Defendants acquitted of charges at hunt protest

3 October 2022

Peter Cruickshank & Aarif Abraham

Garden Court North Chambers’ Aarif Abraham and Peter Cruickshank have successfully defended two men accused of disorder.

Aarif and Peter, of our criminal defence and appeals team, ensured Andrew Purbrick, 59, and Adrian Earl, 62, were acquitted of the charges faced.

Purbrick and Earl were judged to have been acting in self-defence ahead of a hunt event in Lacock, Wiltshire.

At Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, District Judge Joanna Dickens dismissed the charges against the defendants commenting that the evidence brought by the prosecution was ‘wafer thin’.

Counsel were instructed by Lydia Dagostino of Kellys Solicitors.

The case was covered by Wiltshire999s the BBC and the Daily Mail.

News

News

Mira Hammad and Rosalind Burgin represent protesters charged with criminal damage for demonstration at Israeli-linked factory

Garden Court North’s Mira Hammad and Rosalind Burgin represent co-defendants during the trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

News

Garden Court North shortlisted for Bar Awards 2026

Garden Court North is pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted for Northern Set of the Year in the Legal 500's Bar Awards 2026.

News

Christian Weaver wins Pegasus Scholarship by The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

Garden Court North’s Christian Weaver has been awarded a Pegasus Scholarship by The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.

News

Mira Hammad and Rosalind Burgin’s protest clients avoid custodial sentence as judge refuses restraining order

Garden Court North’s Mira Hammad and Rosalind Burgin represented two co-defendants charged following a protest at an Israeli-owned factory.