Prosecution Offer No Evidence in Serious Rape and GBH Trial Following Disclosure Issues

Tom Dunn was instructed by Burroughs Solicitors to represent a defendant charged with multiple counts of rape and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The defendant had been remanded in custody and faced allegations of the utmost seriousness.

The prosecution alleged that, in December 2025, the defendant forced his former partner into a vehicle, drove her to a rural location against her will, inflicted multiple cigarette burns to her genital area, and raped her repeatedly.

The defendant’s case throughout was that the allegations were entirely fabricated.

In the lead-up to trial, the prosecution disclosed extensive material concerning the complainant’s mental health history together with evidence relating to substantially similar allegations she had made against a former partner in 2019. Those allegations had been the subject of a full police investigation and were found to be demonstrably false. 

During the week before trial, the prosecution made three Public Interest Immunity (PII) applications, which culminated on the morning of trial in the Crown offering no evidence on all counts.

This case highlights the importance of rigorous disclosure review in serious criminal proceedings and the role that unused material can play in ensuring a fair trial.