A Longman direction is not required where the passage of time is a matter of weeks (for 1998 allegations) or approximately two years (for 1996 allegations) and no particular prejudice to the accused's ability to test the evidence is identified. The Mitchell direction requiring a warning against using one complainant's evidence to prove charges involving another is not an invariable requirement in every multi-complainant case; it depends on the circumstances, including whether there was a real suggestion of collaboration and whether the summing up otherwise adequately directed the jury to assess each complainant's evidence separately.
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