Notable Cases
R (On the Application of ES and SJS) v DPP. Represented SJS, a four-year old victim of sexual abuse, in a judicial review of the decision to prosecute ES, the 13-year old sister of SJS, who had committed sexual offences against ES following the older sister’s online grooming. The case, which led to the quashing the decision to prosecute ES, involved a review of the UK’s obligations under International Human Rights instruments relating to child victims of sexual offences and to children within the criminal justice system.
R v Andrew Armstrong and Others. Leading counsel in the successful prosecution of a cocaine distribution network. The convictions were subsequently challenged (unsuccessfully) in the Court of Appeal on the basis that the Public Interest Immunity regime is inconsistent with Article 6 fair trial rights.
R v Sandro Farini and Others. Successful prosecution of an Organised Crime Group with links to South America investigated by the National Crime Agency for importing £7 million of Class A drugs into the UK. The case involved analysis of communications data collected in the UK and overseas. It also led to greater understanding of how criminals make use of the internet and “dark web” to communicate covertly. The prosecution required significant co-operation between UK law enforcement agencies and those in the US and South America to gather evidence and identify criminal assets.
R v Lewis Dale. Junior acting alone in the successful prosecution of a 17-year old charged with the murder of his grandmother and attempted murder of his grandfather whilst under the influence of methedrone (‘MCAT’). The case involved complex psychological evidence into the effect of a so called “legal high” on the developing brain and competing psychiatric expert evidence on the issue of diminished responsibility as a result of methedrone use.
R v Timothy Lister and Others. A series of successful prosecutions as leading counsel of a nationwide drug distribution network. In addition to complex evidence of from analysis of large amounts of telecommunications data and financial records, the case also involved threat to life issues.
R v Atique Khan and Others. Leading counsel in the successful prosecution of an organised crime group investigated by the National Crime Agency for laundering millions of pounds from the trafficking of drugs and fraud through a series of financial institutions and commercial property transactions in the UK and in tax havens overseas.
R v Raja Iqbal and Others. Prosecution of a series of 'hub and spoke' conspiracy trials centred on a Sheffield money transfer and currency exchange business in Sheffield engaged in transferring the proceeds of Class A drug dealing out of the UK. The total case involved over 1,500 transfers of criminal property and required substantial case management to present manageable cases before the jury. The sentencing judge described the breach of the money laundering requirements by the owner of the money transfer service in the following terms: "Is it possible to envisage a worse case? It is, but only just."