Cases
Cases
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Op Varbody [Snaresbrook] 2025
Family OCG trafficking 1 tonne of cocaine around the UK
Charlotte Hole and Sam Willis prosecuted a family of drug traffickers responsible for moving at least one tonne of cocaine from ports in the South East to towns and cities across the UK.
Headed up by grandmother Deborah Mason, self-described as ‘Gangster Debbs’ and saved in another defendant’s phone as ‘Queen Bee’, the close-knit group of nine defendants were responsible for collecting up to 60 1kg blocks of cocaine at a time from the Harwich / Colchester area, and then delivering them to serious organised crime groups in Rotherham, Bradford, Leicester, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff for onward supply. Around 55 individual trips were made by the group during 2023, each trip involving multiple drug drops or cash collections, amounting to around a tonne of cocaine in total.
The trial of eight of the defendants at Woolwich Crown Court concluded this week, and involved the presentation of cell site and ANPR mapping, surveillance evidence, and a schedule of 7,500 messages exchanged between the defendants revealing the inner workings of the conspiracy.
Two of the defendants pleaded guilty during the trial and six were convicted by the jury. One defendant had already pleaded guilty at an earlier stage in the proceedings.
Charlotte and Sam were instructed by Rob Hutchinson of the CPS Complex Casework Unit.
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Op Narrative [Snaresbrook] 2024
780kg of cocaine concealed inside a shipping container
Sam Willis, led by James Brown, prosecuted the "biggest seizure of Class A drugs" ever made by Northamptonshire Police, centred around a shipment of 780kg of cocaine. Worth £78m, the drugs had been concealed inside a shipping container that had arrived into the Port of Felixstowe.
Sam was instructed by Kate Mulholland of the CPS Complex Casework Unit.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-59493377
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Op Tamora [Isleworth] 2023
Containers filled with 270kg of cocaine, 2,500kg of cannabis and 18.6m cigarettes
Charlotte Hole and Sam Willis prosecuted two importers for bringing into the UK 270 kilograms of cocaine, 2.5 tonnes of cannabis and 18.6 million duty-free cigarettes, all hidden inside shipping containers. Valued at £24m, the drugs had been vacuum-packed and then secreted inside crates of animal feed, yams and oranges. The cigarettes were concealed in a similar manner, hidden inside crates of snack food, coconut fibre and biscuits - the tax that should have been paid on them if imported lawfully totalled just over £9m.
The case followed an extensive investigation by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit, who became involved when a farmer discovered 189kg of cocaine in a shipping container full of animal feed. The defendants had unsuccessfully tried to divert the container to their warehouse in London so that the drugs could be removed before the container reached the farm.
During the 16-week trial, the conspiracy was evidenced using material from numerous encrypted communications services. The jury heard technical evidence involving cell site analysis, VPN services, and IP address resolution.
Charlotte and Sam were instructed by the CPS Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate (SEOCID).
https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/drug-smugglers-foiled-farmer-jailed-over-ps29-million-plot
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Op Melrose [CCC] 2023
People-smuggling gang linked to 39 migrant deaths in Essex
Ben Holt was instructed as lead prosecution counsel in this trial that arose from the investigation into the thirty-nine Vietnamese nationals who died in the rear of a lorry. Ben was previously instructed as led junior [led by Bill Emlyn-Jones KC] in the prosecution of a man for thirty-nine counts of manslaughter. Instructed by CPS, SEOCID.
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Operation Forte [Croydon] 2023
Spree of commercial burglaries across London committed by OCG
Sam Willis, led by Charlotte Hole, prosecuted this case of an OCG committing a spree of commercial burglaries across London. The group targeted bookmakers and other shops, typically breaking in during the night using sledgehammers and then cutting open the shop's safe using power tools. Investigated by the Flying Squad, the evidence against the eight defendants was presented over four weeks and included CCTV, covert surveillance, forensics, mobile telephone downloads, and cell site mapping.
Sam was instructed by the CPS Complex Casework Unit.
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/croydon-burglary-gang-jailed-met-flying-squad-b1088840.html
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Operation Lynne [Chelmsford] 2023
OCG providing false passports for cash
Sam Willis, led by Dickon Reid, prosecuted this organised crime group who were facilitating illegal entry into the UK by providing false passports in exchange for cash. Over a six-week trial, evidence against the seven defendants was presented showing numerous trips to European cities where false passports were handed over to asylum seekers who then used them to board flights to the UK.
Legal issues during the case included the use of evidence from foreign law enforcement authorities, the admissibility of a modern slavery expert's opinion on the evidence, and the extent to which a claim to be a modern slave could amount to an abuse of process.
Sam was instructed by the CPS East of England Complex Casework Unit.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/people-smuggling-gang-jailed-for-26-years
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R v S-P & T [Southwark] 2023
Investment Fraud
Ben Holt led for the prosecution in this trial of two defendants alleged convicted of committing fraud by abuse of position in relation to investments made on behalf of clients. Both were directors of an advisory business. They fraudulently advised their clients to invest in an investment scheme that they had set up. Both businesses failed; leaving their clients at a financial loss. [Instructed by CPS, SFD Manchester].
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R v Kersys [Kingston] 2022
One Punch Manslaughter
Ben Holt was sole prosecution counsel in a ‘one-punch manslaughter’ trial.
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Operation Caliadne [Woolwich] 2022
EncroChat cocaine supply conspiracy
Sam Willis, led by William Davis, prosecuted this EncroChat OCG who were involved in the supply of 30+ kilos of cocaine around London. The case was in the first wave of prosecutions following the infiltration of the Encro network, and the trial involved several admissibility arguments relating to the source, integrity and reliability of the data. A further complicating factor was that the lead defendant’s wife was a serving Met Police officer.
Sam was instructed by the CPS London Complex Casework Unit.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/b3a210dc-7986-11ed-bcd8-855e06175970
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R v CS [Southwark Crown Court] 2022
ABH, Malicious Communications & Racially Aggravated Harassment with Violence
William represented the Crown in a domestic abuse case. The Defendant made a series of threats to the victim - his ex-partner - over a two-month period and attacked her with a knife, causing injury. The defendant was unanimously convicted of all five counts, assessed as dangerous, and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment with licence extended to five years.
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R v. S, W and W [Wood Green] 2022
£170k voodoo money cleaning scam
Sam Willis prosecuted this case of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation, where the defendants had convinced a vulnerable victim to give her life savings over to them to be 'cleansed' of voodoo. The evidence presented over an 8-day trial included hours of audio recordings, showing that the defendants never had any intention of returning the £170k cash.
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Operation Kandla 2022
Health & Safety Prosecution under the Medicines Act 1968
Mark Heywood KC led William Davis in the prosecution of a company that manufactures total parenteral nutrition, which is supplied to vulnerable patients receiving nutrition intravenously. In 2014 a contaminated batch was supplied to hospitals treating severely premature babies. 19 babies developed infections as a result, and one died. After protracted and contentious litigation, the defendant company pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence and to offences under the Medicines Act 1968. The company was sentenced in April 2022.
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Operation Rayak 2022
Swedish Gangland Assasination
Mark Heywood KC led for the Crown in this case involving a Swedish Gangland assassination of a member of a leading figure in Swedish organised crime by a rival group who carried out the shooting by firing 10 shots at point blank range in London in front of the victim’s wife and 2 year old child. This was a carefully planned operation involving protracted surveillance of the victim, disguises, the procurement of semi automatic weapons and ammunition and a clean up operation after the event.
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Operation Lexes [Southwark] 2021
Bollywood 'cash for visa' scam
Sam Willis, led by Rupert Kent, 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.
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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.
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R v. S [Norwich] 2021
s.18 stabbing after threats exchanged over social media
Sam Willis 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.
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R v. Finch - C.C.C. 2021
Official Secrets Act
Matk Heywood KC led the Prosecution and subsequent reference of sentence to Court of Appeal of defence contractor employed by BAe Systems who compiled records of highly secret operational information relating to a missile system currently in service with the UK armed forces and abroad and then travelled to Europe to send copies by email to multiple recipients. Extremely unusual conviction for an offence under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911.
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R v Robinson and ors [CCC] 2020
39 counts of manslaughter of Vietnamese migrants
Jonathan Polnay was led by Bill Emlyn Jones in this prosecution for the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese migrants who suffocated to death in a shipping container whilst being smuggled in to the UK.
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Operation Photal [CCC] 2020
Attempted arson with intent to endanger life
Ben Holt acted for the Crown in this case where the Defendant was convicted of attempted arson with intent to endanger life after placing an incendiary device in the exhaust pipe of a diplomatic car parked outside the Iranian Embassy [Instructed by CPS, CTD].
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Operation Footprint [CCC] 2020
Buying a grenade over the ‘dark web’
Ben Holt acted for the Crown in this case where the Defendant was convicted of buying a grenade over the ‘dark web’ [Instructed by CPS, Thames & Chiltern CCU].
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R v Gopaul and Bannerman [C.C.C.] 2020
Homicide
Anthony Orchard QC led William Davis for the prosecution in a murder trial following an incident outside a nightclub in which a man was stabbed. After the killing the Defendant fled to Cyprus with the assistance of a friend, who was convicted of assisting an offender. The Defendant was extradited to the UK in 2019.
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R v Bryan & Ahwan [Kingston] 2020 2020
Murder
Anthony Orchard QC led William Davis in the prosecution of two defendants for an incident in Kingston town centre in which a van was deliberately driven at one males, and another was fatally stabbed.
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R v. Long and ors [CCC] 2020
Prosecution of three men for killing a Thames Valley police officer
Jonathan Polnay was led by Brian Altman QC (first trial) and Jonathan Laidlaw QC (second trial) in the prosecution of three young men for killing PC Andrew Harper, whilst trying to escape with a stolen quad bike.
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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.
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R v Fuller [Kingston] 2020
Far Right Extremist charged with Car Park Stabbing of Bulgarian National
Jonathan Polnay prosecution Vincent Fuller for attempted murder. Having been inspired by the Christchurch massacre, Fuller tried to carry out a terrorist-motivated knife attack in South West London.
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R v SA [C.C.C.] 2020 2020
Murder
Anthony Orchard QC led William Davis in the prosecution of a defendant in connection with an incident at an all-night party in Aldgate in which one man was fatally stabbed, and three others were injured.
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Operation Northleigh [Isleworth CC] 2020
Grenfell Tower Fraud
Ben Holt prosecuted this two-handed trial. Both defendants were convicted by a jury of having committed fraud by lying that they were living in Grenfell Tower at the time of the disaster [Instructed by CPS, SCU].
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R v. Biomy & Yusuf [Inner London] 2020
Gangland Revenge Killing
William Davis was Junior Prosecution Counsel (led by Brian O’Neill QC) in a gang-related murder, carried out in revenge for the attempted murder of the main Defendant by members of a rival gang.
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Operation Hillside [CCC] 2020
Attempted Murder of Police Officers
James Brown led Ben Holt for the Crown in this high profile trial involving the attempted murder of Police Officers during a gun fight following an armed ‘car jacking’. The defendant was convicted by a jury and received a life sentence.
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R v Jalal Uddin [C.C.C.] 2019
Murder of wife by stabbing
Danny Robinson QC led William Davis in this prosecution for murder of a Defendant who stabbed his wife at least 58 times in an attack described by the pathologist as involving “extreme” force.
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R v Muhammed Hussain [C.C.C.] 2019
Murder
William Davis was Junior Prosecution Counsel (led by Louis Mably QC) in prosecution for murder of a Defendant who stabbed his neighbour after a confrontation in the street.
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R v. Gordon Park [C.O.A.] 2019
Lady in the Lake murder trial
Louise Oakley was Junior Prosecution Counsel led by Richard Whittam QC before Lady Justice Sharp, Mr Justice Sweeney and Mrs Justice May in response to the CCRC’s Referral of the “Lady in Lake” case which was one of the UK’s longest murder enquires.
Carol Park went missing on 17 July 1976, and was never seen alive again by her family. In 1997, her body was discovered by divers in Coniston Water. She was nicknamed "the Lady in the Lake” by detectives. Carol Park’s husband (Gordon Park) was convicted of her murder in 2005. He appealed against his conviction, nut it was dismissed in 2008. Just over a year later, Gordon Park killed himself on his 65th birthday in his cell at HMP Garth.
Gordon Park’s family applied on his behalf to the CCRC and following an eight year investigation they referred the case in 2018 to the Court of Appeal on the basis that there was a real possibility the Court of Appeal will consider the conviction is unsafe. The CCRC cited the cumulative effect of a number of issues, including the non-disclosure of expert opinion undermining the prosecution’s assertion that Gordon Park’s climbing axe could be the murder weapon, new scientific evidence showing that Gordon Park was not a contributor of DNA preserved within knots of the rope used to bind his wife’s body, non-disclosure of information undermining the reliability of a prosecution witness who gave evidence of a prison confession and a renewed assertion that a rock found in the lake near Carol Park’s remains could not specifically be linked to rocks at Bluestones, the family home, should be reassessed.
The Appeal involved the instruction of forensic scientists, forensic pathologists and forensic odontologists and a review of legal, dental and medical records going back to 1976.
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R v Anwar Hussain & ors [Southwark] 2019
MTIC Fraud
Jonathan Polnay led William Davis in this long running MTIC fraud involving five companies and tax losses of around £13M. There were multiple trading chains supported by a wealth of forged documentation, and the proceeds of the fraud were transferred offshore via banks in Eastern Europe and Hong Kong.
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Operation Baghrash [Bristol] 2019
Conspiracy to defraud the N.H.S and D.o.H
Ben Holt appeared in this 8-week, seven-handed, prosecution trial acting as led junior. Allegations related to the application to the Department of Health for grants in order to improve care homes by a Hospice in Somerset. Seven-handed conspiracy to defraud the NHS and DoH in relation to tenders made for building projects. Instructed by CPS SFD Manchester.
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R v David [Southwark] 2019
£15m Investment Fraud
Jonathan Polnay acted in the Prosecution of investment advisor for defrauding nearly £15 million from investors. The case involved complex third party confiscation proceedings.
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R v. Michael Weir [C.C.C.] 2019
Groundbreaking Double Jeopardy Murder
Louise Oakley was the led junior for the Crown led by Tom Little QC before Mrs Justice McGowan at the Central Criminal Court. The defendant was charged with two separate murders committed in 1998 of Leonard Harris and Rose Seferian. Case made legal history when Weir was convicted as he is the first person ever to be convicted of the same murder twice!
Weir was originally convicted in July 1999 of the murder of Leonard Harris. That conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2000 on the basis that a DNA profile on the DNA database used for comparative purposes should not have been retained. In 2017 a match was found between Weir’s palm print at the Seferian crime scene. That in turn led to a reinvestigation of the Harris murder where it was discovered that a palm print inside the Harris’s home address matched Weir and advances in DNA meant that new DNA evidence was also found.
Prosecution put to strict proof re continuity of palm prints found a both crime scenes involving a painstaking analysis of historical records held by the fingerprint bureau.
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Operation Gwendreath [Southwark] 2019
Money laundering
Rupert Kent was instructed by the CPS Complex Casework Unit as a led junior in this 18-handed conspiracy to convert criminal property prosecution. The case comprised 8,000 pages of evidence and 270 witnesses, and was split into four trials.
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Operation Suina [Kingston] 2019
£8m nationwide Drug Supply operation
Charlotte Newell led Dickon Reid in this 2 month Prosecution of an organised crime network involving 11 Defendants for a multi-million pound nationwide Class A drug dealing operation, the proceeds of which were laundered through a series of sham companies.
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R v. John Worboys [C.C.C.] 2019
Further prosecution of notorious black-cab driver for drugging passengers with sexual intent
Jonathan Polnay, led by Duncan Penny QC prosecuted the notorious black-cab driver for drugging a further four passengers with sexual intent. All the women made their allegations to the police in early 2018, shortly after the Parole Board announced it had decided he was fit to leave prison after serving less than nine years of an indeterminate sentence, plus time spent on remand.
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Operation Auxin [Maidstone] 2019
Fraud
Rupert Kent was instructed as leading counsel by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division in a 7-handed fraudulent evasion prosecution investigated by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs. The case involved complicating fitness-to-plead considerations.
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Operation Cranfield [Southwark] 2019
Confiscation
Rupert Kent was instructed by the CPS Complex Casework Unit as a junior alone in confiscation proceedings arising from a £7m drug importation prosecution in which he had appeared as a led junior. The POCA proceedings involved use of a European Investigation Order to gather information from Belgium relating to a pre-existing foreign confiscation order.
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Operation Italici [C.C.C] 2019
Importation of Anabolic Steroids from India & Singapore
Ben Holt has successfully prosecuted a case involving the importation of unlicensed anabolic steroids (AAS) from India and Singapore. The gang imported more than 40 tonnes of illicit anabolic steroids and is said to be ‘the most prolific of its kind ever uncovered'. One member of that gang was also linked to another gang involved in the production and distribution of steroids from an underground AAS factory in the United Kingdom. Five Defendants were convicted following two six week trials.
Instructed by the CPS Organised Crime Division; investigated by the NCA in Belfast.
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R v. Donovan & Woolcock [C.C.C.] 2019
Loss of control murder
Anthony Orchard QC led Charlotte Newell for the prosecution in a murder trial involving two cousins for the murder of their great uncle. The first defendant alleged loss of self-control; both defendants convicted following a trial.
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R v [VD] [Isleworth] 2019
Fraud involving the sale of a Lucien Freud painting of Francis Bacon
Phoebe Bragg successfully prosecuted in a fraud involving the Defendant purporting to be in possession of a genuine Lucien Freud painting of Francis Bacon, stolen in the 1980’s from a Berlin Gallery, and offering it for sale.
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Operation W 2019
Money laundering
Rupert Kent was instructed by the SFO to give legal professional privilege advice in relation to material seized during the search of a solicitors firm, members of which were being investigated for the layering of criminal profit through international client accounts.
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R v. Drenova [C.C.C] 2019
Prosecution of Lithuanian serial-killer
Jonathan Polnay, led by Tim Cray QC, acted for the Prosecution in this case involving a serial killer nicknamed Scarface who went on a bloody crime spree across Europe. He was jailed for at least 20 years for his fifth murder.
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Operation Mutisia [C.C.C.] 2019
Money laundering
Rupert Kent was instructed as leading counsel by the CPS International Justice and Organised Crime Division to prosecute a money laundering case relating to £6m worth of the proceeds of numerous international invoice diversion frauds. This case arose out of a large multi-jurisdictional National Crime Agency investigation, and comprised 6,000 pages of served evidence.
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Operation Wintergreen [Southwark] 2019
Investment fraud
Rupert Kent was instructed as junior counsel by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division in a conspiracy to defraud case arising from a large-scale, complicated, carbon credits ‘investments’ scam leading to £2.4m worth of loss, and comprising over 15,000 pages of evidence.
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R v P [Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court] 2018
Insolvency
Rupert Kent was instructed as junior alone by the Insolvency Service to prosecute a defendant accused of a s.354 Insolvency Act 1986 concealing property offence, arising from the removal of property after the making of a bankruptcy order, itself arising from an initial failure to pay taxes to HMRC.
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R v Abdi-Jalebi [Southwark] 2018
Multi-million pound renewable energy research fraud committed by Cambridge academic
Jonathan Polnay proescuted this Cambridge University academic who carried out a £2.5 million fraud in government grants. Dr. Ehsan Abdi-Jalebi, 38, a former engineering student and Bye-Fellow at the university, used faked documents to siphon off money into his own accounts from funding allocated to the development of renewable energy projects.
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R v. McLeod & ors [Croydon] 2018
£700K fraud against the Redundancy Payments Service
William Davis led in the prosecution of a group of accountants who committed a £700K fraud against the Redundancy Payments Service (RPS), a government agency that makes payments to workers owed money when their employers become insolvent. The Defendants arranged for 105 false applications to be submitted, in some cases supported by false identifies and forged documents. This was the first ever prosecution for fraud against the RPS. In a separate investigation, William Davis again led in the prosecution of Lennox McLeod for a VAT fraud committed during the same period as the RPS case. The defendant took over the VAT affairs of a company after the death of its director and falsely claimed over £100K in VAT refunds.
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R v. Rekaya [Isleworth] 2018
Prosecution of £90,000 Grenfell fraudster
Catherine Farrelly successfully prosecuted a man who ran up nearly £90,000 in accommodation and travel costs, after pretending to be a victim of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
He was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment.
The news report may be found here.
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Operation Eric [Chelmsford] 2018
£3.6m Alcohol duty & VAT evasion fraud
William Davis led Dickon Reid in the prosecution of five defendants charged with a £3.6m alcohol duty and VAT evasion fraud. The ringleaders were importing beer, wine and spirits from Europe using sophisticated mirror loads. Evidentially, the case was complicated and comprised numerous strands including surveillance, phone evidence, CCTV, business records and expert evidence relating to cell site, handwriting and tachographs. The two leading defendants received sentences close to the statutory maximum. Instructed by CPS Special Casework.
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R v. Bell [Reading] 2018
First CID prosecution under s.53 RIPA 2000
Fiona Ryan acted for the Crown in the first (CID) prosecution under s.53 RIPA 2000. The defendant, suspected of possession of indecent images of children, failed to comply with a s.49 requirement to provide the password to an encrypted drive. The defendant was sentenced to 9 months’ imprisonment and Sexual Risk Order imposed.
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Kent Trading Standards v. ADRIVEFORLIFE.COM [Maidstone] 2018
Fraud by False Representation and Money Laundering
Pauline Thompson successfully prosecuted the director of ADRIVEFORLIFE.COM who pleaded guilty to 19 counts of Fraud and one count of Money Laundering. He was sentenced to 38 months imprisonment and disqualified from acting as a company director for 4 years.
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R v. O & ors [Wood Green] 2018
"County Lines" Drugs Conspiracy
James Brown was lead Counsel for the Crown in this “County lines” drugs conspiracy, 5 week trial in August 2018.
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Operation Dowl [C.C.C.] 2018
Suicide Terror Plot to Kill the Prime Minister
Mark Heywood QC represented the Crown in this case involving the plot by two individuals to kill the Prime Minister. The plan was to detonate a bomb at the gates of Downing Street and then kill Theresa May with a knife or gun.
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R v Freddy David [Southwark] 2018
Prosecution of financial advisor for £15m fraud on clients
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this rougue financial advisor who stole nearly £15 million from wealthy clients to fund his gambling addiction and pay his children’s school fees.
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R v. Glenn [ILCC] 2018
Rape of 13 year old school girl
Catherine Farrelly prosecuted this matter in which the defendant grabbed a 13-year-old schoolgirl off the street and filmed himself raping her. He was jailed for 11 years.
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R v. F & ors [Southwark] 2018
Importation of 100 kilos of cocaine by helicopter
James Brown was leading Counsel for the Crown in this case involving the Importation of 100 kilos of cocaine by helicopter, landing at luxury hotels in Kent.
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R v. Wojtkowiak [Maidstone] 2018
£1m Revenue Fraud Operation
William Davis acted for the crown in this case that was a revenue fraud prosecution and instructed by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division. The Defendant was a Polish lorry driver caught with four million cigarettes concealed in a lorry carrying parts for a destined for a major car plant in the UK. The total revenue evaded was over £1M.
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R v Ngueyn [Southwark] 2018
Grenfell Tower Fraud
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this serial fraudster who has been jailed for 21 months after he pretended his wife and son were killed in the Grenfell Tower fire in a “despicable” attempt to pocket £12,500 set aside for victims of the disaster.
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Operation Tandil [Croydon] 2018
Violent disorder arising out of an attack on an asylum seeker in Croydon
Two linked trials. Jonathan Polnay led Ben Holt in the first and Ben Holt led Dickon Reid in the second. A total of 14 defendants were charged with violent disorder arising out of an attack on an asylum seeker in Croydon. The case attracted international media attention. Instructed to SCU at CPS London.
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R v. K & ors [Snaresbrook] 2018
Multi Kilo class A Drugs conspiracy
James Brown prosecuted this East London organised crime network for a Multi-kilo class A drugs conspiracy at a 5 week trial at Snaresbrook CC in January 2018.
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R v. Theodore Johnson [C.C.C] 2018
Prosecution of man for third offence of homicide of his partners
Mark Heywood QC and Jonathan Polnay acted for the Crown in the case of Theodore Johnson whom was sentenced to life with a minimum tariff of 26 years, increased on appeal against Unduly Lenient Sentence, to 30 years in March 2018. Johnson had been convicted previously for the manslaughters of his partners in 1981 and 1993. His third victim, Angela Best, was murdered with a claw hammer in her flat in North London in December 2016.
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Operation Bloomeria [2017-2018] 2018
Prosecution of a network of paedophiles
Charlotte Newell was instructed by CPS International & Organised Crime division Prosecuted this network of individuals for offences by paedophiles including streaming child sexual abuse on an online conferencing platform including the live streaming of a rape of a child in the USA.
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R v.S (Canterbury) 2018
Rogue trader prosecution. Instructed by Kent County Council Trading Standards.
Pauline Thompson successfully prosecuted a rogue trader builder who was sentenced to 61 months imprisonment on a fraud of £38,000. Disqualified from company directorship for 10 years and a CBO imposed indefinitely.
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R v Seabrook & ors [Woolwich] 2018
Conspiracy to supply drugs
Charlotte Hole, instructed by the CPS SE Complex Casework Unit, was led by Martin Yale, Senior Crown Advocate, in a 5 week prosecution of 5 defendants charged with conspiracy to supply drugs with a street value of over £10m, after 951kg of cannabis was found in a lorry load of rabbit hay. The case involved large volumes of telephone records, cell site evidence, and disputed evidence of co-location.
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R v J [C.C.C] 2018
Manslaughter of childhood friend
Anthony Orchard QC appeared for the Crown at the Old Bailey, where the defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the first day of his trial. The defendant was sentenced to 14 years and nine months imprisonment. The victim and defendant were childhood friends and had arranged to meet at the time of the incident to settle their unresolved tensions. The victim died by a single stab wound to the chest.
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Operation Northacre [C.C.C] 2018
Gang related Murder
Anthony Orchard QC led the prosecution in this gang related murder trial where a woman was killed after a bullet ricocheted off a wall and hit her.
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Operation Newlands [C.C.C] 2018
Murder
Anthony Orchard QC led Danny Robinson in prosecuting four defendants for murder, in a trial that lasted 3 months. The defendants were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment after being found guilty of murder, violent disorder and perverting the course of justice.
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R v. AT [Snaresbrook] 2018
Historic child sexual offences
Orla Daly acted for the prosecution this case involving a religious minister charged with historic child sexual offences between 1996 and 1998 committed allegedly upon the cousin of a former partner.
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Operation Northleigh [Isleworth] 2018
Fraud of the Grenfell Tower victim fund
Ben Holt prosecuted the Finance Manager of the Grenfell Finance Team. She was employed by the RBK&C to assist in providing financial assistance to victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster. However, she stole £62,062 from prepaid credit cards that were allocated to survivors of the fire. During the course of the investigation into that allegation, it transpired that the defendant had defrauded her previous employer, the NHS. Defendant received a custodial sentence of 5-and-a-half years. Instructed by SCU, London.
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R v. Abdikarim [Isleworth] 2017
Acid Attack
Ben Holt was instructed by the Prosecution for the trial of an ‘acid attack’ case. The victim was lured to a park in Isleworth by the defendant. A substance was thrown at him by another, unidentified, male. Victim lost his eye as a result of the attack. He gave evidence with the assistance of an intermediary. Defendant was convicted and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.
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R v. Abdallah [C.C.C.] 2017
Prosecution of British man who travelled to Syria to join so-called Islamic State
Mark Heywood QC acted for the Crown in this prosecution of a British man who was jailed for possession of an AK47 gun, receiving £2000 for the purposes of terrorism and membership of ISIS.
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R v. Kibusi & ors [C.C.C.] 2017
Revenge Execution
Anthony Orchard QC led Charlotte Newell in this prosecution of 3 men for the "Revenge Execution" of a rival gang member following a knife fight the previous day. The victim was shot in the chest with an automatic pistol at close range during broad daylight in a street in Ilford East London. They were each sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 30 years.
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R v. Zefi & ors [Kingston] 2017
Conspiracy to supply large quantities of class A drugs
Danny Robinson led Paul Jackson in this successful prosecution of males charged with conspiracy to supply large quantities of class A drugs and then launder the proceeds. This was a NCA investigation. The defendants were sentenced to a total of 44 years imprisonment.
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R v. Ahmed [Snaresbrook] 2017
Attempted Murder
Ben Holt was Prosecution counsel at this trial of attempted murder. The defendant had run over an acquaintance with whom he was having a disagreement. Convicted of section 18 and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment.
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R v. Garang & Galean [C.C.C.] 2017
Teenagers who stabbed selfridges wine salesman to death found guilty of murder
Jonathan Polnay, led by Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuted these two teenagers for the murder of an 23 year old man in North London. The victim was lured to a location just off of Turnpike Lane under the pretence of a car insurance sale, but was robbed and murdered due to a previous dispute over the purchase of a laptop on the gumtree internet site.
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R v. A [Southwark] 2017
Facilitating entry to UK of teenage girl for exploitation
Irshad Sheikh prosecuted this 50 year old job centre fraud worker who was found guilty after trial of arranging the entry into the UK of a 13 year old girl whom she kept as a personal slave and made to work 16 hours a day for 11 years.
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R v. B [Wood Green] 2017
Money Laundering over £200,000 in cash
Senghin Kong prosecuted B for possession of criminal property following the seizure of over £200,000 in cash during the course of a joint National Crime Agency / Metropolitan Police operation. Instructed by CPS London.
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R v. Daniels & ors [Isleworth] 2017
Conspiracy to steal motor vehicles
Ben Holt acted for the Crown, Daniels was charged with two others with conspiracy to steal motor vehicles. He worked for a BMW dealership and was convicted of stealing car keys and customer’s personal details before passing them on to other conspirators who would steal the cars that had been sold from his place of work. His co-defendants pleaded Guilty at PTPH; with one of them giving evidence for the Crown against Daniels. On conviction, Daniels was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment.
News reports:
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Operation Mapledurwell [C.C.C.] 2017
Drug related Shooting in East London
Anthony Orchard QC led Danny Robinson in this drug related Old Bailey murder trial. The victim was shot dead at his front door of his residence in Stratford East London in the early evening.
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Operation Boldo [I.L.C.C.] 2017
Horsemeat Fraud
Jonathan Polnay was lead Counsel for the Crown in this multi-handed and much publicised conspiracy involving three prominant businessman passing off horsemeat as 100% pure beef.
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Operation Marrick [C.C.C.] 2017
Gang Murder
Anthony Orchard QC leading Ben Temple appeared for the Crown in this Old Bailey murder trial involving the gang related murder of a teenager in South Harrow. 2 Teenagers from a rival gang were sentenced to life imprisonment.
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R v. Hussain [Snaresbrook] 2017
Series of Sex Attacks by Uber Driver
Catherine Farrelly prosecuted this Uber driver whom was sentenced to 12 years for rapes and sexual assaults. Hussain lay in wait outside popular London bars looking for drunken women to rape, preying on women leaving pubs in Shoreditch, in the east of the capital before attacking them as they slept.
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Operation Manningtree [Inner London] 2017 2017
13 handed Violent Disorder following illegal 'rave'
Catherine Pattison led Ben Holt in the Prosecution of 13 defendants for violent disorder that arose out of an illegal rave organised to take place on the night of Hallowe’en 2015 by a group called ‘Scumtek’. The violence was described as the worst in London since the riots of 2011 and resulted in the largest deployment of Police Officers since that time.
News reports here:
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R v. Defontaine [Croydon] 2017
Sexual Assaults on own family members
Catherine Farrelly prosecuted this "persistent and manipulative” paedophile who carried out a series of sexual assaults on 6 of his own family members. He was sentenced to 18 years.
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R v. S&H [Snaresbrook] 2017
Ultra Orthodox Jewish man charged with Kidnap and Rape of ex-wife
Charlotte Newell prosecuted this Ultra Orthodox 62 year old jewish man who was jailed for 13 years for the kidnap and rape of his ex-wife after refusing to grant her a religious divorce. He held her in a sercret dungeon in Hackney, East London.
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R v. Mulligan & Clancy [C.C.C.] 2017
Murder of 'Street Preacher'
Ben Temple led by Sarah Whitehouse QC prosecuted these two homeless men for the senseless stabbing of this Street Preacher early one morning on a busy street in the West End of London.
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R v. Whitlock & Baker [Blackfriars] 2017
Escape from HMP Pentonville
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this escape from HMP Pentonville by two cell mates serving substantial sentences. Whitlock & Baker sawed through a bar, crossed a roof and swung out on a CCTV pole before going on the run, being caught after 6 and 2 days.
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Operation Polarity [C.C.C.] 2017
Teenager who masterminded Cyber crime attacks upon Sony & Microsoft
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this teenager who set up a computer hacking business that caused chaos worldwide. Adam Mudd was 16 when he created the Titanium Stresser program, which carried out more than 1.7m attacks on websites including Minecraft, Xbox Live and Microsoft and TeamSpeak, earning the equivalent of more than £386,000 in US dollars and bitcoins from selling the program to cybercriminals.
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R v. Ruskuls [C.C.C.] 2017
M4 motorway bridge Murder following sex attack
Benjamin Temple, led by Crispin Aylett QC, prosecuted this homeless man who abducted, sexually assaulted and brutally murdered a 30 year old woman as she walked to work. The defendant was sentenced to life, with a minimum of 30 years.
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R v. Sroka [C.C.C.] 2017
Murder of girlfriend by jilted lover
Anthony Orchard QC led Charlotte Newell for the prosecution in this Old Bailey murder trial involving the brutal killing of a 29 year old woman by her jealous boyfriend when he discovered a Post Office redirection letter confirming she was leaving him.
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R v. Burton [Southwark] 2017
Radio Host accused of trolling a Muslim politician with Islamophobic tweets
Ben Temple prosecuted this right wing radio host whom was jailed for vile Islamophobic' trolling of anti-racism campaigner.
News reports below
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R v. Pantellaro [I.L.C.C.] 2017
Attempted Murder of Brother & Sister
Jonathan Polnay was instructed to prosecute this Italian Martial Arts expert whom broke into and stabbed a brother and sister as they slept in their home. The attack was racially motivated and random. The Judge directed a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity and the defendant was detained for mental health assessment.
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R v. Khan & Barclay [C.C.C.] 2017
Revenge Stabbing
Catherine Farrelly was prosecution Counsel in this trial of two defendants for the pre-meditated revenge stabbing of another in connection with a drug-deal gone awry. The case involved the analysis of a significant amount of telephone evidence in addition to expert cell site and voice recognition evidence.
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R v. Rehman [Snaresbrook] 2017
Rape & False imprisonment of 16 year old girl
Catherine Farrelly was instructed for the Prosecution of this defendant for false imprisonment and three counts of rape involving a daytime attack on a 16 year old girl.
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R v. Timon [C.C.C.] 2017
Murder of City Banker
Anthony Orchard QC prosecuted this defendant for killing a banker with one punch in an “unprovoked and gratuitous” attack.
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R v AS [Snaresbrook] 2017
Sexual Assault by Mini Cab driver
Paul Jackson acted for the Crown in this successful prosecution of a mini-cab driver charged with the sexual assault of a lone female fare at night who was intoxicated.
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R v. Dobby [C.C.C.] 2017
Drug user admits manslaughter after two killed in Penge car chase
Anthony Orchard QC leading Jonathan Polnay appeared for the Crown in this case involving the death of an aunt and 10 year old nephew killed by a drug user during a car chase with Police. The defendant was sentenced to 12 years.
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R v M [Inner London] 2017
Confiscation Proceedings
Aska Fujita prosecuted confiscation proceedings following the defendant’s guilty plea to a car-ringing conspiracy worth over £750,000. Instructed by the CPS.
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R v. D,M,M [Maidstone] 2017
Carbon Credit Fraud
Edmund Fowler was instructed for the Crown in this successful prosecution of 3 individuals for a complex multi-million £ carbon credit scam. The defendants were represented by Queen's Counsel.
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R v. Chandler [C.C.C.] 2017
Serial Rapist
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this defendant, dubbed one of Britain's worst sex offenders, who was sentenced to a further 3 life sentences for rapes committed over 30 years ago.
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R v. H & G [Snaresbrook] 2016
Child Cruelty
Robert Ellison successfully prosecuted this child cruelty case involving the sadistic torture of an infant. Issues included the admissibility of psychological evidence about the mother of the child.
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Operation Kilburn [Maidstone] 2016
Immigration Scam
Edmund Fowler led Dickon Reid for the Crown in this complex multi-handed conspiracies to facillitate the illegal immigration of 83 individuals from France.
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R v. Coe [Southwark] 2016
‘Anjem Choudary’ associate
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this notorious associate of Anjem Choudhary for assaulting teenage muslim children who he saw holding hands.
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R v. Oorloff & Dickinson [Guildford] 2016
£2m 'Rare Earth Metal' Fraud
Jonathan Polnay led Ben Holt in this “boiler room” rare earth metals fraud. Both Defendants were convicted after trial of selling worthless Rare Earth Metals as part of an investment. The total value of the scam was £1.9m. Both defendants were convicted and sentenced to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment. Instructed by CPS Headquarters Central Fraud Group.
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Operation Slate [Wood Green] 2016
Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs
Catherine Pattison led Dickon Reid in this case case involving ten defendants charged with supplying large quantities of heroin across North London.
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R v. Orhon [Kingston] 2016
Multiple attempted murders
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this "disturbed loner" who randomly attacked four women during a stabbing spree in a supermarket car park in Hampton Court as revenge for his perceived mistreatment by police.
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Appeal of DS 2016
Gross Negligence Medical Manslaughter
Mark Heywood QC leading Ben Temple, acted in the appeal by a doctor convicted of Gross Negligence Medical Manslaughter following the death of a patient after falling unexpectedly ill following knee surgery.
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R v. Mahmood & Smith - “The Fake Sheikh Trial” [C.C.C] 2016
Trial of the "Fake Sheikh"
Sarah Forshaw QC leading Danny Robinson were instructed by the CPS in the successful prosecution of the 'Fake Sheikh' and his driver for perverting the course of justice surrounding the 2013 failed prosecution of popstar Tulisa Contostavlos.
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R v. Denning [Southwark] 2016
Historic Sexual Abuse by former Radio 1 DJ
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this former BBC DJ whom was jailed for 13 years for a series of child sex offences committed between 1969 and 1986.
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R v. Simpson-Kent [C.C.C.] 2016
Murder of Eastenders actress and 2 children by partner
Mark Heywood QC prosecuted the case involving the horrific killings of the Eastenders actress Sian Blake and her two children, whom were murdered by the partner and father Arthur Simpson-Kent. The defendant was sentenced to a whole life tariff.
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R v. Badran [Wood Green] 2016
Sexual Assaults
Anthony Orchard QC prosecuted this child rapist who committed a string of horrifying attacks upon children aged between 10 and 12, just months afre being released from prison having been convicted of raping a 9 year old girl.
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R v. Pentreath [Woolwich] 2016
Historic rapes
Orla Daly appeared for the crown, prosecuting a businessman and chess professional for multiple historic rapes involving three complainants 30-40 years ago. The principal complainant had suffered severe mental health problems in adult life. Defendant was convicted on all 13 counts.
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R v. Miakheel [C.C.C.] 2016
Murder.
Charlotte Newell was Led by Brendan Finucane QC for the Prosecution in the case of a 15 year old Boy charged with murder after a fatal stabbing in the midst of a drug deal.
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R v. Huckle [C.C.C.] 2016
Child sex offences
Charlotte Newell was Led by Brian O’Neill QC in this Prosecution of prolific sex offender Richard Huckle dubbed “Britain’s worst paedophile” for offences spanning a decade with numerous victims including babies and toddlers. 22 life sentences with a minimum term of 25 years imposed.
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R v. Edwards [C.C.C.] 2016
Murder
Anthony Orchard QC led Ben Temple for the Crown in this matter where the defendant had strangled her mother. The defendant had a history of psychiatric illness, with violence to family members, dating back to 1991. Three psychiatrists were of the opinion she suffered from schizoaffective disorder.
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R v. Aidid & ors [C.C.C.] 2016
Murder
Anthony Orchard QC led Ben Temple in this prosecution of 3 women who beat a 21 year old women to death in North London.
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R v. Fruen [C.C.C.] 2016
Murder
Charlotte Newell was led by Simon Dennison QC in this Prosecution of a neighbour dispute which led to a fatal stabbing at the end of Christmas day.
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R v. Eren & ors [Wood Green] 2016
Plan to commit armed escape from Wood Green Crown Court
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this six-handed conspiracy to escape and possession of imitation firerarm case at the Crown Court at Woolwich, as a sole junior. The case centred around a plot to free Izzet Eren whilst he was being transported to Crown Court at Wood Green to be sentenced for firearms offences. During the police police operation to disrupt the planned offence, a firearms officer shot dead a man in the car with the conspirators.
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R v. Beveridge [I.L.C.C.] 2016
Historic Sexual Assaults
Catherine Farrelly led Paul Jackson in the prosecution of a defendant who, over the course of a number of years, had sexually abused five very young children who suffered from various learning disabilities. The case involved the review of a significant amount of social services and educational material and close liaison with the appointed intermediary. The defendant was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment with an extended licence of 6 years.
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R v. E & ors [Croydon] 2016
Knife fight in Croydon
Senghin Kong prosecuted 6 defendants charged with having offensive weapons including knives and a taser, who had a very public fight in the middle of a road near West Croydon Station. The trial involved cross-examination of a facial mapping expert called by one of the defendants who was later convicted. Instructed by CPS London.
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R v. O [Croydon] 2016
NCA Drugs Operation
Senghin Kong instructed to prosecute the last defendant charged in a substantial NCA drugs operation. The case involved complex cell site and telephone evidence. Instructed by CPS Organised Crime Division.
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Operation Lenwade [C.C.C.] 2016
7-handed gang murder
Mark Heywood QC and Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this 7-handed gang-murder trial at the Central Criminal Court arising out of a feud between two notorious Hackney gangs. Following the convictions, YouTube was put under significant pressure to remove videos that glorifed the gangs' activities.
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R v. Vassell & ors [C.C.C.] 2016
6-handed kidnap, torture and blackmail
Jonathan Polnay successfully prosecuted this 6-handed kidnap, blackmail and torture case at the Central Criminal Court. Following a perceived drug debt, the Defendants kidnapped the victim and held him hostage. He was made the subejct of numerous sadistic assaults when the demanded ransom was not paid.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/reservoir-dogs-inspired-gang-tortured-7313282
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R v. N.A. [Snaresbrook] 2016
Rape of daughter
Catherine Farrelly was instructed for the Prosecution of a defendant who had raped his daughter from the ages of 13 to 15 years, using sex toys and other implements during the course of the abuse. The case involved very sensitive handling of the complainant. The defendant was subsequently sentenced to 20 years’imprisonment.
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R v. Dubis [Canterbury] 2016
Fatal Stabbing
Edmund Fowler successfully prosecuted this defendant for the brutal stabbing and killing of a fellow Polish national following a drunken argument.
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Operation Canon [Southwark] 2016
£80m Ponzi Scheme
Sarah Forshaw QC, instructed by the SFO, successfully prosecuted this £80m "Ponzi" scheme. The defendants purported to be a successful supplier of electrical goods such as light bulbs, air conditioning units, trouser presses and televisions to major hotel chains such as the Marriott and Hilton. They also falsely claimed to be the preferred supplier of the Olympic village, ahead of the 2012 Games.
https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2016/05/24/ponzi-fraudsters-sentenced-total-21-years/
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R v. A & anr [Wood Green] 2016
Conspiracy to fraudulently obtain mobile phone upgrades
Senghin Kong instructed to prosecute two defendants charged with a conspiracy to obtain fraudulently mobile phone upgrades. The loss to the mobile phone company was in excess of £40,000 as a result of offending over a 2 year period. Instructed by CPS London.
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R v. De Silva [C.C.C.] 2016
Murder
Anthony Orchard QC led Ben Temple for the prosecution in this revenge murder by shooting after an altercation in Wembley, North London.
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R v. M [Canterbury] 2016
Rape of 15 year old girl by taxi driver
Edmund Fowler successfully prosecuted this taxi driver defendant for the brutal rape and sexual assault upon a 15 year old girl.
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R v. Anwar & ors [C.C.C.] 2016
Attempted Murder
Catherine Farrelly leading Senghin Kong in this prosecution of 6 defendants on charges including attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and conspiracy to rob. At the close of the prosecution case the learned Judge upheld submissions of no case to answer on the charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery. As a result the prosecution appealed this at an expedited hearing. The Court of Appeal allowed the prosecution appeal and the trial continued on all charges. Leveson LJ gave the judgment of the court reported here. The 6 defendants were eventually convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and conspiracy to rob. The case involved complex cell site evidence and legal argument. Guardian report here.
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R v. CO [Croydon] 2016
PayPal Fraud
Irshad Sheikh acted in this prosecution of a multi-million pound fraud on PayPal where the defendant played a leading role in an organised crime network perpetrating this substantial fraud. The defendant, with others, was able to compromise about two hundred PayPal customers’ accounts by gaining access to their security details, causing a multimillion pound loss to the company.
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R v. J & ors [Isleworth] 2016
Supply of Firearms & Ammunition
Robert Ellison led Dickon Reid in this case involving four defendants charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of cannabis with intent to supply and with the supply of firearms and ammunition. The defendants were accused of robbing drug dealers at gunpoint of cash and drugs.
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R v. M & ors [Snaresbrook] 2016
Conspiracies to Rob
Dickon Reid was led by Peter Clement in this case involving six defendants charged with conspiracy to rob. The defendants were part of a group responsible for a number of robberies in East London during which victims were attacked with a baseball bat.
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R v. Rahman [Snaresbrook] 2016
Rape & Kidnap of 15 year old girl
Catherine Farrelly was instructed for the Prosecution of a defendant who kidnapped a 15 year old girl off the street and then repeatedly raped her.
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Operation Sifiye [Snaresbrook] 2016
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Catherine Pattison led Dickon Reid in this case involving thirteen defendants charged with conspiring to import large quantities of cocaine secreted in golf clubs and golf bags. Two trials involving complicated telephone evidence lasted a total of five and a half months in 2015-2016.
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Operation Tineid [Blackfriars] 2015
Fraud
Catherine Farrelly led Ben Holt for the Crown. Defendants were charged with arranging co-defendants to take driving test on behalf of other people. NCA investigation, instructed by the Organised Crime Group at the CPS.
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R v. Jones [C.C.C.] 2015
£1.8m racehorse fraud
Jonathan Polnay appeared for the Crown in this Prosecution of City Banker for defrauding friends and colleagues of £1.8m in a false racehorse investment scheme.
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R v. Shaibu & Nelson [C.C.C.] 2015
Discharge of automatic weapons at PCSO
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this two handed trial at the Old Bailey involving a proposed revenge attack to seek retribution on a group they believed was responsible for assaulting one of their gang associates armed with a submachine gun. A PCSO who heard the altercation intervened and was shot at but was unhurt. The defendants were jailed for 24 years & 12 years.
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R v. P [Inner London] 2015
Murder
Samantha Bonner assisted the Head of Chambers Mark Heywood QC in successfully prosecuting the murder of a visitor to London set upon after leaving a nightclub in the early hours of the morning.
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R v. Mazikhana [Southwark] 2015
Murder
Anthony Orchard QC prosecuted this defendant for the brutal murder by stabbing of his wife.
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Operation Crow [Maidstone] 2015
Conspiracy to import cocaine
Ben Temple led Dickon Reid in this case involving fourteen defendants charged with conspiracy to import cocaine, amphetamine and cannabis into the United Kingdom.
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R v. Steinmetz [Snaresbrook] 2015
Rape & Kidnap
Charlotte Newell appeared for the Prosecution in the trial of Haredi Jewish man who imprisoned and raped his ex-wife in a home made “dungeon”. Prosecuted to conviction in the absence of the victim.
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R v. Phillips & ors [C.C.C.] 2015
Murder
Anthony Orchard QC led Charlotte Newell for the Crown in this Old Bailey Hackney Gangland murder.
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R v. Dwayne Henry [Blackfriars] 2015
Double-jeopardy prosecution of serial rapist
Mark Heywood QC leading Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this Defendant, who described himself as the ‘Hackney Ripper’, who stood trial and was convicted of a series of rapes of prostitutes, receiving a sentence of life imprisonment. The Defendant had previously been acquitted of rape. A successful application was made to quash the acquittal under the double-jeopardy provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and join the re-trial to the new proceedings.
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R v. A & ors [C.C.C] 2015
Standing Order Fraud
Jonathan Polnay led Ben Holt for the Crown in a nine-handed standing order fraud that was set up and orchestrated by an inside man working with Nationwide bank. Case involved a considerable amount of forensic and banking evidence. (Investigated by DCPCU, instructed by CPS SCU). Jury were unable to reach a verdict on defendant said to be “inside man”. Prosecuted re-trial alone and the defendant was convicted. Mail Online news report.
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R v. S [Inner London] 2015
Conspiracy to Supply Drugs
Senghin Kong prosecuted a defendant for possession of over £20,000 worth of Class A drugs with intent to supply and possession of a loaded firearm with intent to endanger life.
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R v. MN & ors [Wood Green] 2015
Gangland stabbing
Catherine Farrelly led Valeria Swift instructed by the prosecution, in this 6 handed conspiracy to commit GBH, which included a premeditated attack on another youth, his stab wounds close to his heart which were very nearly life ending. This case required expert analysis of telephone evidence which equated to over 20,000 pages. Defendants convicted of conspiracy.
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R v. Alasow [Snaresbrook] 2015
Possession of loaded firearm with intent
Catherine Farrelly was instructed in this Prosecution of a defendant who was charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition. He had been stopped by police shortly after climbing over garden fences in east London and then disposing of a loaded firearm, fitted with a “silencer”. The case involved protracted legal argument over the admissibility of DNA and GSR expert evidence, all of which was ruled admissible.
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R v. Castano & ors [Snaresbrook] 2015
Supply of Cocaine
Catherine Farrelly was instructed for Prosecution in this cases involving four defendants in relation to the supply of 1 kilogram of cocaine with an estimated street value of £100,000.
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R v Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust [Maidstone] 2014
HSE Prosecution of NHS Trust
William Davis was Prosecution Counsel instructed by the Health and Safety Executive. A patient was injured during routine surgery. He received severe burns from a warming mattress on the operating table when a saline bag was placed on the temperature sensor, causing the mattress to overheat. The subsequent investigation revealed serious failures in the procurement process for the equipment, and in the training offered to staff.
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R v. S & ors [C.C.C] 2014
Card fraud by ATM skimming
Catherine Pattison led Ben Holt for the prosecution in two separate sets of proceedings relating to Romanian nationals who were charged with card fraud by ATM “skimming”. This was sophisticated organised crime group who were making equipment to capture individuals’ bank account details when they inserted their cards into an ATM. A total of 13 defendants were charged with offences ranging from conspiracy to defraud, possessing articles for use in fraud and transferring criminal property. (Investigated by DCPCU, instructed by CPS SCU). Mirror Online news report.
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R v. Patel [Southwark] 2014
First ever prosecution for Acquiring Biological Weapons
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this young women who was charged with the first ever prosecution under the Biological Weapons Act and attempted murder of her mother, after attempting to poison her, taking her inspiration from the series "Breaking Bad".
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R v. Terry & ors [Maidstone] 2014
Revenge Killing
Jonathan Higgs QC led Edmund Fowler for the Prosecution of these 4 defendants for the murder of a Kent man found naked on the beach in Leysdown. The alleged motivation for the attack and murder was the victim was alleged to have molested a teenage girl earlier on the night of his murder.
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R v. Cisse & 5 ors [Croydon] 2014
Conspiracies to commit armed robberies
Robert Ellison acted as leading junior. A conspiracy to commit armed robberies. Issues included complex circumstantial evidence based upon telephone data and data from vehicle security tracking systems.
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R v. Raison & Dent [Snaresbrook] 2014
Child sex offences
Charlotte Newell acted for the Prosecution in case involving a woman who had been persuaded to abuse her own children by a paedophile she met on the internet.
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R v. Iqbal & 18 ors [Southwark] 2014
Banking & Credit Fraud
Robert Ellison led Jonathan Polnay for the Prosecution in this 19 defendant Credit and banking fraud with many thousands of pages of served and unused evidence. A conspiracy to defraud creditors and ‘Acquiring Companies’ by abusing technical weaknesses in the ‘chip and PIN’ payment process. The fraud was so complex that the trial judge described the methodology and money laundering as an ‘impenetrable scheme’.
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R v. Edgington [C.C.C.] 2013
Murder.
Mark Heywood QC prosecuted the trial of the mental health patient, Nicola Edgington, for the murder and attempted murder of two women in Bexleyheath.
You can read more about this trial clicking Here
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R v. B & ors [Harrow] 2013
Bogus college immigration fraud
Jonathan Higgs QC led Jonathan Polnay and Senghin Kong prosecuting three defendants involved in running a bogus college for conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. The defendants were convicted after a 3 month trial. The case involved complex legal argument in relation to Griffiths-type conspiracies and substantial disputed evidence from forensic accountants. Senghin Kong was instructed to prosecute the resulting 3 day confiscation hearing without a leader, against three QCs and juniors. Instructed by CPS Central Fraud Group.
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Operation Goomburra [C.C.C.] 2013
Joint Enterprise Murder
Mark Heywood QC, Jonathan Polnay and Alison Wilkes Prosecuted this 3 month,10-handed murder trial at the Central Criminal Court with extensive cell site, phone download and CCTV evidence, including the use of electronic presentation aids (360 mapping).
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R v. R & ors [Croydon] 2013
Kidnap trial
Catherine Pattison led Ben Holt for the prosecution in this 5-handed kidnap trial. This case involved counsel reviewing a considerable amount of unused material. This included downloads from over 40 mobile telephones.There were numerous issues relating to sensitive disclosure. The case against the defendants was solely reliant on cell-site and tracker evidence. One defendant was convicted and received a prison sentence of 12 years. Instructed to draft respondent’s notice to appeal. Leave refused; renewed in front of the full Court and refused. (Investigated by Kidnap & Special Investigation Unit of the Met, instructed by CPS SCU).
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R v. E [Canterbury] 2013
Cold Case Historic Rape
Andrew Collings was successful in this prosecution of a prolific sexual offender working as a driving instructor in Kent. Eventually traced via, “cold case” DNA profiling.
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R v. Dos Santos & ors [Blackfriars] 2012
Martin Hooper was leading counsel for the prosecution. This was an allegation of a large importation and conspiracy to distribute Crystal Meth. The trial lasted two months and resulted in convictions and sentences of up to 15 years. The case was referred to the Court of Appeal where the lord Chief Justice asked for the Crown to assist in sentencing guidelines. This is currently the leading authority on this topic.
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R v. Armel Gnango [Supreme Court] 2011 UKSC 59 2011
Appeal re: joint enterprise / transferred malice
Mark Heywood QC along with Brian Altman QC represented the Crown before the Supreme Court on this leading authority regarding joint enterprise / transferred malice. The Supreme Court held, restoring Gnango's conviction for the murder of Magda Pniewska, that he was guilty of murder notwithstanding the fact that he had not fired the shot which killed Pniewska during the shoot out which led to her death, and that the fatal shot had been fired by his opponent in an attempt to kill him.
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R v. R [Canterbury] 2011
Cold Case Historic Rape
Andrew Collings was Prosecution counsel in this “cold case”, historic rape. Significant working knowledge of the scientific developments of DNA profiling.
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R. v. G; R. v. J [2009] UKHL 13; Archbold 2013: 25-67 2009
Use of Articles for purposes of Terrorism
Mark Heywood QC leading Ben Temple for the Prosecution at first instance, the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords where David Perry QC was also instructed.
J was found to be in possession of an extensive library of religious, political, ideological, military and extreme Islamist material some of which had an express terrorist purpose, digitally stored on his laptop, I-Pod, telephone and numerous digital disks comprising several hundred hours of audio and video material and several thousand pages of documentation. J was charged with possessing articles for a purpose connected with terrorism, contrary to section 57(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000. J pleaded guilty to four counts contrary to section 58 of the Act. The Court of Appeal then handed down judgment in R. v. K [2008] EWCA Crim.185 on the point of reasonable excuse under section 58(3). J, having applied successfully to vacate his pleas, claiming erroneous legal advice in the light of R. v. K, re-entered not guilty pleas at a preparatory hearing in the course of which the Recorder of Birmingham, regarding himself bound by R. v. K, ruled on a question of law formulated by the Crown that, by reference to R. v. K, under section 58 where a reasonable excuse is raised the prosecution must prove a terrorist purpose.
Leave to appeal to the House of Lords was granted. The three certified questions raised substantial, complex issues. The concept of reasonable excuse had to be considered across numerous statutory contexts. The Crown’s appeals (G and J) were allowed and J, a year after he had first done so, pleaded guilty to four offences contrary to section 58.
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Operation Seagram [Woolwich] 2008
Planned Car Bomb attacks
Mark Heywood QC along with Jonathan Laidlaw QC conducted the prosecution of 2 NHS Doctors for conspiracy to murder by planning car bomb attacks in 2007 at London's West End Tiger Tiger Nightclub and at the Glasgow International Airport.
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R v. Levi BELLFIELD [C.C.C.] 2008
Prosecution of Serial Killer
Mark Heywood QC together with the then First Senior Treasury Counsel, acted for the Crown in this prosecution of the notorious Serial Killer Levi Bellfield for the murders of the 22 year old French Student Amelie Delagrange and the 19 year old woman Marsha McDonnell as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. In 2011 Bellfield was convicted of the murder of Milly Dowler and sentenced to a whole life tariff.
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Operation Crevice [C.C.C.] 2007
'Fertiliser' Bomb Plot
Mark Heywood QC along with David Walters QC and Duncan Atkinson prosecuted the longest running Old Bailey trial which concerned the "Fertiliser Bomb Plot" and conspiracies to cause explosions throughout the U.K.
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R v MA [Southwark Crown Court] 2024
Defence of Police Officer for Multiple Sexual Offences
Privately instructed in the defence of a serving police officer for multiple rapes, controlling and coercive behaviour and assaults. Phoebe was led by Sarah Forshaw KC. The CPS offered no evidence on all matters following the service of legal argument.
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R v G [Snaresbrook Crown Court] 2024
5 Counts of Sexual Activity with a Child
Olivia Haggar represented a client charged with five counts of Sexual Activity with a Child. The case required pre-recorded cross-examination of a 14-year-old witness. Following a four day trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court, the lay client was unanimously acquitted of all charges. Instructed by Marco Guarnieri of SA Law.
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R v LM Kingston Crown Court 2023
Client acquitted of rape and controlling coercive charges
Phoebe defended a man charged with multiple rape offences and controlling and coercive behaviour. These allegations were made following the breakdown of a relationship.
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R v. AS [Snaresbrook CC] 2023
Rape & ABH during the course of alleged sexual assault
Sarah Forshaw KC represented this Defendant who was charged with rape and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Very unusually, the Court was persuaded that, as a matter of law, there was not enough evidence to go before a jury on the rape allegation and the charge was dismissed (application to dismiss succeeded in advance of trial.) The CPS continued with the assault charge to trial. Substantial evidence was put before the jury during a trial that lasted 2 weeks. The Defendant was unanimously acquitted of ABH in 30 minutes. Instructed by Roger Sahota of Berkeley Square Solicitors.
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R v. P [Southwark] 2023
Rape, Sexual Assault & False Imprisonment
Sarah Forshaw KC leading Valeria Swift and instructed by Nick Vamos of Peters & Peters, represented this young man from a wealthy and prominent overseas family, who was found not guilty of all charges against him following a two-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in February 2023.
Accusations made by his former girlfriend had resulted in a six-count indictment, including allegations of sexual assault, false imprisonment and rape. He was released under investigation shortly after his arrest, and was granted bail to return to and remain in his home country until the trial. Peters & Peters obtained permission for him to attend all pre-trial hearings remotely. The allegations date back to 2018. Trial was originally scheduled for early 2022, but was adjourned owing to prosecution disclosure failures. The failures continued up to and during trial, with a number of disclosure hearings taking place, and significant items of disclosure provided only on the day the case was opened to the jury.
Following the two-week trial, during which the client gave evidence, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all charges after less than three hours’ deliberation.
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