EDP 20 January 2006 06:00
Three men arrested during an illegal rave have seen the cases against them collapse.
Jye Blake, 22, Peter Graham, 19, and Ben Martell, 19, were charged with ignoring police orders to leave the party at North Creake, near Fakenham, in July last year.
The trio appeared before King’s Lynn magistrates on Wednesday to begin a three-day trial after all pleading not guilty.
But the case was thrown out when prosecution lawyers realised they could not prove whether the defendants had been given enough time to leave the rave.
A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday: “During the trial, new information came to light as to what a reasonable period would have been.
“This meant the case required a fresh review taking account of the timings of the arrests of the three suspects in this case.
“It was clear to the CPS at this stage that it could not be proved, so the court could be sure, that all three defendants were given sufficient time to disperse after the giving of the warning. This meant that the prosecution was not able to proceed with the case further and no evidence was offered against the three defendants.”
Police seized thousands of pounds worth of audio equipment and records from the rave, which was attended by around 500 revellers.
Officers arrived at the site in the early hours of July 24 and ordered the partygoers to leave.
Later in the day, a squad of 40 police in riot gear returned to break up the event, arresting the three men.
A spokesman for Norfolk police said they would continue to take action despite the decision.
“Norfolk Constabulary will not accept the detrimental impact that these events have on the local community,” he said.
Blake, of Stone Lane, Hingham, Graham, of Lammas Road, Tasburgh, and Martell, of Church Road, Tasburgh, were awarded costs by magistrates to cover loss of earnings and travel expenses.
The case was thrown out on Wednesday.
