Criminal Justice is a compelling, new, five-part thriller written by the highly acclaimed Peter Moffat. Made by BBC Drama Production for BBC One, the drama transmits over five consecutive nights.

One mad night and Ben Coulter’s life is changed for ever. As he gets ready to go out on the town, the carefree 21-year-old looks in the mirror. It will be the last time he’s able to recognise the person who looks back. Little does Ben know that a wild encounter with the sexy, young Melanie Lloyd will tear his life apart. They go for a ride in his father’s black cab and a crazy evening ensues.

At the end of an uncharacteristically drug and drink-fuelled night out, Ben finds himself charged with murder and, worse still, he can’t remember what happened the night before.

What follows is a rollercoaster ride through the criminal justice system; where the truth is optional and what counts is playing the game, in order to come out on top.

No one wants to hear Ben’s side of the story. A complex game of cat and mouse begins as soon as he is arrested, played out between the duty solicitor, the world-weary Stone, and the pugnacious Detective Superintendent Box.

At the end of the night, Ben is finally charged with murder and appears before the magistrates in the morning.

Ben’s shocked parents don’t know where to turn and, deep down, there is a terrifying doubt: could their son really be a murderer?

His father has employed new, high-class lawyers to represent his son and Ben and Stone part ways. Ben is denied bail and remanded in custody.

Ben Coutler is played by Ben Whishaw, Melanie Lloyd by Ruth Negga, Stone by Con O’Neill, DS Box by Bill Paterson, Barry Coulter by David Westhead and Mary Coulter by Juliet Aubrey.

Peter Moffat is a former barrister whose previous dramas include Bafta- and Emmy-nominated Hawking, North Square and Cambridge Spies. Criminal Justice is directed by Otto Bathurst (Five Days and Hustle) and Luke Watson.

Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July on BBC ONE