Katie Jones secures appeal against conviction for victim of trafficking at the Court of Appeal.

Katie Jones secures appeal against conviction for victim of trafficking at the Court of Appeal. A second conviction under appeal was not quashed but an appeal against the sentence imposed was allowed.

Katie’s client had pleaded guilty in the Crown Court to two offences relating to the production of cannabis in proceedings Katie was not instructed in.

The Court allowed the appeal against the first conviction on the ground that an unsolicited indication by the trial judge that the appellant, who did not have a legal right to remain in the UK, would, if they pleaded guilty, be released imminently should not have been made and vitiated the guilty plea

In respect of the second conviction, the Court reduced the sentence imposed from one of 3 years and 6 months’ imprisonment to a sentence of 2 years and 8 months.

Katie was instructed and expertly assisted throughout the proceedings by Philippa Southwell of Southwell and Partners.