2 Bedford Row success in multi-million pound Trading Standards conspiracy to defraud case

Members of 2 Bedford Row successfully represented a number of company directors facing one of the largest ever Trading Standards prosecutions for conspiracy to defraud.

The defendants were all directors of companies manufacturing, selling and distributing domestic heating systems, with a turnover of over £46.7 million.  In an investigation and prosecution lasting over 8 years, Oxfordshire County Council (prosecuting on behalf of Trading Standards teams from around the country) alleged that the heating systems were defective and were dishonestly mis-sold by the defendants’ companies over a 6-year period between 2012 and 2018.

Following a week-long s.8 disclosure application at the Southwark Crown Court, the Judge agreed with 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.

Members of Chambers instructed in the case were Simon Baker KC (instructed by Patricia Wilson at Bark & Co), Craig Rush leading Nick Bonehill (instructed by Mike Warren and Derek Lamont at THB Solicitors), Ashley Hendron (as leading junior instructed by Vince Regalia at EBR Attridge), Kevin Toomey leading Cathryn Sutcliffe (instructed by Matthew Bone of JSP Solicitors) and Shauna Richie (instructed by Yaqui Hussain at LP Evans Solicitors).