Author: Geoff Sullivan

I agreed to attend the office of Sussex Defence Solicitors (SDS) for a suggested 1 hour to discuss my case, which transpired to be a detailed rehearsal of the structure of the courts, court procedures and the range of penalties. This took 2 hours at a cost of £720. Nothing positive was said about my own case, no guidance on the approach to be taken, merits or otherwise. I engaged SDS although they insisted on payment prior to any work being undertaken. Later, I was surprised to be told that he would not be representing me in the Magistrates Court saying I should have the expertise and sharpness of a barrister; recommending a London barrister he knew. As the case progressed I became more and more disheartened and dismayed at the negative attitude and lack of support towards my case; in particular conveying feeble reasons for not including evidence I had at hand, which caused me a great deal of concern and stress. The presentation (display) of agreed exhibits to the court was appalling, together with the deliberate omission of a vital sworn statement which provided proof of the lies of the other party. Furthermore, included were 31 pages of confusing statistics from the opposition, which of course was not agreed by me. I can still see the magistrate hanging the exhibit file in the air by its string and asking for clarification of where to look. Companies House records show that Sussex Defence Solicitors Ltd were founded in March 2013 and were dissolved in November 2017? On a website that conveys solicitors own account of their firm, SDS state, "Since our founding in 2022"? and “With 4 years experience.” (at 2026) They claim to be one of the largest defence solicitors in the South of England, when there are larger firms of solicitors even in Worthing. Their address of 24 Liverpool Gardens is shared by 7 other small firms being an annex to a Victorian house, which is now a shop.