One of the barristers allegedly targeted by a wealthy businessman said her ‘immediate reaction was one of fear’ after seeing notes containing details of her family and left in places connected to her, a court heard yesterday.
Anne Jeavons gave evidence yesterday in the Old Bailey trial centred on an incident at Gray’s Inn in September 2021 when two devices, which were designed to look like explosives, were placed at the location.
Jeavons was instructed by the National Crime Agency to join barrister Andrew Sutcliffe KC in conducting legal proceedings relating to an NCA investigation into Jonathan Nuttall, his wife Amanda and others. An order was made in April 2019 for the recovery of more than £1m of assets belonging to Amanda Nuttall.
Jeavons told the court Jonathan Nuttall ‘was unhappy’ about the NCA investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
The court was shown printed notes addressed or naming Jeavons and referring to Sutcliffe, one of which included a photo of Sutcliffe and prime minister Rishi Sunak.
Jeavons confirmed to the court she had not been aware of the notes until police investigating the incident at Gray’s Inn had asked her about them.
When asked how the notes made her feel, she said: ‘That is obviously very concerning…my immediate reaction was one of fear.’
The court heard Jeavons had not been at 3 Verulam Buildings when the devices were left on 14 September 2021 but had instead been working from home. Discussing the NCA proceedings, Jeavons said: ‘At the time there was a link to some of the payments from Miss Nuttall to other crime proceedings. Mr Nuttall was very unhappy about that. It was all going to go back to court, be investigated by the judge, [it was] all going to be raked over.’
She told the court she ‘therefore thought Mr Nuttall was the most likely’ to be involved.
The trial, which opened this week, previously heard Sutcliffe was the ‘clear target’ of the two devices designed to resemble explosives and left at Gray’s Inn ‘to cause widespread alarm…distress and public and professional embarrassment’.
Catherine Farrelly, prosecuting, told the jury on the first day of the trial that Jonathan Nuttall was ‘the person behind’ the incident and he had a ‘deep-seated grudge’ against Sutcliffe.
Michael Broddle, 46, admitted to planting both devices as part of a conspiracy.
Jonathan Nuttall, 50, of Romsey in Hampshire, along with co-defendants Joshua Broddle, 20, Michael Sode, 58, and Charlie Broddle,18, face two charges of conspiring to place an explosive article with intent. George Gray, 25, is charged with conspiring to transfer and/or convert criminal property along with Nuttall, Sode, and Joshua Broddle. Charlie Broddle is also charged with possessing an explosive substance. Nuttall and Sode are also charged with failure to provide the pin or password to electronic devices.
They deny all allegations against them.
The trial, which is expected to last 12 weeks, continues.
