We represented a child who had been charged with offences of:

• kidnap,
• coercive and controlling behaviour,
• threats to kill, stalking with fear of violence,
• malicious communications,
• assault by beating,
• two offences of criminal damage.

We were able to persuade the Court to retain jurisdiction at our client’s first appearance. This meant that our client’s case remained in the Youth Court; the proper trial venue for any child. However, despite the support of the Youth Justice Service, the Court refused to grant our client bail. They were therefore remanded to Youth Detention Accommodation. We later made a second bail application but this was also refused.

Undeterred, we made representations to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that our client could be released on bail subject to stringent bail conditions. We were able to agree bail conditions and we made a third bail application on our client’s behalf. Our client was granted bail and the CPS discontinued the offences of kidnap, coercive and controlling behaviour, threats to kill and malicious communications on evidential grounds.

Following further negotiations with the CPS, our client entered a guilty plea to a single offence of criminal damage and an offence of assault by beating. The CPS offered no evidence in relation to the allegations of stalking with fear of violence and the second offence of criminal damage.

Our client was represented by Sabrina Neves, a Solicitor in our specialist Youth Crime Team, and in Court by Jodie Mole, one of our in house barristers.