‘I believe there were some calls to the office from Starr many years ago. Back at the time when I was able to get the case against him quashed, I subsequently became very uncomfortable, believing he had not told me the truth. As you would well know from your days as a defence barrister, if you have reasons to doubt the veracity of a client you are obliged by the Bar Standards Board to cease acting for that person. This was my situation, which Mr Starr refused to accept, and he did hound me with calls for a time – calls which my office deflected.’

‘In that case, Mr Gready, why, when there are dozens and dozens of solicitors like yourself practising criminal law, did Mr Starr not just approach another firm?’

‘It’s very simple,’ Gready said with poker-faced confidence. ‘Because everyone knows I’m the best.’

There were some smiles around the court. Only the judge sat stony-faced.

‘Let us now address the issue of the safety deposit box in your name, Mr Gready. As we heard from evidence given by DS Alexander, a key was discovered very cleverly concealed in the false bottom of a spray canister in the garden shed of your home in Onslow Road, Hove. This key was for a private safety deposit box, in your name, on the premises of a company, Safe Box Co, on the Hollingbury Industrial Estate. It was opened under warrant and found to contain foreign currency totalling £392,000, along with six USB memory sticks. You accept that, don’t you?’

‘I believe that is what they say.’

‘Well then, where did this substantial sum come from?’

Gready shook his head. ‘I’m afraid it must have been all part of Mr Starr’s clever plot to frame me. I can only assume he planted the key in the shed and the money in the deposit box. If I had that substantial sum I can assure you I would have treated my wife and family to something considerably more exotic than our annual fortnight’s holiday in a timeshare cottage in Appledore in Devon.’

Cork paused, frowned and said, ‘Do I have this right? You are suggesting Mr Starr opened a safety deposit box in your name, hid a huge sum of cash, together with damning evidence against you, inside it, then placed the key in an aerosol inside a shed on your property, on the off-chance that if caught he could point the finger at you?’

‘Yes, he must have,’ Gready replied.

‘Are there fairies at the bottom of your garden as well?’ Cork challenged.

Jupp immediately instructed the court to disregard the previous comment and said, ‘Mr Cork, you should know better than that.’

‘Of course, I’m sorry, Your Honour.’ The prosecuting counsel paused and then continued. ‘You refused to answer questions from the police about the details of the information found?’

‘I was under no obligation to answer any questions. They have nothing to do with me.’