One of two devices left at Gray’s Inn in an alleged plot to ‘humiliate’ a barrister involved in legal proceedings against a businessman was considered ‘potentially’ viable by an expert, the Old Bailey heard.

The court was previously told Jonathan Nuttall held a ‘deep-seated grudge’ against barrister Andrew Sutcliffe KC after Sutcliffe was instructed by the National Crime Agency to conduct legal proceedings relating to an NCA investigation into the wealthy businessman and his wife.

A note was left with one of the devices which made an ‘extremely serious, scandalous and false allegation’ against Sutcliffe designed to cause ‘maximum humiliation’.

Catherine Farrelly, prosecuting, said one of the two devices, in a small A5 envelope, was found by a porter at Gray’s Inn. She said: ‘He [porter Morris Johnson] noticed something inside…that was vibrating, [on] one side of the envelope was the name Ashley Williams [which had] been printed in stencil. Ashley Williams was the head of security at Gray’s Inn (pictured below). When [the envelope] was examined, it was found to have Andrew Sutcliffe’s name on the other side.’

The court heard the receptionist at 3 Verulam Buildings saw a man dressed in black, and appearing to wear a mask or balaclava and a backpack, walk past the building before she heard a thump and could see ‘smoke rise’. She then saw the man walk back.

Gray's Inn

Farrelly said: ‘She began to smell gunpowder. She ran down the corridor to inform her colleagues of what was happening and noticed smoke was beginning to come under the door of the building.’

An explosives officer inspected the package left outside 3 Verulam Buildings as the ‘circuitry did not appear to be connected’. Inside the envelope were items including a smoke grenade, clear crystalline powder in a seal-bag, a collection of ball bearings, a quantity of fun snaps (‘things thrown on the ground that make a loud cracking noise’) and various metallic items including nails, tacks, shrapnel and an electronic thermometer.

The second device was found to have a smoke grenade with a ringpull visible, as well as other items including fun snaps, a ‘thunder flash’ and a nose trimmer.

The court heard a note was left within the envelope of device one which referred to Andrew Sutcliffe by his full name as well as his nickname, 'Sooty', which he confirmed to police ‘he had previously been known by…about 40 years earlier’.

Farrelly added: ‘The content of that note made an extremely serious, scandalous and false allegation against Andrew Sutcliffe. The prosecution say it is clear that note was designed to cause maximum humiliation and professional embarrassment to Andrew Sutcliffe having been left outside his place of work in circumstances likely to attract significant attention.’

The court heard Sutcliffe was ‘shocked and appalled’ by the note and made it clear the allegations were 'utterly false'.

Device one, when examined, was deemed to not constitute an improvised explosive device and device two, due to the intact smoke grenade, was considered ‘potentially viable’. Farrelly told the jury the devices were ‘designed to have the appearance of an improvised explosive device’.

Jonathan Nuttall, 50, of Romsey in Hampshire, along with co-defendants Joshua Broddle, 20, Michael Sode, 58, and Charlie Broddle,18, face charges including conspiring to place an explosive article with intent. George Gray, 25, is charged with conspiring to transfer and/or convert criminal property along with his four co-defendants. 

They deny all allegations against them.

The trial, which is expected to last 12 weeks, continues.