R v Jonathan Nuttall

Facts

On the afternoon of 14 September 2021 two packages made to resemble explosive devices, together with a smoke canister, were left in Gray's Inn, one outside 3 Verulam Buildings, the chambers of Mr Andrew Sutcliffe KC and Miss Anne Jeavons. The incident caused a lockdown, public alarm and substantial inconvenience. The devices had been constructed and placed by Michael Broddle, an associate of Michael Sode, who was chauffeur to Jonathan Nuttall. Material seized from Mr Broddle revealed months of surveillance of both barristers and their families and invented allegations of sexual misconduct, only one of which was ever delivered. Both barristers were then instructed by the National Crime Agency in civil recovery proceedings concerning assets held by Mr Nuttall's wife, and the prosecution case was that Mr Nuttall was the architect, originator and funder of the conspiracy, with Mr Sode as middle man passing instructions and payment. Following a lengthy trial in the Central Criminal Court before His Honour Judge Simon Mayo KC, Mr Nuttall was convicted by a majority of two bomb hoax conspiracies, conspiracy to transfer criminal property and two offences of failing to provide PINs; Mr Sode was convicted unanimously of the conspiracies and one such offence. Mr Nuttall sought leave to appeal against conviction and sentence, and Mr Sode against sentence only; the Registrar referred the applications to the full court.