Olliers Solicitors have secured the acquittal of a North West couple charged with 39 offences of rape and other serious sexual offences.
The case had a complex medical background. The complainant in the case suffered from multiple psychiatric disorders including Personality Disorder and Paraparesis due to medically unexplained symptoms. She had been a hospital in-patient for nearly four years and gave evidence via a live video link to the hospital. The defence case focussed on showing that the complaint was part of a pattern of manipulative behaviour by the complainant, connected with her Personality Disorder.
The defence traced and interviewed numerous witnesses against whom similar false complaints had been made. The trial at Cardiff Crown Court was listed for five weeks however following seven days of evidence by the complainant the prosecution abandoned the case and offered no further evidence in respect of all the allegations.
Zita Spencer of Olliers acted for both defendants and Andrew Thomas QC, Ian Mcmeekin and Katherine Pierpoint all of Lincoln House chambers were instructed.