Tom Wainwright of the Garden Court Criminal Defence Team represented the defendant.
Tom was instructed by Kate Hallam of Kellys Solicitors.
Tom Wainwright successfully represented Ruth Wood, who was alleged to have shouted ‘Tory c***’ at Sir Iain Duncan Smith as he left the Conservative party conference in Manchester in 2021. It was proved during the trial that she had in fact called the former Work and Pensions Secretary ‘Tory scum’ as he walked through the city on his way to a speaking engagement. Ms Wood gave evidence that she wanted to draw attention to the impact Duncan Smith’s policies whilst in office had on homeless and vulnerable people.
In light of defence submissions on the right to free speech, the Chief Magistrate of England and Wales concluded that he was not satisfied that a conviction would be a proportionate interference with the right to free speech, he could not, therefore, be satisfied that her behaviour was unreasonable, and so duly acquitted Ms Wood of intentionally causing harassment alarm or distress.
