A senior barrister was the target of a bomb plot in the heart of London’s legal district because of a “deep-seated grudge” from a £1 million High Court battle, the Old Bailey has heard.
Andrew Sutcliffe KC and his junior colleague Anne Jeavons were put under surveillance before packages designed to resemble explosive devices were left near to their offices, it is said.
When the devices were found on September 14, 2021, on a bench in Gray’s Inn – in the heart of London’s legal district – and near to Mr Sutcliffe’s chambers at 3 Verulam Buildings, a mass evacuation took place of the surrounding buildings amid “widespread alarm”.
Wealthy businessman Jonathan Nuttall, 50, is accused of being behind the plot, while he was locked in a High Court battle over more than £1 million in assets.
The targeted barristers, Mr Sutcliffe and Ms Jeavons, were working for the National Crime Agency in a legal tussle that is still ongoing.
Nutall’s driver Michael Sode, 58, is accused of enlisting the services of Michael Broddle, 45, for surveillance of the barristers and their families, while Broddle is accused of bringing sons Joshua, 20, and Charlie, 18, into the alleged operation and bomb plot. “On the afternoon of Tuesday September 14, 2021, two packages designed to resemble explosive devices were left in Gray’s Inn, an estate mainly comprising the offices from which barristers work, known as barristers’ chambers”, said prosecutor Catherine Farrelly.
“One of those devices was left close to a bench. The other device was left in a much more specific location, outside a set of barristers’ chambers known as 3 Verulam Buildings.
“At the time that device was left there, a smoke grenade was also let off, just to ensure that the device did not go unnoticed and maximum alarm was caused.
“These two devices were left in both locations with a quite clear objective - to cause serious panic, thereby drawing significant attention.
“As you will hear, the objectives were accomplished - buildings were evacuated, roads cordoned off and a large number of police officers attended the scene.”
She said the devices “were accompanied by envelopes or packages, both of which had the name of Andrew Sutcliffe marked on them”.
He was “the clear target of the events at Gray’s Inn that afternoon”, said Ms Farrelly. “The significant attention that surrounded those events was designed not only to cause widespread alarm but it was intended to specifically cause him alarm, but also distress and public and professional embarrassment.
“Whoever was behind such an attack had clearly considered and planned it carefully.
“Such a person must have had a deep-seated grudge against him and it would have required the means in which to execute such a bold and targeted strike against Andrew Sutcliffe.
“The prosecution case is that that person who was behind this and held a grudge was the first defendant in this case, Jonathan Nuttall.”
Jurors heard Nuttall and his wife Amanda has been the targets of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation since 2011, over allegations of money laundering, with Mr Sutcliffe instructed for the NCA in legal proceedings in 2015 and Ms Jeavons joining the case in 2017.
An order was made in 2019 for the recovery of more than £1 million worth of assets from Amanda Nuttall , and he is accused of harbouring “a great deal of animosity” towards lawyers who he believed had “caused him and his family public embarrassment and ruined their reputation.”
The court heard Michael Broddle has admitted planting the devices as part of a conspiracy, and also carrying out surveillance.
His sons, who deny involvement, were with him on the day of the planting of the devices, the court heard, and were also alleged assistants in the six-month surveillance operation.
Michael Broddle, from Hounslow, has admitted being part of the bomb plot and two charges of possessing an explosive substance.
Nutall, of Romsey, Hampshire, Sode, of Deptford, south-east London, and Charlie Broddle and Joshua Broddle, both also from Hounslow, deny two counts of conspiracy to place an article with intent.
Charlie Broddle also denies possession of an explosive substance.
Nuttall, Sode, Michael and Joshua Broddle, and George Gray, 25, also from Hounslow, deny a further conspiracy to transfer criminal property, money, between February 2021 and March 2022.
Nutall also denies six charges of failure to comply with a notice over alleged failures to hand over PIN codes for electronic devices. Sode denies two similar charges of failure to comply with a notice.
The trial continues.
