Edward Henry KC Successfully Concludes Multi-Million-Pound Fraudulent Trading Prosecution

Edward Henry KC, alongside Sonal Dashani KC, has successfully brought to an end a complex, multi-million-pound fraudulent trading prosecution at Derby Crown Court. They represented the lead defendant in Operation Zebra, prosecuted by Derby City Council Trading Standards.

The trial commenced in May 2026 and was scheduled to continue until December. Following twelve weeks of evidence, Edward and Sonal advanced two substantial challenges to the prosecution case over a further two weeks of legal argument.

Edward argued detailed submissions of no case to answer on each count. In the first of two rulings, the judge upheld those submissions on ten of the thirteen counts faced by their client, substantially dismantling the prosecution case.

Sonal advanced a separate application to stay the proceedings as an abuse of process, arising from material failures concerning disclosure and lost evidence. In a second ruling, the judge upheld that application and stayed the proceedings, bringing the prosecution to an end in its entirety against all of the defendants.

Edward and Sonal were instructed by Jennifer Richardson of Blackfords LLP.