Software biz boss on harassment charges represents himself, says I want a jury

The managing director of software firm Gravy Solutions represented himself at a case management hearing on Thursday morning, where he stands accused of harassing staff members of solicitors' firm Kemp Little.

Jonathan Sherwood , 53, is alleged to have engaged in a harassment campaign against five senior employees at Kemp Little starting in July of last year.

Sherwood first targeted Kemp Little's Intellectual Property and Technology Disputes partner Jeremy Harris, sending emails, making calls, leaving voicemails and creating false profiles of Harris on a number of websites, according to Court News UK.

He is also accused of hassling the firm's managing partner and head of employment David Williams, its corporate partner Andy Moseby, and a senior associate Peter Dalton. Sherwood is further charged with the racially aggravated harassment of Kemp Little's chief operating officer, Siddartha Mankad.

Sherwood told Inner London Crown Court that the harassment case has ruined him, costing him £3,000,000 as well as his home. Representing himself, he told the court that he "wasn't aware of six counts" against him, adding "it seems to grow every time I am in court".

Judge Mark Bishop asked Sherwood, of St James's Walk in Islington, whether he would be calling witnesses, to which the defendant-to-be affirmed he would be, saying: "Yes, unless you want to drop the case, your honour. I want to see a jury."

Sherwood denies five charges of harassment and one charge of racially aggravated harassment. He has been bailed to appear at Inner London Crown Court on 27 March next year for what is expected to be a six-day trial. ®