Mr GO

Mr GO was convicted in June 2017 of possession of a bladed article and two offences of possession of a class A drug with intent to supply. He was 17 at the time of the offences.

In February 2017 Mr GO was stopped by police as he matched a description of a male reported to have been selling drugs in the area. He was searched and he was found to be in possession of cannabis and a knife.  

He was arrested and was searched again, and was in possession of more drugs, a large sum of money, and four mobile phones.  

Mr GO pleaded guilty to the offences at the magistrates’ court, and he was sentenced to an 18-month detention and training order.  

Following his conviction Mr GO contacted a solicitor who then made enquiries about his status as a potential victim of trafficking. He was found to be a victim of modern slavery. 

Mr GO applied to the CCRC in June 2021 raising three issues: that he wasn’t informed of the defence under Section 45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, a failure by authorities to investigate his victim of trafficking status earlier, and breaches of articles four and six of the European Convention on Human Rights. 

Based on all the evidence considered, the CCRC determined that there was a real possibility Mr GO could raise successfully a defence under s45 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and that there was sufficient evidence to investigate Mr GO’s trafficking status at the time of his conviction. Therefore there was a real possibility the Crown Court would stay the proceedings as an abuse of process.

The CCRC referred the conviction in January 2025.