Criminal, Direct Access

AREAS OF EXPERTISE Bribery and Corruption Confiscation Crime Defence Drugs Financial Crime & Fraud Murder & Manslaughter Prosecution Road Traffic & Motoring Sexual Offences Violent Crime Introduction

Andrew is a distinguished advocate called who was appointed Queens Counsel in 2010. He both defends and prosecutes and has an enviable depth and breadth of experience across the full range of criminal and regulatory offences. 

Andrew has appeared in multiple high-profile cases. He is frequently the advocate of choice for cases involving serious violence, murder, corporate manslaughter where there have been serious breaches of health and safety legislation. He is highly experienced in both prosecuting and defending confiscation applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

Andrew has advised the SFO and prosecuted in a series of cases involving student loan frauds and associated money laundering. He has specialist experience of large-scale Carousel tax  frauds and  missing trader frauds. His experience includes advising in the specialist area of housing fraud, including advising a large London borough in the complex issues arising from interlocking multiple identity and misappropriation of housing stock. 

Prior to taking Silk, Andrew developed a formidable reputation for dealing with complex cases, particularly serious violence, fraud and sexual offences.

Whether appearing for the prosecution or defence, Andrew is known for his court room presence, his incisive analysis and ability to get to the heart of the matter. He is known for his mastery of detail, ability to think strategically and to advise a full range of clients with clarity based on long experience.   

Expertise: murder; manslaughter; serious fraud (VAT, tax, diversion, subsidy, CIS, etc); sexual offences (adult, child, historic, grooming, etc); serious crime. Before taking silk Andrew practiced in all areas of major crime. He was involved in most of the major diversion frauds as well as other serious types of fraud in particular missing trader, carousel frauds. He also specialised in sexual offences particularly those involving children. He also did serious crime such as attempted murder, GBH and drugs offences. Since taking silk he has defended in several murders and defended in the case of Hassani at Maidstone, a fight between rival Afgan gangs, where after a three month trial the prosecution accepted a plea to manslaughter based on loss of control. The defendant received five and a half years. He represented a defendant in one of the biggest carousel frauds at Kingston Crown Court where the prosecution accepted a plea on a very limited basis and the defendant walked out of court with a suspended sentence. He represented the principle defendant in a CIS fraud where the client was a registered agent for HMRC. After an intense legal argument the prosecution had to offer no evidence. He recently appeared for the principle defendant in a child prostitution case where the children from a local care home were alleged to have been groomed, raped and put to work as prostitutes. He was unanimously acquitted of all the counts to do with the children of the care home.

Notable Cases

R v H

Successfully defending in the case of a fight between rival Afgan gangs where after a 3-month trial the prosecution accepted a plea to manslaughter based on loss of control with a greatly reduced sentence.

R v X

Successfully defending one of Kingston's largest "Carousel" frauds and obtaining a reduced please resulting in the accused receiving a suspended sentence.

R v Q

Representing the principal defendant in a CIS fraud where the client was a registered agent for HMRC. After intense legal argument the prosecution failed to offer evidence.

Re X  

Representing a principal defendant in a child prostitution case involving children from a local care home who were alleged to have been groomed, raped and put to work as prostitutes. Client unanimously acquitted on all counts.

Criminal Bar Association.

LLB (Hons) (Brunel).