Justice for a 47 year old man with psychiatric issues was secured by MPR Solicitors at Staines Magistrates Court on 19 January 2010 against Surrey Police and the Surrey Crown Prosecution Service

Our client was acquitted after a protracted legal battle at Staines Magistrates Court costing the taxpayer thousands of pounds over damage to a police mattress valued at £65.15.  It had been the Crown’s case that our client had either deliberately or recklessly caused damage to a police mattress by chewing it thereby causing a tear approximately 3 inches in length whilst he had been in police custody.

The incident had been recorded on CCTV in the police cell. With skillful cross-examination of the Prosecution witnesses who were either police officers or police civilian staff, we were able to highlight the inconsistencies in the Crown’s case. We also called an eminent Consultant Psychiatrist to give expert evidence in the trial to deal with issues of automatism and psychotic episodes. Full legal submissions were made and the Court acquitted our client.

MPR’s Managing Partner’s comments on the case:

"From the start of this case I had always been very confident and was fully aware that the case would hinge upon medical evidence. Once the medical evidence had been obtained on our client’s behalf, I personally made a number of written and oral representations to the Crown Prosecution Service and it was a shame that they decided to ignore them and put a vulnerable person through the trauma of an unnecessary trial. We are now considering taking legal action against the police. I feel very strongly about Human Rights and fighting for the vulnerable in society. In this case it became very clear to me that my client had a defence in law and that my client had been the victim of police prejudice and victimisation."