Arson – How easily one could become a suspect when completely innocent

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Published: Tuesday, 19 January 2016 11:09

Written by Bill Wilson

Bill Wilson successfully represented a company director who innocently arrived back to check his work premises were secure, but within minutes of leaving the property, a large industrial unit was engulfed in flames. Numerous fire-fighters attended the scene and it took hours to bring the fire under control and extinguish it. Damage was said to have ran into millions, involving not only the unit itself, but the numerous vehicles inside and the adjourning properties. Members of the public made thirty one separate “999” calls to report the fire, the first being only 5 minutes after the premises were secured. Flames were said to have been bellowing 15 feet from the highest point in the roof space. Over the following days, numerous Insurance Assessors carried out detailed forensic examination, which resulted in Bill’s client being arrested and interviewed at length (over 5 hours) on suspicion that he was responsible. Both the Police and the Insurance Experts claimed that the fire must have been started by him as it was inconceivable due to the veracity and timings of the fire, that he was innocent. This culminated in a further interview many months later and despite maintaining his innocence, he was charged with the offence of arson. Bill’s client had always contended that although he had been welding in the unit earlier that morning, he had left at lunchtime and merely returned to check that the premises were fully secure at the end of the day before the weekend. He had been inside for approximately 10 minutes and upon leaving simply locked up. He had absolutely no knowledge of the impending fire. The case went to trial lasting three weeks and after hearing all of the evidence, the jury took just over two hours of deliberation to formally return a “Not Guilty” verdict.

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Teacher referral to NCTL concluded with No Further Action

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Published: Thursday, 10 December 2015 10:11

Written by Bill Wilson

Bill Wilson acted for a Teacher referred for investigation by the Disclosure and Barring Service to the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) following concerns raised during his employment in 2013. There were a number of allegations under investigation spanning 2012 – 2013. Substantial representations were made which thankfully resulted in a decision to take no further action on the part of NCTL. Understandably the Teacher was greatly relieved to avoid the stress and cost of further proceedings which could have ended his career..

Bill’s client recounted "I would like to thank Bill Wilson at Bankside Law for his patience and understanding during the initial phase of a National College for Teaching and Learning investigation. Upon receiving news of a possible investigation I was in a quandary what to do and how best to deal with it. After contacting Bill and speaking to him I found many of my concerns and worries assuaged.  His measured and studied manner helped me through those very worrying times.  The subsequent defence materials collated and presented to the NCTL were professionally put together and articulately laid out. As a result the investigation was dropped and therefore the trauma of a hearing avoided. I have no qualms using Bankside Law, and in particular Bill Wilson, again."

Another Successful Defence of Doctor charged with Sexual Assaults

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Published: Thursday, 10 December 2015 09:59

Written by Bill Wilson

Bill Wilson represented a General Practitioner who was charged with four separate counts of Sexual Assault arising from allegations dating back to September 2013. The allegations arose from a complaint by a patient who the Doctor had attended whilst in practice. After charges were preferred in 2014, the matter subsequently went to trial at Lewes Crown Court and following a 12 day hearing, which ended in October 2015, the Jury unanimously returned “Not Guilty” verdicts in relation to each and every count. This was an exceedingly complex case involving substantial documentation, expert evidence and numerous lines of enquiry all of which required extremely careful forensic analysis.
Mr Jeremy Barton of New Park Court Chambers, Leeds was instructed Counsel.
This was the third of similar trials involving Doctors, all of which were successfully defended in the last 12 months by Bankside Law.
A very grateful client remarked, “As a client of Bill's in my recent very serious case, I felt tremendous support from him even on our first meeting and has remained until this day. Nothing was a bother to him and he was always available to answer any fears or queries no matter how small .He explained every step of the legal process in a very reassuring and calm way and left no stone unturned to achieve the positive result for a very complex case. I would thoroughly recommend Bill to be your guiding light in what may be the darkest journey of your life .Thanks again Bill”.

Enforcement of Confiscation Order

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Published: Friday, 27 November 2015 11:42

Written by Bill Wilson

Bill Wilson represented client in relation to both a variation of a Confiscation Order made in 2011 together with ancillary Enforcement Proceedings. The amount outstanding was valued in excess of £2 million. The case was heard at Westminster Magistrates Court.