Lincoln House team successfully defend couple falsely accused of a campaign of extreme sexual abuse.

Andrew Thomas QC, Ian McMeekin and Katherine Pierpoint, have secured the outright acquittal of a North West couple charged with 39 offences of rape and other serious sexual offences.

The case, which was heard at Cardiff Crown Court, had a complex medical background. The complainant suffered from multiple psychiatric disorders including Personality Disorder and Paraparesis due to Medically Unexplained Symptoms. She had been a hospital in-patient for nearly four years and gave evidence, assisted by an intermediary, via a live video link to the hospital. The defence case focussed on showing that the complaint was part of a pattern of manipulative behaviour by the complainant, connected with her Personality Disorder.

The defence traced and interviewed witnesses against whom similar false complaints had been made. The trial was listed for five weeks, but after seven days of evidence by the complainant the prosecution abandoned the case and offered no further evidence.

Lincoln House Chambers were instructed by Zita Spencer of Olliers Solicitors.