Robson, James

James Robson was convicted in September 2017 of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Mr Robson received a six-month community order with a four month curfew, varied on appeal to a £110 fine, a £30 victim surcharge and £100 in costs. A three-year restraining order was also imposed.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in August 2018.

During review, the CCRC obtained new evidence in the form of previously undisclosed material relating to the credibility of a key witness in the case.

The CCRC considered that the non-disclosure of that material was a breach of section 3 of the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 in that it was material which could have assisted the defence or undermined the prosecution case.

The CCRC concluded that Mr Robson’s trial had potentially been unfair and consequently there was a real possibility the Crown Court would not uphold the conviction.

The CCRC referred the conviction in December 2019.

The Crown Court quashed the conviction in March 2020.