Blunder by barrister sinks £2m trial

A former banker walked free from court after a judge threw out a Serious Fraud Office case because of a prosecution barrister's blunder.

The "mistake" had already seen three solicitors and a financial consultant cleared.

The trial at Southwark Crown Court centred on one-time banker Martin Gibbins, who was said to have masterminded an international investors fraud.

But on the first day of the hearing, one of the prosecution team inadvertently disclosed a document to defence lawyers without deleting "sensitive" material.

Although trial judge Mr Justice Field ruled they could not pass the information to their clients, the Court of Appeal disagreed. This led to not guilty verdicts for financial consultant Imdab Ullah, 35, and solicitors Michael Wilson-Smith, 59, Peter Barnett, 48, and Minesh Ruperalia, 38.

The Crown sought to continue against Gibbins but the judge decided he was "more likely to be disadvantaged than not". The £2 million cost of the SFO case and defence fees of £10 million will be met by the taxpayer.