Westgate Chambers
westgate-chambers.co.ukwestgate-chambers.co.ukBarristers
Richard Barton
- Phone01273 480 510
- Email[email protected]
- Social
- Profilewestgate-chambers.co.uk
Work Department
Crime
Position
Head of Chambers
Career
“A very skilful advocate who exudes charm and confidence.”
Richard defends and prosecutes criminal work, including related regulatory and linked civil matters. Richard is repeatedly praised for both his advocacy skills and the quality of his advice.”
The CPS class him as a top-grade prosecutor, and he often works in London, the South East and Wessex, where he is instructed by their Complex Crime Units and Organised Crime Division.
His defence practice covers the same high-end areas of work. He is regularly briefed as the lead advocate in homicides, serious sex offences, frauds, and the most complex and high-profile criminal cases. Richard has particular experience in defending and prosecuting motor death cases.
Richard is a Grade 4 Prosecutor London and South East and Wessex and is rape approved.
Notable cases:
2016R v Chatters Defending in multiple-count fraud
R v Bradley Prosecuting rape and attempted kidnap
2015R v Kayla-Joseph and others Prosecuting the first successful child sexual exploitation case in Sussex.
R v Hall and others Leading for the Prosecution in lengthy trial of members of an organised crime group concerned in the importation of hundreds of kilos of high-grade Class A drugs.
R v Parsons Christmas Day murder concerning the abuse of legal highs.
R v C and C Prosecution of grandparents for assisting in the abduction of children to Northern Cyprus.
R v M Successful half-time defence, based upon the evidence elicited from Prosecution witnesses during cross-examination, of a man accused of driving his milk tanker through a lowered level-crossing in South West Wales.
R v Styles Trial of young man who walked six miles with a loaded shotgun intending to murder his love-rival.
R v Kennedy Trial of a notorious Jean Paul Gaultier male model from Brighton.
R v W Defence of driver whose car hit a lollypop lady when he was blinded by the sun.
2014R v Ash Smith Junior for Prosecution in notorious 1993 murder of 16-year-old schoolgirl in Greenhithe, Kent. This case was featured in the BBC documentary series, ‘The Prosecutors’.
R v Blencowe Lead Counsel in stabbing murder of 17 year old by his love rival in Oxford.
R v Henderson and others Prosecuting three-handed homicide resulting from death of a street drinker in Eastbourne.
R v Ververopoulos Stranger rape of 16 year old school girl in Aldershot in 2007; Defendant traced years later through his identical twin brother’s DNA on the Greek national database.
R v Green Historic sexual assaults on teenagers at cycle speedway clubs in the South East.
R v Soutar Successful sleep apnoea defence in high-profile death by dangerous driving trial in Newcastle.
R v Burgess Serial rapist in West Sussex.
R v Daley and Robinson Long-running conspiracy to import large quantities of cocaine from Jamaica.
R v Shrimpton Prosecuting a member of the Bar for child pornography.
R v D Successful technical defence of alleged dangerous driver in Gloucestershire in legally complex case concerning the extent of the Crown Court’s jurisdiction.
R v Davies Serial sex offender in Polegate.
R v C Successful defence of care home worker accused of abuse of a dementia patient in the North West.
2013R v Forrest High-profile case about the abduction to France of a 15 year old schoolgirl by her maths teacher. See The Runaway Schoolgirl, a book written by the girl’s mother.
R v Webber Kidnap of model by photographer who claimed to work for MI5.
R v Barker, Rodgers, Dunk and Cook Trial and retrial of four Brighton and Hove Albion professional footballers for sexual assault and voyeurism.
R v Bowen Royal Marine who brought back a ‘trophy’ Taliban AK47 from the Gulf War.
R v Clark Bexhill stranger sexual attack and strangulation by serving soldier.
R v C Sexual abuse of children by young man.
R v Medland Murder of woman by estranged husband during meeting in central Brighton square.
2012R v Dhalla Stalking by City auditor of former fiancée. See the book, ‘Stalked’, written by Alison Hewitt.
R v Skilton and Long Murder of 17 year old by ‘plastic gangster’.
R v Lyons and others Group attack attempted murder arising out of family dispute involving baseball bats and running over with a 4×4 vehicle.
R v Basra Attempted murder of love rival with meat cleaver.
R v Carter Lorry driver historic sexual abuse of young girls across UK.
R v Crawford Stranger rapist from 1985, caught by DNA evidence on cold case review.
R v Haunch Paedophile teacher rapist, a member of PIE, from 1970-80s.
R v Mouza Stranger rapist in Crawley.
R v X Mother forcing her teenage daughter to impregnate herself with sperm bought on the Internet.
R v Allen Murder of wife by man after home renovations went wrong.
2011
R v Peachey Attempted murder of terminally ill father whilst in hospital ward.
R v Tejkowski Trial of serial stranger rapist.
R v Bridgeman Trial of City solicitor for perverting the course of justice.
R v Baig Stabbing to death of wife in car by mentally ill man.
R v Riley Sex offences committed by two brothers, a school caretaker and a karate teacher.
R v C Successful defence of a lorry driver in death by dangerous driving trial resulting from multiple vehicle collision on M42 (sleep apnoea defence).
R v Wenham Death by dangerous driving in Brighton town centre.
R v Cogger Man shot by police in armed stand-off at home address.
R v Batsimba Attempted murder with machete during course of group fight in Crawley town centre.]
Older cases
R v Coutts Junior in trial and re-trial relating to the murder of Jane Longhurst.
R v Fisher Briefed alone in prosecution of Hastings multiple killer and sex attacker.
Re ST Representing a member of the Children of God in long-running Wardship proceedings.
R v Hardison Leading in trial of manufacturer of massive amounts of LSD and related illegal psychotropic drugs.
R v Scrase Briefed alone in prosecution of Eastbourne arson and double murder.
R v Henry and Cole Leading in trial of attempted murder and robbery; victim survived shooting when bullet hit his mobile phone in his breast pocket.
R v Dunne Murder of former housemate by paranoid schizophrenic who believed he was a witch.
R v Hewlett Leading in trial of attempted murder of estranged wife by Inland Revenue civil servant using a stolen van in faked hit-and-run ‘accident’.
R v Barnes Trial of attempted murder of best man; victim left severely physically and mentally handicapped.
R v Devall and others Junior prosecuting a six-handed murder.
R v Harris Trial of paramedic for perverting the course of justice when falsifying records relating to the death of a 999 caller.
R v MacBride Murder of boat owner at sea.
R v Austin and others Junior in trial of manslaughter of Qatari language student on Hastings’ seafront.
R v Cummings One-punch manslaughter at Brighton nightclub.
R v McMillan Defence junior in murder of transgender prostitute by one of her clients.
R v Genestin Junior in trial of murder of wife by French national; body stored in roof box in garden.
R v Sumner and Price Joint murder of eccentric homosexual.
R v Jones Motor manslaughter of elderly lady by wanted offender in stolen car during the course of police chase.
R v Walder and Martindale Murder by woman intervening between men fighting.
R v Dalton Murder of hairdresser by partner.
R v McWilliam and McWilliam Murder of child by proposed adoptive parents.