Festival fraud jury is discharged

A jury in the trial of a man and woman accused of conspiracy to sell fake entry wristbands at the 2007 Isle of Wight festival has been discharged.

It followed legal arguments at Portsmouth Crown Court on Tuesday.

Jacob Cloud and Sherrell Davenport, of the Isle of Wight, denied conspiracy to sell wristbands at music festivals across the country.

The prosecution said it intended to appeal against rulings made by the trial judge.

Both Mr Cloud and Ms Davenport were granted a continuation of their unconditional bail.

The prosecution said it would be taking the case to the Court of Appeal and it is thought it will be several weeks before it rules on the case.

At the beginning of the trial, Bradley Govier, 42, of High Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, and John Smith, 29, of South Road, Hanworth in west London, admitted taking part in the conspiracy.

Judge Gareth Cowling also ordered not guilty verdicts to be returned for Dawn Govier, 41, of High Street, and Paul Eves, 48, of St. Marys Road, both Southend-on-Sea in Essex, when the prosecution offered no evidence against them at the start of the trial.

Mr Cloud is a 40-year-old property developer from Luccombe Road, Shanklin, and 30-year-old Ms Davenport is from Surbiton Grove, Ryde.

On Monday, the court heard that about 5,000 counterfeit wristbands were produced for the 2007 Isle of Wight festival.

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