Busy week for Chesterfield crime solicitor
Chesterfield crime solicitor Denney Lau has had another busy week,combining police station representation, Magistrates’ court cases and office appointments.
You can read more about this below.
Monday
Negotiated basis of plea
Denney’s first client of his working week was a person who had been arrested on a warrant that had been outstanding since November 2016 and was before Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court. Although he accepted being guilty of an offence of assault, he did not accept the full extent of the allegation. Denney was able to negotiate a basis of plea that was acceptable to the prosecution and the court. He pleaded guilty and received a financial penalty.
Legal aid was granted which meant that our representation was free of charge to our client.
Trial prepared but no client
Later that day, Denney was to represent another legally-aided client who faced trial for theft from a dwelling. The witness was to give evidence over a live link from Oxford. The trial was fully prepared, but in the our client didn’t attend and the trial could not go ahead.
Tuesday
Client released under investigation
On Tuesday morning a client sought our independent legal advice in police interview. The allegation was one of commercial burglary from the summer of 2017. He had been detained at chesterfield police station allegation of non dwelling burglary. Following advice, our client put forward an account denying responsibility for the offence.
Representations were made that our client should not be detained while a decision from the Crown Prosecution Service was sought. Instead, he should be released under investigation so that the final decision can be communicated at a later date.
Criminal legal aid meant that this advice and representation was free of charge.
Suspended rather than immediate custody
Again with the benefit of criminal legal aid, Chesterfield crime solicitor Denney Lau represented a client who had breached his community order on two separate occasions. To make matters worse, he had been unlawfully at large on a warrant without bail since September 2017.
The District Judge gave an immediate indication that he had no alternative but to send our client to prison immediately. Having heard mitigation from Denney, instead he felt able to impose a suspended sentence leading to our client’s immediate release.
A night on call at Chesterfield police station
Lack of evidence on theft
Denney’s first client of the evening was a person who had been arrested for an allegation of theft. A lack of evidence meant that our client chose not to answer police questions. His continued detention was authorised to permit consideration of identification procedures and to see whether any further evidence was to be provided.
Representations secure bail from police
His second client had been arrested for driving whilst disqualified but denied that allegation after receiving free and independent legal advice. He was already being investigated for an identical offence.
Denney’s client was charged with both sets of offences. The officer made representation to the custody sergeant that, bearing in mind the repeat allegations, our client should be detained for a remand application in the morning.
After hearing representations from Denney, the sergeant was persuaded to bail his client to court instead.
Wednesday
Chesterfield police station part two
Denney returned to Chesterfield police station to continue to represent the person detained for theft the night before. There was a co-accused by now, although the co-accused was represented by a different firm of solicitor.
Our client was charged with several allegations of theft, as was his co-accused. Denny was successful in persuading the police to grant his client bail, although the solicitor for the co-accused was less successful. He was placed before the court for a remand application.
Favourable sentence in client’s absence
A client was due to be sentenced over the video link but refused to appear for the hearing. The court decided to proceed in the client’s absence. Denney continued to act in the best interests of his client. This involved placing relevant mitigation before the court. In the event, Denney secured a short custodial sentence that was almost equivalent to time already spent on remand, thus securing his client’s release within a further day or so.
Thursday
Birthday celebration, so no court, no police stations and no clients.
Go-karting instead.
Friday
Successful bail application by Chesterfield crime solicitor
A client had been placed before the court for an application to remand him into custody after he was charged with being in breach of a dispersal notice. There were several issues surrounding the lawfulness of the notice so he was advised to plead not guilty. Bail was secured even though our client had no fixed address and a conviction would place him in breach of a suspended sentence.
Another client no-show
Denney had prepared a trial to be heard before Nottingham Magistrates’ Court although he required further information from his client. His client failed to attend and the court allowed the prosecution to proceed in his absence. Denney was not fully instructed so withdrew from the case.
Interviewed without a solicitor
A client had made an appointment to see Chesterfield crime solicitor Denney to discuss their case. They had chosen to be interviewed without the benefit of free and independent legal advice and wanted to talk about the evidence and the procedure following a release under investigation.
Contact a Chesterfield criminal law specialist
We gain our experience and enhance our reputation for being experts in the field of criminal law by representing clients in relation to a full range of offences on a daily basis,
If you want to instruct Chesterfield crime solicitor Denney Lau in a case then the details of our new office in Chesterfield can be found here. Alternatively you can use the contact form below.
