Wainwright & Cummins Solicitors LLP's Criminal Defence Team has secured a further unequivocal courtroom victory in the complex, multi-defendant conspiracy trial of R v PB & Others.
Our client, PB, was under suspicion of being a prime organiser of a large-scale Class A drug supply network. The prosecution alleged that PB controlled activities on dozens of "drug lines" and relied heavily to a great degree on cell site analysis (CSA) to place his phone and thereby him at significant stash houses, meeting points, and supply locations.
But our defence team ripped the prosecution's case to shreds by exposing the very real limitations of cell site evidence.
We argued that:
- Cell site data is imprecise: A mast covers large areas, typically kilometres, and is not capable of pinpointing specific locations. The prosecution analysis had overstated its precision.
- There was no corroboration: The evidence was not corroborated by surveillance, call content, or credible witness evidence incriminating PB in the alleged offences.
- Scientific limitations were important: Cross-examination of Crown's telecoms expert elicited methodological weaknesses including variable mast ranges, phones possibly connecting to non-nearest masts, and the absence of GPS-level accuracy.
- Alternative innocent explanations were possible: Innocent travel, network drift, or use of our client's phone by another person all undermined the Crown's case.
The jury was persuaded by our submissions, holding that the cell site evidence was too unreliable to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In the absence of any other credible evidence linking PB to the conspiracy. While several of the co-defendants were convicted on more substantial bases, PB was acquitted.
This finding has significant legal implication. The courts are increasingly reluctant to treat cell site analysis as determinative evidence, following decisions such as R v Reed [2009], which emphasised its probabilistic not absolute nature. Our case reiterates the principle that circumstantial evidence alone may not replace unequivocal, corroborated evidence of criminal complicity.
At Wainwright & Cummins, we remain at the forefront of dismantling poor technical evidence in serious criminal prosecutions.
If your future hangs in the balance, our solicitors ensure that flawed science and inflated claims are exposed for what they are. If you or a loved one are facing serious allegations, don't face it alone. Call our experienced defence solicitors today.
Email: info@wainwrightcummins.co.uk
Telephone: 0207 737 9339
Wainwright & Cummins Solicitors LLP – Defending Your Rights, Protecting Your Future.
