Fiona Clegg leading Anna Renou secure acquittals on all eight counts of kidnap, threats to kill, rape, strangulation and threats to disclose private sexual photographs. 

The case concerned allegations spanning throughout a two-month relationship, culminating in the complainant being kidnapped. The Crown’s case relied on extensive phone material and CCTV footage of the kidnap route, immediately prior to their client being arrested for rape. 

The Crown contended that their client sent WhatsApp messages to the complainant threatening to kill her and disclose sexual photographs. Fiona and Anna’s client denied sending the messages and maintained that the complainant had used his phone to send them. Phone expert evidence and cross-examination explored the true sender of the messages, Their client denied all of the allegations, which it transpired were made following a break-up. 

At the end of a two-week trial at Southampton Crown Court, the jury returned ‘not guilty’ verdicts on all eight counts after 22 minutes of deliberations. 

The case involved a successful application pursuant to s.41 YCJEA 1999 and extensive cross-examination of the complainant lasting two days. 

Fiona and Anna were instructed and assisted by Richard Cronin and Komal Imtiaz of O’Keeffe Solicitors.