7 Harrington Street

Crime department

Practice Areas

Crime

• Heavy indictable work
• Prosecution and Defence.

” Approachable and responsive, he gives every case his all” (Legal 500 2020) Ranked Tier 2 (Crime Leading Juniors)

Areas of Practice

Andrew practises in serious crime. He is routinely instructed in heavy indictable work, in particular in the presentation of very complex and difficult multi-handed prosecutions, and also to defend very grave allegations. Cases in which Mr Ford appears are frequently reported, as below:

• Attorney General’s Reference No.146 of 2002 (Robert Stewart) [2003] 2 Cr.App.R(S) 107 possession with intent to supply Class A drugs; where mistaken belief in nature of drugs;
• R v M [2006] 1 Cr.App.R(S) 110 causing death by dangerous driving; where no aggravating features;
• R v H [2004] 2 Cr.App.R(S) 23 defending police officer; where offer to bribe made, sentence reduced
• Operation Binbrook R v JG & Others ; [2004] EWCA Crim 1521; successful prosecution appeal against Terminating Ruling by trial Judge to stop the case against 6 drug traffickers; Judge reversed on Appeal, trial proceeded, 6 convictions followed.
• R v A [2005] EWCA Crim 1299 – dealing in Class A drugs – successfully quashed conviction upon failure of Judge to direct the jury on lies.
• R v G N [2005] EWCA Crim 3320 – very long sentence for kidnapping reduced, where on Licence durting sentence for previous Kidnapping offence; victim placed in pit in ground then driven 40 miles at knifepoint;
• R v B B & others [2012] EWCA Crim 1802, successful prosecution in the Appeal of Liverpool Norris Green gun gang, high profile armed robberies; on deterrent sentencing.
• Attorney General’s Reference No.35 of 2007 (Mark Hird) [2008] 1 Cr.App. R (s) 26 firearm with intent to endanger life, prosecuted at first instance, succesfully referred to Attorney General
• R v S T [2012] EWCA Crim 1153- sentence for street robbery reduced significantly;

Recent Cases:

• R v B & O – Prosecuting a drugs baron and his gang who were accused of trafficking millions of pounds worth cocaine and heroin across the UK and who were caught after a complex police surveillance operation. Very long sentences imposed.
• R v B – Prosecuting a man accused of grooming and trying to incite an underage child into sexual activity.
• R v T and T – Defending the son of a lady who stole over £150,000 from her employers and passed much of the proceeds on to her son.
• R v M – Defending a taxi driver accused of raping a male passenger.
• R v K S – Successfully prosecuted manager of Care Home for the Elderly, where 90 year old frail woman found crawling naked on squalid floor; insufficiently hydrated and later died. Home run by BUPA, who instructed Queens Counsel to defend the allegations. Very High Profile Case. See the Times 17th March 2012.
• R v C – Prosecuting a man found guilty of possessing over 10,000 images of child abuse.
• R v W – Prosecution of a man who abused four young girls. Sentenced to eight years in prison at first instance, referred to the Attorney General where sentenced increased significantly. – completed April 2016
• R v M and P – Conviction of two men for the sequential rapes of teenage girl in churchyard after two week trial.

Recommendations

Singled out in Legal 500 as typifying the depth of experience and ability available in Chambers

“He demonstrates excellent commitment to his clients” (Legal 500 2018) Ranked tier 1

Called to the Bar 1997 (Middle Temple, Harmsworth Scholar)

Chambers Middle Temple Representative

Recommendations

 ‘Approachable and responsive, he gives every case his all.’ Ranked: Tier 2 (Legal 500 2021) (Crime Leading Juniors) 

Singled out in Legal 500 as typifying the depth of experience and ability available in Chambers

"He demonstrates excellent commitment to his clients" (Legal 500 2018) Ranked tier 1

Criminal Bar Association.

BA (Hons).