A businessman accused of being behind a fake bomb plot on Gray’s Inn which caused road closures and evacuations was convicted by a majority verdict at the Old Bailey today.
The jury in the 14-week trial returned a 10-2 guilty verdict on Jonathan Nuttall after receiving a majority direction this morning. Nuttall, of Romsey, Hants, was convicted on two charges of conspiring to place an article with the intention of inducing in another a belief that the article was likely to explode or ignite and cause personal injury or damage to property and of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
He was convicted of failing to comply with a notice and cleared of two charges of failing to comply with a notice.
Michael Broddle, 46, admitted placing two devices in Gray's Inn.
During the course of the trial, the court heared that Nuttall formed a ‘deep seated’ grudge against Andrew Sutcliffe KC, the barrister involved in National Crime Agency proceedings against Nuttall and his wife. He had ‘animosity…to a lesser degree’ towards Anne Jeavons, who was instructed to work alongside Sutcliffe.
Co-defendants Michael Sode, Nuttall’s driver and an associate of Michael Broddle, Charlie Broddle and Joshua Broddle faced the same charge of conspiring to place an article with the intention of inducing in another a belief that the article was likely to explode or ignite and cause personal injury or damage to property.
Sode was convicted of two charges of conspiring to place the article and of conspiracy to transfer criminal property. He was cleared of failing to comply with a notice.
Michael Broddle was convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property, Charlie Broddle and Joshua Broddle were cleared of all charges and George Grey was cleared of conspiracy to transfer criminal property.
Two devices were placed in Gray’s Inn, one beside a bench and the second outside chambers 3 Verulam Buildings on 14 September 2021. A smoke grenade was also let off. Police were called and the incident led to building evacuations and road closures.
Nuttall, his wife, and others were under investigation by the NCA over alleged money laundering and other offences.
In 2015 the NCA instructed Sutcliffe to conduct the legal proceedings. Later in 2017, the NCA instructed a second barrister in Sutcliffe’s chambers, Jeavons. An order was made in 2019 leading to the recovery of some £1m of assets from Amanda Nuttall.
His Honour Judge Simon Mayo KC told the jury he would accept a majority verdict of 11-1 or 10-2.
The jury deliberated for 25 hours and 13 minutes before returning verdicts on the six defendants.
Speaking directly to the jury, the judge said: ‘I want to…thank you for how you have conducted yourselves over the last four months’. He acknowledged and thanked the jury for their ‘patience, good humour [and] understanding’ and their ‘unfailing attention and dedication’.
Nuttall, Michael Broddle and Sode will be sentenced next month. A bail application was refused.
