5 St Andrews Hill

Mark is an experienced criminal barrister.

He is often instructed in serious and complex cases and has prosecuted multi-million pound multi-handed tax frauds, large-scale class A drug smuggling cases and general crime.

Mark’s practice is now wholly criminal related. He is a grade 4 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutor and is therefore, often instructed in serious and complex cases.  Mark has prosecuted multi-million pound and multi-handed tax frauds, large-scale class A drug smuggling cases and general crime.

In December 2022 and April-May 2023 Mark prosecuted three large scale drugs importations ranging from 50 to 200kg of Class A drug involving tachograph, phone evidence and CCTV. Synchronising the three strands was key to securing the most recent conviction.

In January 2023 Mark prosecuted a murder in Basildon, led by Edmund Burge KC. This case involved multiple CCTV footage and psychiatric evidence leading to a manslaughter conviction by reason of diminished responsibility.

In 2022 Mark prosecuted two attempted murders which both resulted in pleas to section 18. In one case the victim tragically committed suicide requiring Mark to advise on whether a murder charge should be pursued.

In 2020 and 2021 Mark prosecuted the organisers of two county lines Class A drug supply cases. He is familiar with the use of cell-site and the importance of marshalling evidence in a jury friendly manner so that cases can be presented as clearly as possible to the jury. This was put into good effect during a blackmail prosecution at Snaresbrook in April 2021. Mark will usually prepare his own bundles and is familiar with PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat software.

In 2021 Mark prosecuted a death by dangerous driving case/PWITS cocaine in Essex resulting in convictions for both defendants. The case went to the Court of Appeal on sentence, but the appeal was dismissed.

Mark has also prosecuted several firearms cases and has become particular familiar with the opportunities as well as the limitations of DNA which is commonly a feature of firearms cases.

Over the years Mark has prosecuted multi-handed cigarette and drug smuggling cases being a leading junior in 2013-14 in an 8 handed prosecution at Isleworth Crown Court.

He has also led in a money-laundering prosecution at Southwark Crown Court in 2018 against his pupillage Head of Chambers, Bill Clegg QC and others – a moment of arrival!

Mark has also led in the retrial of a violent stabbing case (originally an attempted murder) tried at Kingston Crown Court in 2017 and retried 2019 (following an error made by the trial judge on bad character – the prosecution had relied on unlikelihood of coincidence, but the judge wrongly admitted the bad character as propensity which was overturned by the Court of Appeal).

Mark is also on the Proceeds of Crime Panel and has experience of applying for and varying restraint orders and variations of confiscation orders. Mark has advised on an application to Discharge a Freezing Order under Paragraph 10T(1) of Schedule 1 to the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. Mark represents both prosecution and defence in these matters.

Mark has had a lot of experience acting for HMRC, the police and NSA in cash forfeiture cases under Part 5, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Mark was called to the Bar in 1995. Grade 4 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutor: (General Crime & Proceeds of Crime). Grade 3 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutor: (Fraud). Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public & Criminal Defence Mark has extensive experience of general criminal work and has particular expertise in both drug and cigarette smuggling prosecutions.

Judicial Review & Public Law

Mark has substantial judicial review experience involving both immigration and criminal matters and proceeds of crime. Mark has a particular interest in public law and criminal issues relating to Christian belief.

Criminal Bar Association.