Criminal Defence Services

Motoring offences can include:

• Careless driving
  If you are driving without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other road users, effectively in a manner that falls below the standards of a considerate and competent driver, you may be charged with careless driving. It is a lesser charge than dangerous driving
• Dangerous driving
  This is more serious than careless driving and is where the driver’s actions fall well below the accepted standard, such as carrying out a dangerous manoeuvre or excessive speeding near a school
• Speeding
  For more minor speeding offences, you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice, if you are caught speeding. For speeding offences, where driving well in excess of the speed limit If you want to contest your FPN, our team of road traffic lawyers can advise you if you have a case for defence.
• Drink driving
  Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to drive, attempt to drive or be in charge of a vehicle on the road if you have drunk more alcohol than the prescribed limit. You will have to undergo a breathalyser test and may be required to provide a urine or blood sample.
• Driving with no or invalid insurance or without a licence.

At Thorntons, our road traffic criminal defence lawyers can advise you on your options and best approach if you are charged with a driving offence or given a penalty notice. We can also advise you if you have special reason grounds for, not endorsing your  licence  with  penalty points or if you can establish exceptional hardship to avoid disqualification

If you are hurt in a road traffic incident, you may have grounds for a personal injury claim. Contact our Personal Injury team to find out more.

Crimes of violence include such offences as murder, robbery and assault, and can be the most serious of charges. If you are accused of any of these offences, you need to have good representation and legal advice as soon as possible. Our Criminal lawyers are on hand to help you with specialist legal advice and representation.

• Murder - With a murder charge, there may be possible defences, such as self-defence. Or you may face a lesser, but still serious, charge of attempted murder or culpable homicide, which is an act or failure to act that causes death.
• Robbery is different from a theft charge and is a more serious crime. Robbery involves violence or the threat of violence.

Assault is attacking or attempting to attack someone with the intent to cause harm . The  assault, may be aggravated for example

If you are accused or charged with a sexual offence, this is a serious matter that can have a major impact on you and on your family. Sexual offences include:

• Rape
• Sexual assault
• Grooming
• Child abuse
• Child pornography
• Revenge pornography
• Sexual exposure

These are often complicated and sensitive cases. Our Criminal Law team can advise you on your case  and any defence and strongly represent your interests in court.

The Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 sets out the type of threatening or abusive behaviour that used to come under the common law umbrella of breach of the peace. It also includes the pattern of physical and/or emotional behaviour and action that counts as stalking.

Our Criminal Law team can provide you with specialist legal advice and representation for your defence.

Financial crime includes offences such as fraud, money laundering and embezzlement.

With a fraud, an individual uses intentional deception to take dishonest advantage, usually of money, property or services. Fraud can occur in a range of situations and can include VAT or HMRC fraud, benefit fraud, business or insurance fraud.  

Money laundering is the process where illegal proceeds of criminal activities are disguised to appear to come from legitimate sources.

Embezzlement is when someone secretly takes funds that belongs to their employer or  takes money that is placed in their trust.

If you are accused of or charged with a financial crime, it is important to take legal advice as soon as possible. We can advise you on your options and represent you through the investigation process and at court if criminal charges are taken by the Procurator Fiscal.

Our specialised Criminal Defence team can help you if you are accused or charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Drugs offences cover controlled drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, cannabis and amphetamines, and charges include:

• Possession of controlled drugs
• Possession with intent to supply
• Supply
• Being concerned  in the supply
• Production or cultivation of drugs

Theft is different from robbery in that it does not involve violence. It can range from small-scale more minor theft and low-value shoplifting to the stealing of items of high value.

At Thorntons, our team of Criminal Defence lawyers can advise you on the best defence for your case and provide legal support and representation throughout the process.

The Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018 covers the range of ways people can be victims of domestic abuse by partners or ex-partners, including physical, emotional, mental or sexual abuse, and recognises these as a crime.  

If you are under suspicion or charged with domestic abuse, we understand the impact this can have on you and the people around you. We are on hand to help with legal advice and can act as your legal representation throughout what can be a very difficult situation.

Often bail conditions may be put in place by the Court preventing or restricting contact with your children and our Family Law Team can assist you with contact arrangements.

Environmental crime is criminal activity that damages the environment. It includes a diverse range of issues such as pollution, fly-tipping, unauthorised discharges of waste into rivers or the atmosphere and damaging habitats.  

If you or your business have been accused of an environmental crime, contact our Criminal Law team to discuss your options and to talk through the defence process.

Pet owners, livestock farmers and others responsible for animals have a legal responsibility to ensure the welfare needs of their animals are met under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006. Animals that are suffering or in danger of suffering can be removed from their owners.

Our Criminal Defence Solicitors can advise you of your options if you are accused or charged over animal welfare and work with you to achieve the best resolution.

As an employer, you have a responsibility to protect your employees and others from health and safety risks. A healthy and safety breach can mean action under both civil and criminal law:

• The individual affected could make a civil claim for compensation.
• Your regulator could take action against you and you could be prosecuted under criminal law.

We can talk you through the process and your best approach. We can also robustly represent your interests if the case goes to court.