Mark Robinson of the Garden Court Chambers Crime Team acted for the defendant, instructed by Natasha Anderson of Andersons Solicitors.
The 18-year-old defendant was charged with two counts concerning the supply of Class A drugs; diamorphine (heroin) and crack cocaine. After a detailed defence case statement was served, where the defendant relied upon section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, the evidence overwhelmingly supported that the defendant was a victim of human trafficking.
The Crown decided that it was not necessary to wait for a positive conclusive ground decision from the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referral that had been made. Mark secured an acquittal for the defendant after the prosecution offered no evidence.
Mark Robinson accepts instruction on a full range of human trafficking-related offences.