2BR secures double acquittal in large-scale drugs conspiracy

Archangelo Power and Fred Batstone secured acquittals for their respective clients, both of whom were alleged to have been part of a large-scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, following a 4-week trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court.  The case related to the “county lines” supply of Class A drugs over a 2-year period, and the arrest of a substantial number of defendants said to be operating a drug line called the “Tony Line”.

Archangelo Power, instructed by Naomi Debidin & Unan Choudhury of Lewis Nedas Law, represented DP.  DP accepted supplying Class A drugs as alleged but maintained that he was the victim of modern slavery.  Expert psychiatric and psychological evidence was called to show that DP was hugely vulnerable and “mind blind”.  Despite DP having made full admissions in his interview and having been arrested with over £1,000 worth of class A drugs, in addition to him not having given evidence,  the jury returned not guilty verdicts in DP’s case.

Fred Batstone, instructed by Simon May and Ola Oladimeji of Edwards Duthie Shamash Solicitors, represented WF, who denied any involvement in the alleged conspiracy.  The Crown relied on phone and banking evidence and a top-up of the drugs line to link WF to the conspiracy. Following Fred’s cross-examination of the drugs expert and the investigating officer, the Crown reviewed the case against WF and decided not to call any further evidence against him whereupon the jury were directed to return verdicts of not guilty.