36 Crime
King’s Counsel specialising in criminal law. Defending and Prosecuting on the Midland and South Eastern circuits and in the Court of Appeal. Instructed in the most serious, high-profile and often multi-handed cases, involving murder, firearms, conspiracy, fraud and cybercrime. A trial strategist, dedicated to the forensic analysis of evidence and passionate about the in-court examination of witnesses.
Recent cases
R v MS & others (2023 Derby & Leicester) Murder and s.18. Defended young Kurdish asylum seeker (acquitted) alleged to have been involved, with four co-accused, in town centre fight with six other armed males in which one man was killed and another seriously injured. OP Holyhead (2023 Nottingham) Successfully prosecuted four Defendants for stabbing to death a man on day release from prison. The murder, which took place on a busy city centre street at night, was planned and targeted. R v Phillips (2023 Northampton) Murder/Manslaughter: Defended 19-year-old man charged with killing another young man in an impromptu fight in the street in broad daylight. R v Karbauskas (2022 Lincoln) Successfully prosecuted Lithuanian Defendant for stabbing to death a member of his family. Issue at trial was identity of the killer; main Prosecution evidence came from five ‘lay-listeners’ (relatives and associates of both the Defendant and the Deceased) who recognised their voices from a Nest audio recording that captured the events of the killing. R v Sergiu Boianjiu (2022 Northampton) Rape and Attempted Murder. Defended Moldovan man (previous conviction for Murder in Moldova) charged with ambushing young woman as she walked home from nightclub in early hours of morning; brutally assaulting her; dragging her down an alleyway, raping her and then trying (unsuccessfully) to beat and stamp her to death. OP Mountain (2022 Derby) Successfully prosecuted four armed Defendants who ambushed a group of men with whom they were in dispute. One man stabbed to death. OP Rorschach (2021 Nottingham) Conspiracy to commit firearms offences. Prosecuted (for East Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit) two multi-handed conspiracies (over three trials) relating to targeted, revenge shootings at addresses in rural Derbyshire and central Nottingham. OP Haxey (2020 Nottingham) Successfully prosecuted seven Defendants for their involvement in revenge machete murder of vulnerable drug addict during attempt to regain control of his flat that had been seized by rival Class A drug dealing gang. The largest COVID-19 pandemic trial, heard before a High Court Judge across three courtrooms. OP Spruce (2020 Blackfriars & Inner London) Money Laundering. Prosecuted (for West Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit) multi-handed conspiracy to export stolen cloned Range Rovers and Mercedes to Southern Africa and Far East. R v Amari Smith (2019 Northampton) Murder/Manslaughter. Prosecuted young Defendant for stabbing to death young victim (both armed with knives) during argument/encounter on the street. [2021] 1 Cr.App.R.(S.) 37 R v Gamble (2018 Leicester/Central Criminal Court) Instructed by CPS International Justice & Organised Crime Division, London. Prosecuting Defendant (15/16 years old at the time) for hacking (‘social engineering’) into computers and communication accounts of Director of CIA, Deputy Director of FBI, Secretary of Homeland Security and other high-ranking US government and intelligence officials. Defendant was founding member of online collective “Crackas with Attitude”. He also gained unauthorised access to US Department of Justice and law enforcement networks. R v Alan Yeomans (2018 Derby) Confiscation/Money Laundering. Defending. Defendant had disguised a substantial luxury mansion as a farm shed. Insolvency Service claimed a benefit and available amount figure of £8m. Reduced, after complex proceedings, to £650,000.Called (1993);
Head of Criminal Team, 36 Bedford Row (2011-2014);
KC (2013);
Panel Chair, Bar Tribunal & Adjudication Service (2019-present).
Areas of experience:
Serious & Complex Crime Cybercrime Professional Misconduct & Disciplinary Financial Crime Homicide Serious Sexual Offences
Criminal Bar Association;
Midland & South-Eastern Circuits;
CEDR Mediator.
Eton College; University of Durham (1984-85 BA Hons Anthropology (2:2)); Polytechnic of Central London (1991-92 CPE (pass with commendation)); Inns of Court School of Law (1992-93 BVC (outstanding)).
Durham University;
Army Officer;
Polytechnic of Central London (CPE);
Inns of Court School of Law (Winner: Evered Ver Heyden Foundation Advocacy prize).