Sam Willis

• Operation Lexes [Southwark] 2021

  Bollywood 'cash for visa' scam

  Sam Willis, led by Rupert Kent, successfully prosecuted this high-profile 'cash for visa' scam, focused around a company pretending to be involved in the Bollywood film industry. The 16-week trial resulted in unanimous guilty verdicts against six of the eight defendants. The jury heard how the 'employees' had been transferring their own money to the company, which was then used to pay the wage bill. This facade disguised the reality - that the company was not trading, that the 'employees' were not doing any real work, and that the 'employment' was merely a vehicle for the sale of worker visas. Sam was instructed by the CPS Special Casework Unit.

  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10337687/Fake-agent-helped-53-students-stay-UK-false-references-phoney-production-company.html

• Operation Localizer [Kingston] 2021

  Seven-handed conspiracy to supply cocaine from London to Brighton (EncroChat material)

  Sam Willis, led by Ben Holt, prosecuted this criminal enterprise to transport large quantities of cocaine from London to Brighton for onward distribution. The evidence came from call data records, a surveillance operation, and 'EncroChat' Operation Venetic material, which all had to be carefully presented at trial.

• R v. H [Woolwich] 2021

  Vulnerable victim knocked unconscious - section 28 trial

  Sam Willis secured a conviction in this case involving a single punch that left a vulnerable woman unconscious following a dispute between her friends and the defendant. The 6-day trial included section 28 pre-recorded cross-examination and the use of an intermediary.

• R v. S [Norwich] 2021

  s.18 stabbing after threats exchanged over social media

  Sam Willis successfully prosecuted this serious act of violence, arising out of an argument on social media between two young men. The case involved a significant amount of digital material, including social media messages, audio recordings, and CCTV. The 5-day trial required careful presentation of the material and sensitive handling of a vulnerable witness giving evidence through a variety of special measures.

• R v. O [Norwich] 2021

  Drug 'sweet shop' at music festival

  Sam Willis prosecuted this drugs supply case - the defendant had been found at a popular music festival in Norfolk with a 'sweet shop' of illegal drugs. A 10-count indictment reflected the various different substances that the defendant had with him. In the face of a well-prepared prosecution case, the defendant pleaded guilty on the first day of trial.

• R v. G [Isleworth] 2021

  Trial of the act - possession of bladed articles and assault

  Sam Willis prosecuted this case involving possession of bladed articles and assault. Preparation for the trial involved issues of joinder, hearsay, and conflicting medical evidence. Whilst remanded in custody awaiting trial, the defendant's mental health deteriorated which resulted in the court finding him unfit to plead. Sam then successfully presented the prosecution case during a trial of the act.

• R v. A [Aylesbury] 2020

  Employee theft of £45k by manipulating computer records

  Sam Willis was instructed by the CPS Complex Casework Unit to prosecute this theft case. The Defendant had been manipulating the computer records at her workplace, in order to steal £45k during her three years of employment. Sam was able to use his previous IT experience in order to collate and condense the 500 pages of computer evidence into a clear schedule for the jury.

• R v. S [Croydon] 2020

  Evasion of duty on 150,000 cigarettes

  Sam Willis was instructed by the specialist fraud unit to prosecute this case of ‘tobacco smuggling’. The defendant had been importing, storing and selling cigarettes for over three years, without paying any import duty or VAT on them.

• R v. C [Guildford] 2020

  Supplying software to 'DDOS' websites and gaming servers

  Sam Willis defended in this computer misuse and money laundering case. The offences involved the supplying of software used to 'DDOS' websites and gaming servers (temporarily disabling them). The served evidence consisted of 30,000 pages of computer logs, and links to other defendants in the USA introduced additional complexity.

• R v. N [Newcastle] 2020

  12-handed conspiracy to evade £2.6m duty on tobacco

  Sam Willis was instructed as led-junior in this 12-handed tobacco importation matter. The overall duty evaded was calculated to be over £2.6 million. Preparation for the case required extensive analysis of mobile telephone billing data.

• R v. K [Lewes] 2019

  Stalking through Facebook, involving 74,000 pages of computer extracts

  Sam Willis, led by Paul Walker, defended in this five-week trial involving allegations of stalking. The prosecution evidence consisted of 74,000 pages of Facebook extracts and computer downloads. The ability to analyse large quantities of digital evidence was crucial to the defence case - it led to a 40-page defence bundle being placed before the jury to provide context and balance to the 550-page prosecution bundles.

Notable Cases