Jonathan Nuttall, a 50-year-old businessman, has been found guilty of orchestrating a bomb plot targeting lawyers representing the National Crime Agency (NCA) amidst a £1.4 million legal dispute.
Nuttall’s plan involved planting two explosive-like devices in London’s legal district.
The incident took place at Gray’s Inn barristers chambers on 14 September 2021. He recruited Michael Broddle, 47, to carry out the plot.
Arrest and Unconvincing Reaction
Bodycam footage captured the moment Nuttall was arrested at his lavish £1.5 million manor. The video showed his feigned shock as officers informed him of his arrest.
Nuttall’s reaction included an unconvincing high-pitched exclamation of ‘what!’.
This arrest followed his involvement in the bomb plot linked to the legal dispute with the NCA.
Background of the Legal Dispute
Nuttall’s involvement in the bomb plot was tied to a lengthy legal dispute with the NCA, often referred to as ‘Britain’s FBI’.
The NCA had been investigating Nuttall for suspected money laundering since 2011.
In April 2019, a £1.4 million assets recovery order was issued against him. The legal conflict escalated, leading to the orchestrated bomb plot.
The Role of Accomplices
Michael Broddle, who ran a security and surveillance company named Cheat Seekers, was recruited by Nuttall to carry out the plan.
Broddle admitted to placing two packages resembling explosive devices at Gray’s Inn barristers chambers.
The devices were designed to create panic and draw significant attention.
Trial and Verdict
Following a four-month trial at the Old Bailey, Nuttall and his driver Michael Sode, 59, were convicted of conspiracy to place an article with intent to induce the belief it would explode or ignite.
The jury found Nuttall guilty by a majority of 10 to two. Broddle’s sons, Joshua, 21, and Charlie, 19, were cleared of the same charges.
The trial also revealed that the devices were not real explosives; they contained a nose and ear trimmer, causing them to vibrate.
Impact and Reactions
The bomb plot resulted in buildings being evacuated, roads cordoned off, and a significant police presence in London’s legal district.
The devices were intended not only to cause widespread alarm but also to target specific individuals, particularly Andrew Sutcliffe, a barrister who had acted for the NCA in asset recovery from Nuttall’s wife in the past.
Mr. Sutcliffe was taken aback by the personal nature of the accusations against him.
Sentencing and Conclusion
The individuals involved in the plot, including Nuttall, Broddle, and others, will be sentenced on a date to be determined.
The case sheds light on the lengths to which individuals might go in order to settle disputes and exact revenge, even through extreme and unlawful means.
The trial and its outcome highlight the complex and sometimes dangerous dynamics within legal conflicts.
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