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Ben Sayers

Year of call: 2021

Ben became a tenant of Chambers in September 2023 following the successful completion of his pupillage. He accepts instructions in all areas of chambers’ practice.

Ben prosecutes and defends across both the Crown and Magistrates’ courts. He has experience conducting Crown Court trials involving serious violence, supply of drugs, robbery and burglary, and weapons. Ben has received praise for having the law “at his fingertips” and has conducted hearings involving technical and novel points of law, including ex parte hearings relating to public interest immunity.

Ben has also enjoyed considerable success in motoring offences before the Magistrates’ court, succeeding in technical defences involving the cross examination of experts, and securing favourable outcomes in exceptional hardship arguments.

Ben has a particular interest in police law. He is regularly instructed in applications for sexual risk orders, sexual harm prevention orders, slavery and trafficking risk orders, and domestic violence protection orders. He has successfully conducted account forfeiture and cash forfeiture proceedings under POCA. Having completed his pupillage under Oliver Thorne, Ben has a wealth of experience observing police misconduct proceedings and has delivered training to independent panel members.

Ben has a growing civil practice representing both claimants and defendants in the county court, with a particular focus in civil actions involving police forces. Ben is happy to provide advice at every stage of proceedings.  

Ben accepts family law instructions in both public and private proceedings. He is regularly instructed by local authorities, the children’s guardian, and parents in care proceedings. Ben has experience conducting proceedings at every stage from urgent removal to final hearings, taking an active role in case management throughout.

Prior to coming to the bar, Ben worked at Citizens Advice advising on benefits, housing, and employment law, and enjoyed success at international mooting competitions.   

Police:

Recent Cases

P v CCNP [2024] (Manchester) – Ben was instructed by the defendant police force in a civil claim arising from a road traffic collision where a police officer had been responding to an emergency call.

CCLP v B [2024] (Leister) – Ben was instructed by the applicant police force for an SRO. The case involved a novel point of law regarding the competence of child witnesses and the admissibility of their hearsay evidence.

CCWYP v C [2024] (Huddersfield) – Ben appeared for the applicant police force and secured the forfeiture of jewellery valued at over £13,000.

 

Recent cases

R v A and Ors [2023] (Bradford) – a three-day, four handed trial of a public order offence. Two of the co-accused were represented by King’s Counsel running ‘cut throat’ defences against Ben’s lay client. Ben secured the only acquittal of the four defendants.

R v B [2024] (Bradford) – Ben represented a defendant accused of the assault of a child over whom she occupied a position of trust. Ben secured an acquittal despite extensive CCTV evidence.  

R v E [2024] (Chester) – Ben mitigated for a heavy goods vehicle driver who had driven a laden cement mixer dangerously and at speed while on his mobile phone, causing a multi-car collision. Ben secured him a 6 month suspended sentence of imprisonment and the statutory minimum 12 month disqualification.

Recent cases

Re a Child (North Shields) [2024] – Ben represented the Guardian in a three-day final hearing where placement orders were made.

Re a Child (Newcastle) [2024] – a three-day final hearing of a case where there had been previous public law proceedings involving Ben’s client, who had recurrent addiction issues. The final order approved rehabilitation back into her care.

Re a Child (Leeds/Bradford) [2024] – instructed by a local authority, Ben has been involved from the urgent removal of the child from Mother’s care due to neglect and managed the case through each stage to final hearing.

Education

  • 2016: University of Sheffield – BA (Dual Hons) Politics and Philosophy, 2:1
  • 2019: University of Sheffield – PGDip Law, Commendation
  • 2020: University of Law, Leeds – MA Law, Distinction
  • 2020: University of Law, Leeds – Bar Professional Training Course, Very Competent

 

Awards

  • 2019: Middle Temple - Harmsworth Scholarship (Major Award)

 

Professional Membership/Appointments

  • Honourable Society of Middle Temple
  • Grade 1 CPS Prosecutor

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