Man found not guilty of attempted rape and sexual assault

Laura Stockdale represented a man charged with attempted rape and sexual assault. The Crown case was that the Defendant had forcibly given the Complainant oral sex and attempted to rape her whilst at his house. They relied on text messages sent by the Defendant after the incident in which he repeatedly apologised for his wrongful actions. The Defendant stated that he had consensual oral sex with the Complainant, and that as soon as she told him to stop, he did so. 

Following a five-day trial at Croydon Crown Court, the defendant was acquitted unanimously by a jury. The Defence case was evidentially complex, involving a review of large amounts of material disclosed concerning the Complainant’s previous convictions for driving offences involving a fatality, as well as her previous reports of rape against other men. During trial, Ms Stockdale cross-examined the Complainant regarding these matters, it being the Defence case that the Complainant had made a false complainant against the Defendant in order to gain a benefit in ongoing criminal proceedings against her.

Laura Stockdale was instructed by Rosie Worster of Commons.