R v MW - Isleworth Crown Court

Mr W faced a serious dilemma when his two friends decided to burgle a house whilst returning from a night out. He kept his distance from the house but he should have kept on walking if he had been wiser. He also should not have run and hid when the police arrived.Advocate Adrian Lee had the same problems when he had to persuade a jury at Isleworth Crown Court that these actions do not amount to a criminal offence. Mr W had not in fact taken any part in the burglary, he had not entered the house and was not part of the plan to burgle. He was not a look-out or any other kind of accomplice.The jury agreed that there was a reasonable doubt and he was acquitted by a majority of the jurors who had the difficult task of deciding the truth