In a trial for kidnapping and false imprisonment, a defence barrister's decision to put before the jury his client's previous convictions was not such a serious error as to render the consequent convictions unsafe. The decision voluntarily to admit the previous convictions was based on sound tactics and was in acknowledgment of the fact that the prosecution would have been entitled to apply to admit the previous convictions under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 s.101(1)(g) in any event.

CA (Crim Div) (Rix LJ, Field J, Fulford J)

22/03/2013