Basten Sneddon Court Solicitors

Wow. The actual cheek of this solicitor firm. Reporting my review of MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE dealing with this firm. In attempt to have my review removed.

AVOID AVOID AVOID

Absolutely no use whatsoever as so called "defence solicitors"

They tell you to say no comment during police interview stating they'll put your side of the story across at court.
However truth is. You end up being charged on a one sided story. And then tried on a one sided story. As they literally don't prepare any defence case for you. For you to then inevitably be convicted on a one sided story!

They'll tell you all your evidence is "inadmissible". However this is just their excuse for doing absolutely zero preparation for your court case. They then make out the PF is c0rrupt and is taking advantage at the fact your evidence is inadmissible. Therefore isn't willing to consider your evidence at all. Even though it clearly proves you're innocent!

It gets worse! Afterwards I contacted the PF office to put in a formal complaint against the PF. For ignoring evidence which clearly showed I was innocent. I sent them hard copies of evidence which the PF supposedly ignored. They didn't hesitate at throwing Basten Sneddon under the bus. Stating none of my evidence was ever put forward to the PF during the case. That they were completely unaware of my evidence. Stating if they knew about it. They would've been legally obliged to have presented it during trial. Even if it did undermine the prosecution case. So they took zero accountability for it. Advising me to put in a complaint against my defence team.

So yeah. Well and truly set up to fail by Basten Sneddon. If you want to retain your liberty, and most importantly. Retain your mental health! AVOID THIS FIRM AT ALL COSTS!!

**Reply to your response. I'm somewhat confused? Erm no, definitely not. Was 100% represented by yourselves. "Complainers" have the right to remain anonymous. You of all people should know that.

Avoid this firm if you're a defendant facing false exaggerated criminal charges. They don't defend you at court whatsoever! They instead incriminate you and deny you the opportunity to take to the stand to give your side of the story! I had one of their solicitors fool me into pleading guilty, ensuring me there would be a "plea deal". When the truth was there was no "plea deal". I was simply merely just pleading guilty to a bunch of lies! Obviously this being my first court dealing. I was naive and gullible to fall for this shady false "plea deal" nonsense! This was after the solicitor initially told me, my complainer was clearly lying and that my story was clearly the truth. Going by the evidence. But then stated I'm best pleading guilty as the courts are "overworked" and don't have time for trials these days for "silly matters" like this case. I honestly still can't believe I was and gullible enough to listen to that Pillock! Things only went down hill from there.

It gets worse. Then at sentencing that solicitor was no where to be seen. It's then handled by a different solicitor (one of the head partners of the firm). Who then has the brass neck to sit in front of me
afterwards and literally laugh out loud! Saying "I can't believe the sheriff was actually wanting to jail you for
XYZ".... Yeah no wonder! When the sheriff had exaggerated lies put to them with no defence! Maybe if my so called defence solicitor did their job correctly to begin with. The whole thing would have got abolished in the end. If the sheriff had the actual facts put to them! Glad you found it somewhat amusing the sheriff was close to passing on a custodial sentence to someone who had no previous convictions! Just goes to show how really useless you lot were in the first place to begin with!

No point putting in a complaint to their firm either! I did this, sent a complaint via email to their main email address. Therefore everyone in the firm would've seen this email. Not one of them bothered their backside to get back to me to discuss the matter. Absolute joke! Instead they just kept quiet. Only to then completely set me up to fail at the next court trial. Because of course. My false complainer was clearly over the moon they managed to have me convicted on a pile of lies! They then decided to put in an exact same repeat complaint against me for the exact same thing. Only difference on this occasion was, they drafted in their best friend to put in an identical complaint aswell to back them up. With no solid evidence whatsoever. Simply just hearsay!

I however had actual evidence proving the complainers were clearly at it with their lies. Solicitor was not interested. Deemed it inadmissible and stated the PF was using this to their advantage to basically ignore it. In other words being corrupt, knowing the complainers were lying. Knowing my defence evidence would never be seen or heard at trial. My solicitor then sat quiet throughout the trial. For me to inevitably to be found guilty on a complete one sided story!

I then afterwards put in a complaint to the PF office against the PF who led my trial. Because I was led to believe the PF was turning a blind eye to my evidence as it was supposedly inadmissible, according to my solicitor. However the PF office were quick enough to throw this solicitor firm under the bus in order to protect themselves. After I sent them copies of my evidence which I was told the PF completely ignored by my solicitor. I was informed that none of my evidence was actually ever put forward to the PF for discussion before or during the trial!

They stated if they were aware of this evidence they would have been legally obliged to include it in the trial. Even if it was evidence which undermined the prosecution case! Therfore they took absolutely zero responsibility for my evidence being ignored. Stating it was the fault of my defence team. I was then advised i should be putting in an official complaint against my defence solicitor! Advising me where to go to put in a complaint against them.

So yes. Well and truly set up to fail by this so called defence solicitor firm! Didn't even bother putting my evidence to the PF to show the complainers were lying. Just goes to show you they put in little to no preparation in your defence case.

Not interested in putting any defence whatsoever for you at court. But are more than happy to have a joint minute with the fiscal during trial. To obtain information from you. Which is then passed back to the fiscal and used against you, as self incriminating evidence!

If you can't get hold of any of the solicitors after 4pm. You'll find them across the road from their office in the pub!!.... I couldn't believe it when I heard that's where they normally go straight after court. Until I had a video call with my solicitor at 1630, and sure enough there they were sat in the pub with what looked like a vody and cola or perhaps it was a jd and cola.
Just goes to show how scunnered they clearly are with their job! Yet the only one who truly suffers is the defendant! No justice whatsoever!

If you're from Dunfermline and need a solicitor via legal aid. Stay clear from this firm. They tell you what you want to hear, to then just hang you out to dry at court.

Both my solicitors I had, left the firm when my cases were due at court. This was on two separate occasions!. Which resulted in me being set up to fail!

Rather than preparing your case. They'll say your defence evidence is all inadmissible, and advise you not to give evidence in the witness box as the defendant. But to rather leave the proof of burden on the crown. This is only to ensure your trial goes by quick, for you to get convicted on a complete one-sided bs story, with nothing but hearsay circumstantial evidence.

This is what happened to me. For the Sheriff to then say to me afterwards at sentencing......"You can't choose to not give evidence during the trial. To then go on and give positive points to the social worker afterwards. When you had the opportunity to do so at trial".....

So in other words. My evidence wasn't inadmissible, and could have been put to the jury. Which probably would've made them see through the lies. Hard lesson learnt for myself. I was so naive and ignored all the red flags right from the start with this firm. For it to cost me my liberty and my mental health to deteriorate.

Legal aid give Solicitors a financial incentive for early guilty pleas, and they will lose money if a case goes to trial... That's a fact! So if you feel you aren't getting a good service from this lot. Bin them! I wish I did alot sooner!