Recent Cases

R v W

W was a director of a company offering a will writing service and administering the estates of deceased persons. The company expanded over time, providing a wider range of financial services through subsidiary companies. The wills and probate business operated a client account into which substantial sums of client money was received.

In 2002 DTI inspectors conducted an inspection uncovering a deficit in the client account in the region of £5 million. The ensuing SFO investigation established that funds taken from the client account had been used to finance the non-probate business activities of the Group.

W and two other directors were charged with Fraudulent Trading contrary to section 458 of the Companies Act 1985. The co-defendants both pleaded guilty and gave evidence on behalf of the SFO that W was aware of the illegal transfer of funds from the client account.

The case was prepared over an 18 month period during which we conducted a detailed search through over 100,000 documents in the quest for material to assist W’s defence. We instructed forensic accountants, handwriting experts and forensic computer experts.

W maintained a not guilty plea and was tried at Southwark Crown Court but the jury were unable to reach a verdict. A re-trial was ordered following which W was acquitted with a unanimous verdict.