Naeem Mian QC Secures Conditional Caution for Youth Charged with Terrorism Offences

Naeem Mian QC’s client was charged with offences contrary to section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

He was being prosecuted at the age of 16 for terrorism offences that he was alleged to have committed when he was 14. This case was only the third occasion on which a terrorism trial has been conducted in the Youth Court. The judge was the Chief Magistrate of England and Wales.

The client was a child of good character who had been “Statemented” (assessed by the education authority as having “special needs”). Both the Defence Consultant Neuropsychologist and Prosecution Consultant Psychiatrist agreed that he suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder, has difficulty in understanding social interaction and is therefore socially isolated and considered vulnerable. Despite this, the prosecution continued. The served evidence in this case was in excess of 46,000 pages.

Following detailed written submissions, Naeem’s client was offered a conditional caution (after 1 year) thereby avoiding a trial and potential terrorism conviction.

Naeem was instructed on this case by Mark Bailey of Bailey, Nicholson Grayson Solicitors.