Successes of the Month - February 2013
Contents
- Andrew Levin helps smash London's biggest ever cannabis production ring
- Clare Stevens and Steve Jackson uncover a conspiracy to conduct sham marriages
- Nicola Warner's persistence and sensitivity secures a domestic violence conviction
Andrew Levin, Special Casework Lawyer, CPS London Complex Casework Unit
Operation Opaque was a four-year operation which saw raids on 56 cannabis farms, finding over 30,000 cannabis plants. At 2010 wholesale values the conspiracy could have produced up to £120 million worth of high-strength cannabis.
Andrew worked on the case from the start, providing early investigative advice and working through an enormous amount of evidence, including telephone data, a complex web of companies and accounts and surveillance evidence, totaling 200,000 pages, and an unprecedented amount of seized exhibits. He was able to pull this together to create a compelling overview of the conspiracy.
The case was described by the judge as "seminal" and the biggest of its kind in Europe.
The case was linked to cannabis farms spread across the UK and Ireland and involved high-strength 'Skunk' cannabis produced at a level not previously seen in this country.
One of these farms is believed to be the largest single cannabis farm discovered in the UK, with 8,000 mature cannabis plants.
The criminal organisation involved had gone to great lengths to protect their criminal activities including anti-surveillance equipment and hidden cameras.
Eighteen people have been convicted for their part in the conspiracy to produce cannabis and to produce and distribute specialist equipment to grow cannabis. Seventeen have been sentenced so far and have been given prison sentences totaling more than 95 years.
Jenny Hopkins, CPS London Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor and head of the CCU, said: "This is the largest drugs production case prosecuted by CPS London. The success of the case has dismantled a highly sophisticated criminal enterprise."
Clare Stevens, Crown Advocate, and Steve Jackson, Paralegal Officer, CPS Yorkshire and Humberside Complex Casework Unit
In September 2011, South Yorkshire Police approached the CPS with a file detailing a widespread conspiracy to breach the UK's immigration law through 'sham marriages' in Pakistan.
The majority of the 'brides' were women who were mainly from the Czech Republic or Slovakia living in Rotherham. The vast majority of the 'grooms' were from Pakistan.
The aim of the conspiracy was to breach UK immigration law so the men could live in the UK.
Around the same time, Clare Stevens, lawyer in the Complex Casework Unit, received a file from UK Border Agency. This focused on one suspect in West Yorkshire who had possession of numerous passports and identification documents. The passport owners claimed the suspect was helping them with travel arrangements for holidays they had planned - their evidence was likely to be used in his defence.
Clare realised the defence witnesses in the West Yorkshire passport case may also be suspects in the South Yorkshire sham marriages case. In fact, the suspect in West Yorkshire had been arranging the travel for sham marriages to take place in Pakistan. It was only then that the full extent of the conspiracy was unearthed.
With the support of paralegal officer Steve Jackson, who also worked tirelessly to prepare the case, Clare brought 21 defendants to court. 18 have been convicted so far and received a total of 26 years imprisonment. Two are wanted on bench warrant and one is being medically assessed.
Head of the Complex Casework Unit Peter Mann said: "There is no doubt that without Clare's work this complex case would never have happened. Clare also arranged the case entirely digitally, resulting in a saving to the unit of over £20,000."
Nicola Warner, Senior Crown Prosecutor, CPS East of England
Nicola dealt with an allegation of domestic violence (with a previous instance in which the victim had retracted her statement) within the travelling community.
At the request of a domestic abuse safeguarding officer, police went to the victim's caravan and confirmed that she had been injured. Photos were taken of the injuries and a body map made showing where they were.
The victim made a statement saying her husband had assaulted her and detailed her injuries, but nothing further; she did not want him prosecuted and was not willing to attend court.
On the day of the trial, when neither the victim nor another witness arrived, Nicola asked for police to attend the victim's address urgently, speak to her and bring her to court. They tried, but could not locate her.
Without police witnesses either, Nicola considered - but rejected - obtaining a warrant for the victim to compel her attendance at court.
She felt that she could still prove the case in light of the detailed evidence given by the officers. A bad character application showed why the victim may have been reluctant to attend.
Nicola gave the magistrates details from the previous outline of allegations. She also asked the magistrates to consider the cultural background of the victim and witness and why they may not wish to attend.
The defendant did not give evidence and the magistrates found the case proved.
Paula Abrahams, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor, CPS East of England said: "Without the accounts of the victim or other witness, Nicola ensured the evidence she had was admissible and compelling.
"Nicola's determination is an excellent example of how we do not just abandon domestic violence cases when difficulties arise."
