A wealthy businessman who is alleged to have targeted a barrister when devices designed to resemble explosives were planted at Gray’s Inn will give evidence at the Old Bailey today.

Jonathan Nuttall was subject to a £1m recovery order brought by the National Crime Agency in 2019. The agency instructed Andrew Sutcliffe KC to conduct the proceedings, along with Anne Jeavons, a barrister in Sutcliffe’s chambers.

The prosecution previously told the court that the order led to a ‘deep-seated grudge’.

Two ‘devices’ were placed in Gray’s Inn, including one 3 Verulam Buildings, where Sutcliffe works, on 14 September 2021. The incident led to building evacuations and road closures.

Giving evidence today, and asked about the NCA investigation into him, Nuttall said: ‘I knew the allegations were not true, I could not fathom what I had done wrong.

‘I was fairly prepared for a trial. I enquired as to the position of costs. At that point I was staggered they had spent £1.6m on solicitors’ fees which, were we for any reason to lose, we would have to pay.' 

Nuttall, 50, of Romsey, Hants, along with co-defendants Joshua Broddle, 20, Charlie Broddle, 18, both of Hounslow, London, Michael Sode, 58, of Lewisham, London, and George Gray, 25, of Wembley, London, all deny any involvement.

Michael Broddle, 46, of Hounslow, London, has accepted he placed the devices.

Nuttall, Michael Sode (Nutall’s driver and an associate of Michael Broddle) and Broddle’s sons Charlie and Joshua are accused of being involved in the ‘criminal plan’. All four deny all allegations against them.

Nuttall, Sode, and Charlie and Joshua Broddle are charged with conspiracy to place an article with intent with the intention of inducing in another a belief that the said article was likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property; and conspiracy to transfer criminal property.

Nuttall and Sode are also charged with failing to comply with a notice when they knowingly failed to disclose the PIN or passcode to a digital storage device.

Charlie Broddle is also charged with possessing an explosive substance.

The trial continues.