John Burton QC represented T in a three defendant blackmail case. The Crown alleged that a Co-defendant, G had recruited T to attend at the home of a Company Director and make threats to burn his home down and "have him taken out" if money was not paid to G. It was also alleged that he had recruited a further Co-defendant Tu who had attended another Company Director's premises in order to carry out acts of arson. The Company Directors, who had allegedly been threatened, employed the services of private security operatives who carried out surveillance on G and T using video recording and tracking devices.

The case involved a number of issues:

John argued against the admission of video and audio tapes on the basis that the circumstances of this case, there had been a breach of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and surveillance had not been authorised.

An alleged identification of T was challenged.

Cell siting evidence was challenged relating to T's phones.

After a 4 week trial, T was acquitted by a unanimous verdict of the jury and was awarded costs out of Central Funds.