An interesting turn of events earlier this week, with news that former Blue singer Lee Ryan has had his recent conviction for assault on an emergency worker rescinded.
Ryan was convicted of several offences following a trial at Ealing Magistrates' Court on 12th January 2023. What was not apparent from reports at the time, is that the singer had actually admitted the assault on an emergency worker and being drunk on board an aircraft offences.
The offences were committed during Ryan's drunken antics on a British Airways flight between Glasgow and London City on Sunday, 31st July 2022.
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 13th June 2023, Ryan was successful in his application to have the case reopened and the assault on an emergency worker conviction rescinded.
The court is empowered, by virtue of section 142 of the Magistrates' Court 1980, to reconsider its decisions if it appears to be in the interests of justice to do so.
The court heard that since his conviction Ryan had been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, which in the view of District Judge Tan Ikram, the Deputy Senior District Judge (Chief Magistrate), put a slightly different slant on the circumstances.
Ryan also claimed to have received bad advice from his trial advocate, solicitor Mike Rainford, who he said had rushed him into admitting the offence on the morning of the trial.
He told the court that Mr Rainford had borrowed prosecutor Luke Bowyer's laptop to view footage of the alleged assault on PC Bryett.
Ryan claimed it was the first time he had seen the footage, despite having asked to view it on earlier occasions. He said that Mr Rainford gave his opinion that the offence was made out and he should admit it.
Ryan, who accepted Mr Rainford's advice on plea, contended that PC Bryett had grabbed him forcefully around the neck at the time of his arrest.
The pretentious pop star pulled no punches in his appraisal of Mr Rainford's services, saying: "It had become very clear that he either didn't care or just wasn't prepared."
DJ Ikram was a bit more conciliatory towards the solicitor, saying: "I make no findings of criticism of Mr Rainford. Clients often have a different perception. Often when things go wrong, they do wonder what their advocates could have done something differently, that is the benefit of hindsight."
Announcing his decision, DJ Ikram said: "There is a feature of this case that makes it slightly different.
"Mr Ryan was diagnosed with ADHD. He has subsequently been diagnosed with Asperger's.
"One of the challenges that people with high-functioning autism can have is slow processing of information and responding inappropriately to what is said.
"Mr Ryan was advised. He received that advice as an instruction.
"In these circumstances I am in real doubt as to whether it was an informed admission of guilt or a following of instructions.
"It would be unjust not to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea."
So Ryan is no longer, at this moment in time, convicted of assault on an emergency worker.
He has entered a new not guilty plea and elected to have his trial before a jury at the Crown Court. The basis of Ryan's new plea seems to be self-defence in relation to his interaction with PC Bryett.
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