Crime Cases

No case to answer – where defendant had knife on shared balcony.

November 18, 2023

Background A shared balcony is not a public place. Or so we argued. The surest way to win a case is to have the case dismissed before it reaches a jury. One way to achieve this is to carefully consider whether the prosecution can prove all the elements of their case, and if not, submit […]

Not Guilty Verdict in County Lines Cocaine and Heroin Conspiracy.

November 7, 2023

THE DRUGS CASE This case is about a sophisticated high value conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. Our client was alleged to be involved in a ‘county lines’ operation to sell these class A drugs. There were five defendants. The prosecution said our client played a leading role. They claimed he was the main […]

Crime: do privately paying clients get better results?

June 19, 2023

A client who is charged with a crime faces one of the most difficult events of their lives. The feelings of unfairness and helplessness can surpass divorce and bereavement in the levels of stress and unhappiness they cause. This is even more so when the allegation is incorrect, and the client wishes to enter a […]

Not Guilty verdict in firearms case at Wood Green Crown Court

August 7, 2020

Defendant accused of stalikng and harrassing someone who claimed to be only an an acquaintance acquitted after Moss & Co show that there had been a long term relationship all along.

Gil Spurling notable criminal cases.

December 2, 2019

Notable cases conducted by Gil Spurling criminal law expert at Moss & Co criminal defence solicitors

Murder acquittal

November 28, 2019

Moss & Co, criminal law solicitors, acted for CG at the Old Bailey who has just been acquitted of Murder. The allegation was that the defendant has been involved in the robbery of a BMW motor car as a result of which the owner had been stabbed to death. Our client’s case was that he had […]

Success in two serious fraud cases for Gil Spurling

November 19, 2019

2019 St Albans Crown Court – International Fraud Gilbert Spurling acted for a defendant in the Crown Court who was accused of being involved in a multi-million-pound fraud. The fraud involved a fake investment scam covering several jurisdictions, including China and South America. The Crowns case was that the defendant was a party to the […]

Released Under Investigation?

November 14, 2019

Released Under Investigation? If you have had an interview with the police and have been released under investigation, we will help and advise you. Police figures show that over 193,000 people have been released under investigation (RUI). That’s a lot of worried people roughly equivalent to a town the size of Reading or Slough. They […]

Benefit fraud, failure to declare capital

April 3, 2019

Capital over the Income Support Limit Our client was a man of good character. He consulted unqualified benefit fraud advisors about his undeclared capital case. Unfortunately his advisors were unsuccessful. Therefore, a summons was issued for him to attend court. He then instructed our benefit fraud expert Keith Hollywood. The claimant was in receipt of carer’s allowance […]

Indecent Images

April 3, 2019

Have you been sent unsolicited indecent images ? It is a not uncommon event. Your mobile phone or tablet is open to the world. You are on Instagram, Facebook, Snap Chat and Twitter. You have many friends. Unknown to you, you have many potential contacts who are “friends of friends”. You are a member of […]

Notice of intended prosecution for DLA and PIP Benefit Fraud is withdrawn

December 11, 2018

Background Our client received a Notice of Intended Prosecution for DLA and PIP Benefit Fraud. They lived in a major northern town and received Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from 2012. Later benefit payments were converted to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). They received benefits for both mobility and personal care. In late 2015 an anonymous informant […]

Benefit fraud – Prosecution avoided in £50,000 case

November 8, 2018

Benefit Fraud – the importance of repayment in public interest submissions The case Our client received a notice recommending prosecution in respect of claims for Housing and Council Tax Benefit and for claims in respect of Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance. The overpayments referenced a long period and totalled about £50,000. The allegation is […]

Proceeds of Crime Act forfeiture – £70,000

September 12, 2018

The importance of active representation to avoid being charged We acted for a client who had a wide range of business interests. His businesses produced substantial sums of cash which our client kept secure at his home address. The police attended his house with a search warrant addressed to a relative. During the search […]

Financial crime case dropped after allegations of corporate wrongdoing

March 1, 2018

Getting a case withdrawn before charge is the optimum outcome Sometimes it is possible to persuade the police that their investigation is mis-founded and not in the public interest. This is particularly so in business and commercial disputes where allegation and counter allegation fly about like confetti. Careful preparation, a grasp of the detail, productive […]

£20,000 private fraud acquittal after medical evidence served

February 5, 2018

Fraud prosecution halted after service of medical evidence Our client was charged with an ESA fraud worth £20,000. We were instructed privately in this Crown Court case. The prosecution had to prove that our client had acted dishonestly. Our client had capital of up to £115,000 which he had not declared. This meant that his entitlement to […]

Housing Benefit fraud success

December 1, 2017

Benefit fraud why you should always take a solicitor to the interview The defendant in this housing benefit fraud case faced charges of dishonesty. This was in respect of his housing benefit claim. He had failed to declare that he owned a property, or income from it. As a result the total amount obtained was […]

Tenancy fraud success against Southwark Council. Social Housing (Prevention of Fraud) act 2013.

November 10, 2017

When is letting someone stay in your council flat not subletting? What does it mean to part with possession? Our client faced a claim for possession of her council flat because of alleged tenancy fraud. She also faced a claim for nearly £20,000 of rent she was meant to have received from subletting. The above […]

Client avoids £130,000 overpayment demand at overpayment appeal tribunal

November 1, 2017

Appeal tribunal success £130,000 overpayment demand set aside. Our client had a secure tenancy which commenced in 2013. He had been in receipt of Housing and Council Tax Benefit since June 2005. He received Incapacity Benefit and was now in receipt of Income Related Employment and Support Allowance. His problem first arose when he received […]

Benefit fraud of £17,000 – no prosecution

October 31, 2017

A benefit fraud case where we really made a difference. No benefit fraud case is the same yet all cases are similar. That is why benefit fraud expertise is transferable between cases. Why the strategies we use to achieve the very best result are never the same but always founded on the same principles: Careful […]

London Solicitors firm Moss & Co client avoids 5 year term for firearms offence.

April 28, 2017

Disguised Firearm Charge – Exceptional circumstances applied Possession of a disguised firearm is an offence for which the the minimum sentence is 5 years in prison. Therefore it is crucial that the defence team show exceptional circumstances so that a lesser sentence can be passed. Moss & Co represented a young man of previous good character […]

Tax Credit Fraud success for East London firm Moss & Co no prosecution for £37,000 over payment

February 27, 2017

Tax Credit Fraud – No prosecution for client who was overpaid £37,000 Our client had seen other solicitors and then attended an interview under caution. She was accused of Tax Credit fraud in falsely claiming £37,000. The allegation was that for the last five years she had been living with her husband, as husband and […]

Tenancy fraud, subletting and possession claim success

January 27, 2017

Double success in trenacy fraud and possession case for council tenant investiagted under the Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013.

Benefit Fraud case -£50,000 win

November 3, 2016

Benefit fraud success in co-habitation case. Moss & Co client acquitted of £50,000 fraud. Judge praises defence work.

No prosecution for Working Tax Credit fraud.

July 25, 2016

Working Tax Credit fraud investigations need not lead to prosecution if handled correctly. Tactical considerations are as important as the legal issues. Client can pay privately if not eligible for legal aid and will benefit from avoidinga criminal conviction.

House in Multiple Occupation Landlord Not Guilty

July 13, 2016

Landlord found not guilty of breached of the Houses in Multiple Occupation regaulations after 12 people found living in 2 bedroom flat. Importance of properly drfated tenancy agreement and evidence that defendant a bona fide buy to let landlord.

Rape cases where “No Comment” is not the best advice.

February 12, 2016

Rape cases sometimes require the defendant to give their versionof evnts in a statement prepared after advice from their solicitor

No Prosecution for £50K Pension Credit Overpayment

February 9, 2016

Pension Credit fraud value £50,000. Prosecution avoided when Moss & Co clinet takes early advice from Laura O;Brien a Pension Credit Fraud expert.

Moss & Co criminal law clients acquitted in rape and GBH cases and £70K benefit fraud results in conditional discharge.

November 19, 2015

Three recent criminal law cases. Recent acquittals achieved by the Moss & Co criminal team include a grave rape case where the defendant having absconded was tried in his absence. Our client was the only one of 5 defendants to be acquitted on an indictment which contained 7 counts. Laura O’Brien conducted this case. Another […]

Not Guilty verdict in 7 handed Old Bailey Murder case

April 28, 2015

Murder case acquital for Keith Hollywood and Courtney Griffiths QC. Our client was arrested on suspicion of murder when he attended Leyton Police Station on 27 May 2014 in connection with relatively minor offences. Fortunately we had attended with him. The officer in the case gave very limited disclosure. As we were unable to assess the […]

Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs not guilty verdict

March 18, 2015

Moss & Co client acquitted of conspiracy to supply drugs This difficult case centred on an alleged drug dealing business in Essex. It was alleged that the nine defendants had conspired in the persistent supply of large quantities of both heroin and cocaine. The police had kept surveillance for nearly twelve months and concluded their […]

Youth Court acquital in cannabis dealing case

December 8, 2014

Possession of Crack not admissible in cannabis Youth Court trial Laura O’Brien represented a client in the Youth Court who had been charged with Possession with Intent to Supply cannabis. He had been riding in a car with friends. He was in possession of a bag of cannabis. When the car was stopped his friends […]

Moss & Co client acquitted of robbery.

November 25, 2014

Expert advice at police station leads to robbery case being dropped In this case our client was acquitted even though his co-defendants pleaded guilty. Our client who is 14 years old was arrested with 7 others for two serious allegations of knife point robbery. At the police station most of the co-accused gave accounts placing […]

Firearms conspiracy based on mobile call data

October 16, 2014

Mobile phone evidence central to conspiracy to possess firearms Wood Green Crown Court R v M and others Moss & Co were instructed to represent the first defendant on the indictment in a five-handed conspiracy to supply firearms trial which lasted over five weeks. The charges centered on an arms factory, the importation of machine […]

Serious Fraud case comes to trial after 18 years

October 14, 2014

Eighteen years on the run from £2m Fraud case ends in suspended sentence In 1996 Moss and Co represented a client who was accused of conspiracy to defraud. The case was prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office and over £7,000,000 was at risk with £2,000,000 actually obtained. Our client absconded prior to the fraud trial […]

Robbery acquittal

January 31, 2014

Identification evidence challenge leads to Robbery acquittal Our client was jointly charged with another juvenile in relation to an allegation of knife point robbery. It was alleged that he had been with three others in the corridor of a block of flats and had threatened the victim with a knife and had demanded her bag. […]

Disqualification avoided for No Insurance charge

December 30, 2013

Special reasons argued in no insurance case Our client was summonsed to attend Court for driving with no insurance. A friend of the family had offered to purchase his car insurance for him and said he had done so. Our client later repaid his friend the cost. Our client was given an insurance certificate in his name. […]

The importance of reducing the charge in Benefit Fraud cases

December 6, 2013

Reduced sentence in Moss & Co Benefit Fraud case Our client was summonsed to attend court in relation to an allegation of benefit fraud. He was accused of making a claim for income based JSA without declaring all his savings. He had been charged under the more serious offence of acting dishonestly contrary to […]

Benefit Fraud Charge – avoiding a conviction

December 5, 2013

Benefit Fraud Charge withdrawn despite savings of £30,000 We are often consulted by people of good character accused of Benefit Fraud. Usually they do not believe they have committed a criminal offence. They believe that they have simply “forgotten” or “failed” to tell the DWP or Local Authority about their savings or earnings. Every case […]

Dangerous Dogs not guilty verdicts

December 3, 2013

Moss and Co succeed in two cases concerning dangerous dogs Doggy story 1 Our lady client had no previous convictions and had never been arrested before. She was arrested and charged with having a dog dangerously out of control in a public place. It was alleged that her Staffordshire Bull terrier had attacked another dog […]

Magistrates acquit taxi driver of assault

November 15, 2013

Taxi driver acquitted of assault Our Client was charged with criminal assault. He had been a cab driver for many years. He has a wife and two children and is the sole bread winner in his family. He was arrested following an accusation by one of his female passengers. He had been accused of using racially […]

Pension Credit benefit fraud acquittal

October 23, 2013

DWP fail in Pension Credit benefit fraud prosecution Mr A was charged with benefit fraud contrary to s112a of the Social Security administration act. This offence can only be tried in the Magistrates Court. He was accused of working whilst claiming Pension Credit. Mr A had lived in the UK since 1969 when he moved […]

Disclosure of Social Media account leads to acquittal in Old Bailey sex ring rape case.

October 4, 2013

Rape acquittal Moss & Co instructed Mary Poku of Counsel to represent one of nine men found not guilty of conspiracy to rape a girl under 16 years of age as well as other charges of serious sexual assault. Detailed disclosure requests were made to the Crown, including a request for full details of all social […]

Moss & Co Client not guilty of assault

October 3, 2013

Expert advice in police station leads to Not Guilt verdict in assault case A drunken night out turned sour when our client got into an argument with his drinking companions. They argued and it was claimed that out our client assaulted his friends with a nail studded cudgel and brick causing them Grievous Bodily Harm. […]

Acquittal in joint enterprise juvenile robbery case

October 1, 2013

Juvenile robbery acquittal Moss & Co represented a 15 year old who was arrested for robbery. The allegation was that after our client’s friend had robbed a woman of her phone they ran off together. Our client denied knowing that her friend planned a robbery. Our client was charged on the basis that the offence […]

Burglary – Where the evidence is thin Moss & Co will ask the CPS to review their decision to charge

August 6, 2013

Moss & Co’s juvenile client was arrested with three others were arrested for attempted burglary.

Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 forfeiture of over £30,000 avoided

August 6, 2013

Moss & Co represented Ms B aged 73 a lady with severe mental health problems who had, been stopped at a London airport by the Border Agency (UKBA).

Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 forfeiture £100,000 returned

August 6, 2013

Moss & Co represented a West African national who had substantial business interests abroad and in the UK.

Totting up disqualification – exceptional circumstances Taxi driver

August 6, 2013

Moss & Co represented a taxi driver who had 9 points on his driver’s licence. He had been charged and already pleaded guilty to using a mobile phone whilst driving.

Assault DNA evidence rejected

August 6, 2013

Moss and Co represented a gentleman who was charged with assault causing actual bodily harm.

Obstructing a drugs search – CPS failure to disclose evidence leads to Not Guilty verdict

August 6, 2013

Moss & Co’s young client was stopped whilst going about his lawful business.

Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 – £60,000 returned to Moss & Co client

June 20, 2013

An associate of the Defendant had been stopped by the UKBA after attempting to leave the UK with £60,000 in cash.

Possession of Cannabis with intent to supply – Crown Court Acquittal

June 20, 2013

Our client was arrested after police had attended a house in which he was present along with 3 other people.