Violet Smart’s client acquitted in multi-million pound fraud following 12-week trial

Violet Smart, led by Nick James of 33 Chancery Lane chambers, represented PA, a woman of good character charged with fraudulent trading. Following a three-month trial at St Alban’s Crown Court, she was acquitted by the jury. 

PA was charged, alongside 5 other defendants, with fraudulently trading wine. She was a senior wine broker at a wine investment company with a £30m turnover, and was alleged to have mis-sold blue-chip wines to hundreds of clients. Having been employed for 8 years, the Crown’s case was that she was party to carrying on the business for a fraudulent purpose by making false claims about wine and its investment potential to often vulnerable customers. The Crown relied on 41 witnesses as a representative sample.

The defence case, presented through witnesses and company documentation, was that she had only ever acted as she was trained to do and in compliance with company procedures.  

Violet and Nick were instructed by Tricia O’Sullivan of Sperrin Law.