News & Legal Advice
Rape Allegation Acquittal
Published - Feb 24, 2026
Foster and Coleman recently acted on behalf of a client charged with two allegations of rape and one allegation of false imprisonment.
Our client was arrested at the end of 2024 and interviewed under caution. During that interview, he categorically denied the allegations and provided a detailed, consistent, and coherent account, maintaining that any sexual activity had been entirely consensual. He identified multiple reasonable lines of enquiry and supplied the details of potential witnesses capable of corroborating his account.
Despite this, he was charged following interview and remanded into custody. Notably, prior to his arrest and before any questions had been put to him, he had already been recalled to prison at the instigation of the Officer in the Case.
Upon instruction, we undertook a comprehensive and proactive defence investigation. We traced and interviewed the witnesses identified by our client, as well as additional witnesses uncovered through our own enquiries. Their accounts consistently supported our client’s version of events and raised significant concerns regarding the reliability of the complainant’s allegations and those of her supporting witnesses.
The absence of medical and forensic evidence further strengthened the defence case.
The complainant declined to provide her mobile telephone to investigators. As a result, potentially important digital material was never downloaded or disclosed, a matter that caused repeated concern to the Court. In response, the defence conducted its own limited social media enquiries, securing crucial evidence that directly undermined the prosecution’s case and further challenged the credibility of the complainant’s account.
The matter proceeded to trial. At the close of the prosecution’s case, defence counsel made a successful submission of no case to answer on one count of oral rape, with the remaining count left to the jury.
Following a seven-day trial, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of Not Guilty in less than two hours of deliberation.
We are absolutely delighted for our client, who maintained his innocence throughout. This case underscores the importance of thorough and independent defence investigation, particularly where serious allegations are advanced without full exploration of reasonable lines of enquiry. It also highlights that careful scrutiny and robust representation remain essential to securing justice.
Our client was represented throughout these proceedings by the utterly brilliant Sarah Forshaw KC of 5 Kings Bench Walk, who’s meticulous destruction of the prosecutions case was a true masterclass. The defence team were further bolstered at trial by the inclusion of the outstanding Harriet Palfreman, also of 5 Kings Bench Walk.
https://www.5kbw.co.uk/barrister/sarah-forshaw-kc/
https://www.5kbw.co.uk/barrister/harriet-palfreman/
Posted in Criminal Defence on Feb 24, 2026