages between parties and intention behind slang words such as to “bang” or “slide on” someone, as well as issues around which defendants were party to which communications, and who actually got out of the car or had any involvement in the damage on the day.

The original conspiracy to commit GBH charge was dismissed in 2024 on joint application by all defendants. Subsequently the police officer and boyfriend pleaded guilty to a lesser conspiracy to commit ABH, leaving Samuel and Andrew’s clients as D1 and D2, and meaning the issue was to what extent the shared intent of those who had pleaded had actually been communicated and agreed upon with others.

The trial, initially set down for three weeks, lasted six days. None of the four defendants gave evidence. Counsel argued in speeches that the prosecution’s case was not strong enough to call for an answer.

On day 6, the jury went out 20 minutes before lunch, and returned minutes after lunch unanimously finding each remaining defendant not guilty on all counts.

5th July 2026