Charlotte Crocombe successful in obtaining an SRO against a person acquitted of two charges of rape.
Charlotte Crocombe successful in obtaining an SRO against a person acquitted of two charges of rape
The Respondent had been reported to the police for rape on seven different occasions, by seven different women. The allegations spanned 20 years. Of the seven allegations, only two had progressed to criminal trials at which the Respondent was found not guilty. In two cases, the CPS had declined to prosecute, and in three cases the women had withdrawn their support from the investigation. There was no suggestion that the women knew each other. The application for a Sexual Risk Order proceeded exclusively on hearsay evidence.
In submissions, Charlotte argued that there were eight similarities between the five of the seven allegations which disclosed a unique modus operandi of the Respondent. The similarities included the targeting of vulnerable women, the plying of women with significant amounts of cocaine, the use of barricades to trap women inside rooms and campaigns of witness intimidation after the event. It was the existence of these similarities, absent any alternative explanation, which, Charlotte argued, enabled the Court to place sufficient weight on the hearsay evidence to be satisfied that the Respondent had engaged in non-consensual sexual activity with each woman. The Court agreed. The Court further held that it was necessary to make an SRO due to the physical and psychological injuries suffered by the women, and due to the Respondent’s previous convictions for violence.
Charlotte represented the Chief Constable of the Metropolitan Police. She is an expert in civil remedies for anti-social and criminal behaviour, and violence against women and girls.
To instruct Charlotte please contact the Clerks on +44 (0)20 7404 5252 or by email to [email protected]
