Computer Misuse Act - Case Dropped by Transport Police

Case study summary

Our client was falsely accused of stealing confidential documents from her employer. As a whistle-blower for misconduct by her employer, we believe the allegations were made to silence her. The case was dropped after we made robust representations to expose the truth.

Case study

We were contacted by our client, who was a hard-working woman of good character, after she had endured a traumatising arrest and interview by the British Transport Police. As someone with a senior role within public transport, she had been accused of stealing confidential documents from her employer and asked if she was working with terrorists. She left her interview feeling belittled and scared. After reading about our experience with cyber crime, our client contacted us and asked if we would help her to prepare pre-charge representations.

In the year leading up to this allegation, our client had been subjected to workplace bullying and discrimination. At the same time, she had been gathering evidence of misconduct by her employer which included misleading their regulator. By the time we met with our client, she had stored bundles of evidence which could be used to support her defence. It was clear that the allegation which had been made against her was malicious and calculated and we were intent on making the police see that.

Over the months that followed, we worked closely with our client to prepare robust pre-charge representations. This included reviewing email threads of direct instructions from senior staff members which told our client to lie and mislead the company's regulator as well as clear evidence of workplace bullying. We were also able to show that the documents our client was accused of stealing were in fact her own documents which had been drafted by her as part of her role as an audit manager. It was clear to us that the entire investigation was based on lies and malice.

Following submission of our representations, the British Transport Police sent their case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). After careful consideration, the CPS ruled that no charges could be brought against our client and the entire case was dropped. Despite the relief, our client had suffered immensely and she is now focusing on seeking further justice in the civil courts which is a fight she can take on knowing that her name has been cleared.