A judge has been forced to drop charges against a

A judge has been forced to drop charges against a gang accused of robbing a man with an Uzi after a series of failures by the prosecution.

Judge Deva Pillay condemned the CPS, the Metropolitan Police and Crown counsel for failing to disclose vital information to the defence in the case.

The material included police intelligence showing that the victim of the terrifying Uzi robbery was a drug dealer running a crack house.

But lawyers in the case were left with egg on their faces after they failed to look at intelligence logs after placing ‘reliance’ in police officers.

As a result Paul Metten, 27, Robert Powell, 31, Glenroy Pilgrim, 21, and Tammy Odubore, 32, all walked free three weeks into the trial at the cost of tens of thousands of pounds to the taxpayer.

Judge Pillay said today (Weds) the lack of disclosure by the prosecution authorities amounted to an abuse of process.

He criticised the CPS and Crown Counsel Sarah Whitehouse for accepting on trust police accounts of the contents of intelligence logs.

It was claimed Miss Odubore tricked her way into Mr Alon’s ‘heavily-fortified’ flat at (39) Oak Way, East Acton leaving Metten, Powell and Pilgrim to burst in behind her.

A pair of tights was stuffed into the mouth of Mr Alon, who was on the toilet, and an Uzi was pointed at his head, Blackfriars Crown Court heard.

According to the prosecution he was beaten to the head, chest and limbs.

Mr Alon’s partner Michelle Bateman managed to call police before gang members punched her in the face.

It was alleged the gang then stole pnds stlg 2,620, and brandished their guns at police as they made their getaway.

Metten, of Kingsbridge Crescent, Southall, Powell, of Winstead Park, Ilford, Essex, Pilgrim of Halliday Square, Hanwell, and Odubore of Goring Way, Greenford, Middlesex, had all denied robbery and conspiracy to rob on 19 January this year.

Metten, Powell and Pilgrim all further denied having a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely, an Uzi machine pistol and an .

45 pistol.

Metten was also accused of having a firearm, namely an Uzi, with intent to resist arrest.

Giving his ruling Judge Pillay said defence counsel in the case had sought disclosure of police intelligence of previous robberies at the flat, as well as incidents of alleged drug dealing by Mr Alon.

Mr Alon and his invalid partner Miss Bateman ‘gave evidence they were not dealing in drugs when the Crown had intelligence they were in fact known drug dealers,’ the judge said.

‘The defence complained that despite being three weeks into the trial the Crown had still failed to comply comprehensively with issues of disclosure.

‘

And the defence claimed they were ‘seriously restricted and handicapped’ in dealing with the case.

Judge Pillay said he followed the Attorney General’s guidelines on whether to stay an indictment in cases of abuse of process.

He said allowing the trial to continue would ‘undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system and bring the system into disrepute.

‘

Judge Pillay said: ‘I am in no doubt that there was a failure by the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and Crown Counsel to comply with both the Criminal Procedures and Investigation Act and the Attorney General’s guidelines in relation to disclosure.

‘The information contained in the criminal intelligence logs which were ultimately disclosed should have been done at the very earliest before the trial commenced.

‘The fact Crown Counsel was ignorant of the criminal intelligence logs’ actual contents indicates the danger of the CPS and Crown’s counsel relying on an assessment of such document being made by the police in order to determine what might be disclosed to the defence.

‘

But the judge said he did not find that the prosecuting authorities acted with mala fides – bad faith – as claimed by the defence.

‘In my judgement the failure of the CPS prosecutor, and Crown Counsel not actually looking at the criminal intelligence logs resulted from them placing reliance on what they were told documents contained at an early stage of the trial process.

‘Counsel withholding criminal intelligence logs was due to inadvertence as opposed to a deliberate or negligent act.

‘I am satisfied beyond any reasonable doubt the continued prosecution of any of the defendants under the indictment would in the circumstances constitute an abuse of process and accordingly I stay the indictment.

‘

Mr Alon will now have to apply at a magistrates court to get his lost pnd stlg 2,620 back.

Powell had allegedly told officers ‘I’ve got a gun’ as he ran out with the .

45 weapon.

He later dumped the cash in a nearby park.

Metten, wearing a dark ski mask ran out next holding the Uzi.

Pilgrim hid in a flat downstairs after the raid.

Forensic scientists found Mr Alon’s blood was later found on all three men’s shoes.

Metten admitted being at the flat and carrying a gun, but denied threatening a policeman with it.

Powell and Pilgrim also admitted being present but denied any involvement in the robbery.

Odubore claimed she was a victim of the robbery herself – and was not an ‘insider’ as claimed by the Crown.

ends