A retired lawyer decides to defend himself in court after he is charged with shoplifting.

An estranged wife has accused her husband of rape. The husband denies the charge and claims that his wife has made up the allegation in anger after he refused to increase her maintenance payments.

Mr. Cross makes a controversial submission; that a husband can not be charged with the unlawful imprisonment or the rape, of his wife, at least while there is no legal separation. He believes Mr Scard has no case to answer.

Fulchester United's star striker Arnie Campbell's career is over following a foul by Porthampton City's hard-man defender John 'Chopper' Bates. Bates denies making the foul challenge and claims that one of Campbell's own team-mates was responsible. Did Campbell's own team-mate deliberately injure him after discovering that Campbell was taking bribes from a local bookmaker to 'throw' matches. The court will hear that bribery, betting scams and corruption have become a common feature of modern professional football.

John Lloyd accuses Fulchester striker Kevin Lewis of injuring team mate Arnie Campbell. He denies telling associate Terence Stein that he thought Campbell was taking bribes. Chairman James Harris says Bates apologised for the bad tackle.

Porthampton City manager George Lomax gives evidence for Johnny Bates by playing down his hard man reputation. Journalist Terence Stein tells about the threats made against Arnie Rimmer by Kevin Lewis who he regarded of fixing matches.

Jack Smith is an aging ex-convict with a string of convictions. He appears to have formed a Fagin-like relationship with a young boy, Leo Trotsky. Together, they are charged with stealing copper piping from a building and also of using this to cause actual bodily harm.

Ernest Richards details his dispute with Smith and the boy. Jeremy Parsons QC counters that Richards has served jail time for perjury. Sgt. Barnet discusses a mallet found, at the crime scene, containing the blood of Mrs. Richards.

Jack Smith gives his evidence and explains how he became Leo's guardian. Smith states Leo is 9-years-old and under the age of criminal responsibility. Jimmy Dobie is called on behalf of the defence but his evidence is patchy at best.

Phil McDowell has been deserted by his wife and daughter, has been sacked from his job as a bank clerk and is now on trial for abducting Fiona Sumner, a fourteen year old girl. He denies the offense and insists she agreed to go with him.

Fiona Sumner, the 14-year-old girl the defendant allegedly abducted tells the court that McDowell wanted break the record for the journey from Fulchester to John O' Groats. She wanted to go with him but later changed her mind.

Philip McDowell's son Robert tells the court the drive to Scotland was Fiona Sumner's idea. She wanted to visit her father who she thought was dead and his father agreed to take her. Daughter Alison adds that she turned down the trip.