St Ives Chambers

Peter Cooper is a Barrister specialising in Criminal law.

Advocate Panels:

Peter Cooper has been appointed at the highest level (Level 4) on the following Panels:

Midland Circuit Advocate Panel Midland Circuit Specialist Rape List National Serious Crime Group Panel National Fraud Panel National Proceeds of Crime Panel

Peter deals with heavyweight Criminal work, both defending and prosecuting. He regularly receives instructions in the most serious cases, including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, rape, historic sexual offences, child abuse, arson with intent to endanger life, firearms offences, drugs offences and fraud.

He has acted either alone or as leading advocate in several murder cases, and in many others led by Queen’s Counsel. Whilst the majority of his work is in the Crown Court, he also has a long record of effectively representing private clients in the magistrates’ court, including motorists and pub landlords.

He has also acted in regulatory and trading standards cases. He has frequently appeared in the Court of Appeal, and has also dealt with appeals to the Administrative Court in criminal cases by way of case stated and judicial review.

Year of Call: 1996

Notable Cases

In 2017 Peter defended IS, who was charged with rape.  The defence was consent.  Peter was able to cross examine the complainant and her violent partner as to matters of bad character, which revealed very different reasons as to why she might have been intimidated into making a complaint of rape. IS was acquitted after trial.

Between 2015 and 2017 Peter defended Natasha Frazer who was one of 21 defendants charged with a Category 1 Class A drugs conspiracy, extending across wide areas of the Midlands.  The evidence was strong and the papers were very extensive: 17,633 pages in total.  It was vital to identify key exhibits early and offer appropriate advice.  This was done and Frazer pleaded guilty at an early stage on a basis, attracting full credit. 

In 2016 Peter, leading Anthony Cartin of St Ives Chambers, defended Marcus Woolcock.  Marcus Woolcock was one of 5 men charged with multiple rapes and the trafficking for sexual exploitation of six young females.  Ultimately, Woolcock was acquitted of ten counts: six rapes, three trafficking counts and one count of assault by penetration. He was convicted of two counts only, namely sexually assaulting and trafficking a single complainant, which were the least serious counts he had faced.

R v Dlugosz; R v Pickering; R v MDS [2013] 1 Cr.App.R. 32

R (on application of Lawson) v Stafford Magistrates Court (2007) 104(40) LSG 26

Revitt, Borg & Barnes v DPP [2007] 1 Cr App R 19

R v Fletcher [2002] 2 Cr App R (S) 127

R v Mountford [1999] Crim LR 575

For further details of Peter’s cases please read his profile on www.stiveschambers.co.uk

Recommendations

Chambers & Partners 2019:“A class act and the go-to guy for many clients. Incredibly knowledgeable.”

Legal 500 2018: “‘He has exceptional legal knowledge.”

Chambers & Partners 2018: “A very hard-working individual who has a substantial Crown Court practice.”

Chambers & Partners 2017: “He has an excellent presence in court and his attention to detail is superb. He has real gravitas and inspires confidence in the client that he is somebody who will put forward their case very well.”

Legal 500 2017: “A great senior junior, who always displays a real command of case details.”

Chambers & Partners 2016: “I’m never afraid of sending a difficult or demanding brief, whether in terms of complexity or sensitivity.” “Right at the top of the profession and an outspoken advocate in favour of the criminal legal aid Bar.”

Legal 500 2015:  "Possesses all the skill, expertise and gravitas of a QC in all but title."

Chambers & Partners 2015: “He is organised and efficient.”

Legal 500 2014: "A humane practitioner, with a safe pair of hands."

Legal 500 2013: The "meticulous, proactive and incredibly hardworking" Peter Cooper "displays real sensitivity in criminal cases."

Legal 500 2012: "St Ives Chambers’ Peter Cooper acts in serious murder and serious sexual offence cases."

Legal 500 2011: "Peter Cooper continues to appear in top-end criminal cases."

Legal 500 2010: "Peter Cooper has exceptional attention to detail, and is astute at identifying key issues early."

Chambers & Partners 2008: “St Ives Chambers’ Peter Cooper is a quality performer.”

Chambers & Partners 2006: “Brings a stamp of quality to every case he takes on.”

English

Criminal Bar Association

MA (Jurisprudence) Oxford University