KBW’s Katy Rafter represented two of the men accused of being part of a “systematic organisation” which groomed girls for sex parties in the Newcastle area.
This highly complex case was split across four separate trials, lasting for several weeks, with Katy appearing for one defendant in each of two trials. There were 278 potential complainants identified by police, over 20,000 pages of evidence, and numerous difficult issues of law to consider over the course of the two trials. Given the age and vulnerability of the complainant witnesses and the emotive nature of the allegations, this was also a case that required sensitive handling. Katy successfully argued on behalf of one of her clients that he had no involvement in the conspiracy itself or the substantive sexual offences.
For further details of the case, click here.