Criminal Defence Solicitor
& High Court Advocate.

The client was one of several defendants accused of participating in a longstanding Class A drugs conspiracy involving tens of kilograms of drugs over several years. A number of co-defendants pleaded guilty at an early stage to obtain credit for their pleas. Our client maintained a not-guilty plea. Following two days of detailed legal argument, including submissions concerning the prosecution’s telephony evidence, the Crown accepted a plea to a substantially lower-level money-laundering offence and did not proceed with the Class A drugs-conspiracy allegation. The outcome significantly reduced the client’s sentencing exposure and avoided what was assessed to be at least ten additional years in custody.

The client was one of several defendants accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by providing false driver details in relation to multiple speeding offences. A detailed application to dismiss the charge was made on the client’s behalf. Following legal argument, the judge granted the application and the prosecution against the client was brought to an end. Of the numerous defendants involved in the proceedings, our client was the only defendant to secure this outcome through a successful dismissal application.

The client faced a money-laundering allegation concerning funds said by the prosecution to represent the proceeds of drug dealing. At the conclusion of the prosecution case, a submission of no case to answer was made on the client’s behalf. Following legal argument, the judge found in the client’s favour and ruled that the evidence was insufficient for the case to continue. The case was withdrawn from the jury, and the judge directed that a not-guilty verdict be returned.

The client faced an allegation of benefit fraud following a Department for Work and Pensions investigation that included undercover enquiries. Detailed representations challenging the prosecution case were submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service over a period of several months. Although the prosecution initially declined to accept the defence arguments, preparations continued for the investigating officers and the DWP’s procedures to be closely examined at trial. A few days before the trial was due to begin, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to proceed with the prosecution, bringing the case against the client to an end.

The client was prosecuted alongside multiple defendants in connection with an alleged fraud conspiracy said to have operated over approximately eight years and involved hundreds of thousands of pounds. The client faced two separate trials arising from the same allegations. Following the conclusion of the second unsuccessful trial, the prosecution decided not to pursue the case against the client any further. The proceedings were brought to an end without the client being required to face a third trial.

The client faced several counts of perverting the course of justice arising from a murder investigation. Following detailed legal argument, the judge dismissed a number of the allegations. The remaining contested counts proceeded to trial, where the jury returned not-guilty verdicts on further charges. The client was convicted of some offences. The successful challenges to the wider case provided the foundation for detailed and forceful mitigation at the sentencing hearing. Despite the significant risk of an immediate and substantial custodial sentence, the court imposed a non-custodial sentence.

The client faced extremely serious domestic allegations carrying the risk of a sentence extending into double figures if convicted. An earlier trial had collapsed following difficulties concerning the client’s previous legal representation. The client subsequently transferred the case to our defence team, who undertook a complete review and prepared the matter for retrial. The retrial was lengthy and involved evidence from numerous prosecution and defence witnesses. Although the client faced significant challenges while giving evidence under cross-examination, the defence case was presented clearly and persuasively through careful preparation and focused closing submissions. After considering all the evidence, the jury returned not-guilty verdicts and the client was acquitted.