Operation Cotton, one of the largest criminal prosecutions ever undertaken by the FCA, concluded with the convictions of all eight defendants.
Scott Crawley, Dale Walker, Daniel Forsyth, Brendan Daley, Aaron Petrou, Ross Peters, Adam Hawkins and Ricky Mitchie were convicted for their parts in an unauthorised land-banking collective investment scheme which led to 110 investors losing over £4.3m. Scott Crawley, Ross Peters, Aaron Petrou and Adam Hawkins were convicted of conspiracy to defraud. Dale Walker, a solicitor, was convicted of laundering the proceeds.
The case was tried in two consecutive trials at Southwark Crown Court
The case had been at the centre of the row over Legal Aid funding between the Government and the Bar when it was dismissed for lack of defence representation. It was reinstated by the Court of Appeal.
The FCA was represented by Sean Larkin QC, Paul Raudnitz and Polly Dyer.
Paul Raudnitz KC