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Peter Glenser KC

Year of call: 1993

King's Counsel: 2018

Peter both prosecutes and defends very serious offences, in particular murder, serious violence, gang-related offending, serious sexual offences and firearms cases.

Peter also has a specialist knowledge of, and expertise in, firearms and firearms legislation, animal welfare, environmental offences and wildlife crime. In 2020 he successfully prosecuted a major CITES case involving the smuggling of European eels with an eventual retail value of £53m.

Peter is frequently instructed for the appellant in firearms licensing matters throughout England and Wales and is ranked in the legal directories in both crime and licensing.

In addition to a busy and heavy general criminal workload Peter specialises in military law.

He has been involved in many if not most of the more serious and high-profile court martial of recent years – including cases of murder, manslaughter, rape, serious sexual assault, other violence and dishonesty, as well as cases arising from alleged ill-treatment of enemy combatants, non-combatants and subordinates on operations.

He has experience of inquests with a jury and is licensed to receive instructions directly from members of the public.

Peter also practices from 7 Harrington Street, Liverpool, 9 BR Chambers in London and Cornwall Street Barristers Birmingham.

Legal Directories

“He’s adept at winning over professional tribunals and is great both in terms of his paperwork and his performances on his feet.” (Chambers UK, 2020)

“Very impressive with his examination of witnesses” (Legal 500, 2020)

“Easy to work with, accessible and very knowledgeable about firearms.” (Chambers UK, 2020)

“Extremely good with lay clients and on his feet. His manner with clients gives him an edge – he is superb in how he commands respect.” “Very persuasive and someone with a good court manner, he gets on well with judges at court.” (Chambers UK, 2019)

“Excellent with lay clients, and a skilled and formidable advocate.” (Legal 500, 2017)

“Has cornered the market in firearms licensing, and regularly defends private clients who have breached firearm licence requirements. He is praised for the depth of his knowledge of this area.”

“A lawyer with a good network of connections in the firearms community” who is “approachable, amenable and always well liked by clients.”

Chambers UK, 2018

“An extremely good advocate before tribunals.”

Legal 500, 2016

Notable Cases

R-v-ZR and others (Ongoing)

Currently defending the alleged gunman in a drive-by shooting which resulted in the death of a bystander. ZR is charged with murder and attempted murder. The trial started in early May. Preston Crown Court.

R-v-LW and others (January – May 2021)

Defended LW who was accused of the murder of Miguel Reynolds, conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to possess a prohibited firearm and conspiracy to possess ammunition. This was a complex multi-handed trial where LW was accused of being the gunman. Liverpool Crown Court.

R v TM, 2020

Prosecuted Tamer Moustafa who was charged with murdering his wife and neighbour when he was high on cocaine. Following a nine day trial the defendant was found guilty. The defendant was given a life sentence. Birmingham Crown Court.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-55189889

R v M, 2020

Peter Glenser QC, leading Sean Sullivan, successfully appeared for the prosecution in the East Croydon Railway Murder in Sept and Oct 2020

R v K, 2020

Prosecuting a trial where the defendant was charged with the illegal import and export of critically endangered European eels. Peter, leading Sean Sullivan, was instructed by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division after an investigation conducted by the National Crime Agency. European eels are considered so endangered that they are subject to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and there is a strict prohibition on exporting them to outside of the European Union. The offences spanned a two year period and involved 16 prohibited exports consisting of over 5 million elvers with an eventual retail value in the Far East of over £53 million. The defendant was found guilty of all offences. Southwark Crown Court.

See report here

R v L, 2019

Represented the defendant in three trials in 2019He was a former army and police officer who worked at the MoD Smalls Arms School Corps Collection. Accused of wholesale theft of firearms from the collection over many years. He was acquitted of most counts at trial one with the jury undecided on 4 counts. The weapons involved included semi-automatic assault rifles, pistols and military sniper rifles. Retrial on 4 counts and then a firearms trial in relation to possession of a semi-automatic military pistol. Following a ruling before trial after several days of legal argument the defendant pleaded to this count. Instead of the mandatory minimum 5 years he was sentenced to 6 months for this particular offence. Winchester Crown Court.

See report here

R v M, 2019

Successful defence of gun club member for alleged breaches of licensing provisions regarding the storage of black powder revolvers. Peterborough Crown Court.

R v B, 2019

An unusual wildlife crime case concerning an allegation of disturbing ospreys by a farmer. Peter represented him on appeal. The decision to prosecute this case was widely criticised. The case was extensively reported. The Defendant accepted that he had disturbed the ospreys but claimed the statutory defence of taking part in routine agricultural activity just as he had done many times before without prosecution. Appeal successful. Carlisle Crown Court.

See report here

R v M, 2019

Defendant was a firearms manufacturer who inadvertently imported S5 shotguns from America, a strict liability offence with a mandatory minimum of 5 years. Complicated issues of fact and law about where any sale conducted over the internet had taken place and whether there was in fact a sale where the firearms had been intercepted before delivery.  After legal argument he received a conditional discharge. The Defendant has a very successful business making high quality firearms which employs a number of people. Despite his eventual plea he kept his business and his personal certificates. Isleworth Crown Court

R v C & W, 2019

Two officer cadets at Sandhurst alleged to have waterboarded a fellow student. The case received national publicity at the time of the arrest of the defendants and at the beginning of trial. Following the complainant’s evidence and defence submissions the Crown applied to adjourn and then within a few hours offered no evidence. Bulford Court Martial Centre.

See report here

R v B and ors, 2018

Conspiracy to murder. Prosecution alleged that Defendant was the “hitman” in a targeted attempted gangland assassination. B had shot the complainant in the abdomen at very close range in his home having broken in. Very strong cctv, cell site and other forensic evidence. Defence was that this was a robbery of a cannabis farm that had gone wrong.  Acquitted. Pleaded to S18 and firearms matters. Bolton Crown Court.

See report here

R v Ch, 2018

Successfully leading for the Defence on behalf of a serviceman accused of Attempted Murder in Cyprus.

R v Ca, 2018

Successfully leading for the Defence on behalf of a British Army Warrant Officer accused of a variety of offences, including rape, in Germany, Canada and Britain.

R v D, W, 2018

Successfully defended two members of the Quantock Stag Hounds accused of unlawful hunting.

R v A, 2018

Exceptionally difficult client charged with multiple counts of vaginal and anal rape on his wife, assaults on his children and a variety of other serious offending. Norwich Crown Court

R v K, 2018

Very difficult defence of soldier accused of multiple familial rape of very young child. Already serving a sentence for sexual assault of same victim. Acquitted at half-time of all but one count.

R v T, 2017

Leading in the successful defence of a senior British officer accused of the rape of a US officer in Africa. The case was the first court martial to be heard on both sides of the Atlantic. This complex investigation involved the FBI, Royal Military Police and other law enforcement agencies; evidence was taken from almost every continent.

R v F, 2017

Prosecuting in an attempted murder case arising out a parking dispute – involving complex medical and psychiatric issues, and exceptionally serious injuries. Kingston Crown Court.

R v L,W,W

Successfully defended three members of the Grove and Rufford Hunt on their appeal against a conviction for unlawful hunting.

R v R

Successfully defended a Master of Foxhounds on appeal against his conviction for threatening a hunt saboteur who had taken one of his foxhounds.

Other Activities and Interests

      • Peter is a Vice President of the British Association of Shooting and Conservation, the UK’s largest shooting organisation, having formerly been Chairman
      • He writes for a number of publications on matters concerning firearms law
      • He is a member of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers
      • Away from work, Peter is usually found enjoying the British countryside or in the kitchen

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