Portsmouth robbery trial collapses after 'serious matter' with witness caught on video

Matthew Crocket has been on trial at Portsmouth Crown Court charged with robbing Ashque Haque at gunpoint at his home in Sultan Road, Buckland, on August 17.

But today jurors were ordered to find Crocket, 23, not guilty. They also cleared Sylvie Smith, 25, of the joint robbery charge.

Police body-worn video footage caught Mr Haque telling his wife: ‘Understand, gun. If you say have a gun would take it seriously.’

Mr Haque made the comments in Bengali Sylheti in the aftermath of the incident, and they were translated this weekend.

He had been cross-examined on what he said in Bengali, and about Crocket allegedly having a gun, by Smith’s defence barrister Paul Fairley last week.

Crocket’s barrister Imogen Nelson obtained the translation ahead of the trial resuming on Monday.

The woman had started giving evidence last Wednesday but stopped, unable to continue as she was distressed, the court heard.

Judge William Ashworth said he could only ‘speculate’ the comments translated recently may be ‘one of the reasons’ she ‘felt under enormous pressure at this court’.

He added: ‘The evidence that Mr Haque gave is evidence which is difficult, I’ll put it neutrally, to follow and it’s a matter for the police if they wish to consider that particular issue.

‘It’s a very serious matter to accuse somebody of something, however guilty they may be of wrongdoing inside the house, to make that kind of accusation... is a very serious matter.’

Ms Smith, of Hartlands Caravan Park, Church Road, Cranford, was discharged from the dock.

Crocket, who is remanded in custody in HMP Winchester, today admitted stealing two mobile phones during the incident and battery - punching Mr Haque.

He said he had bought a £525 iPhone from Mr Haque but found it had been blacklisted so went to his property, driven by Ms Smith.

Crocket said he was invited by Mr Haque inside but the victim then said he would need to buy a new phone, not get a refund.

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Crocket then picked up two phones, a struggle broke out and Crocket ended up punching Mr Haque, having wielded a candlestick at him and moved as if to headbutt him.

Prosecutors accepted his version of events.

He said he was ‘ashamed’ and added: ‘I genuinely regret doing so.’

Crocket has admitted a separate burglary involving high-value watches.

Judge Ashworth adjourned sentencing until March 19.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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