Trinity Criminal and Regulatory barristers, Laura Jane Miller and Mairi Clancy, instructed by Richard Haswell of Haswell Solicitors secured an acquittal for their client John Henry Sayers Jnr following a three-week trial at the Old Bailey in London.
Mr Sayers Jnr was charged jointly with his father with causing grievous bodily harm with intent contrary to s18 of the Offences Against the Person Act.
The Court heard that the Sayers family, their home and business premises had been subject to a series of violent planned attacks since 2022 including arson, violent disorder and criminal damage. The attacks had been orchestrated by an Organised Crime Group based in the North East of England.
In February 2025 Mr Sayers Jnr and his father were at home with two other children of the family when the group reversed a Land Rover, loaded with petrol canisters, into their property and set it on fire.
Both Sayers ran outside armed with a machete and a metal pole and used force upon the male starting the fire. Mr Sayers Snr got into the burning vehicle, put it in gear and moved it away from the home. Mr Sayers Jnr kept the attacker at bay while this was done. When police arrived a short time later the arsonist escaped while Mr Sayers Snr was tasered.
Laura and Mairi argued that Mr Sayers Jnr was acting in lawful self-defence of himself, his family and his property. The strikes with the pole were necessary and reasonable in the circumstances. They also argued that the Police had not proactively investigated the incident, particularly by failing to conduct searches for a weapon discarded by the attacker.
The jury unanimously acquitted both defendants of causing GBH with intent and the lesser alternative of inflicting grievous bodily harm - accepting that they had acted in lawful self-defence and rejecting the Crown's case that they had acted in revenge or retaliation.
As a result of the acquittal Mr Sayers Jnr maintains his good character.
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