General Crime
R v SOK and JP (2021) (Central Criminal Court sitting at Aldersgate House)
Acting for a defendant alleged to have imported Class A, B and C drugs into the United Kingdom from Los Angeles. The parcel was intercepted by an officer of the UK Border Agency at Stanstead Airport. It was addressed to the defendant’s boyfriend (co-defendant) and the attached invoice included her mobile telephone number. Following a 4 day trial, both defendants were acquitted on all counts in under 2 hours.
Read more about the case here.
R v SR (2021) (Aylesbury Crown Court) (ongoing)
Acting for one of a number of defendants facing trial at Aylesbury Crown Court for the alleged importation and supply drugs and money laundering. The prosecution relies to a large extent on Encrochat material. Led by Siza Agha.
R v FS (2021) (Aylesbury Crown Court)
Acting for a defendant charged with PWITS Class A at Aylesbury Crown Court. The case involved detailed cross-examination of a drugs expert.
R v DH (2019) (Basildon Crown Court)
Acting as a court appointed advocate assisting a defendant to oppose an application for a post-acquittal restraining order. His conviction for sexual assault had been overturned by the Court of Appeal. Following a hearing which involved detailed cross-examination of the complainant the Judge refused the Crown’s application.
Financial Crime / POCA
R v SG (2020-22) (Birmingham Crown Court) (ongoing)
Acting for the third defendant in a complex fraud and money laundering trial at Birmingham Crown Court. Led by Luke Ponte.
R v GS (2021) (Isleworth Crown Court)
Acting alone for a defendant who pleaded guilty to defrauding his employer out of more than £250,000. The court was persuaded to impose a suspended sentence.
R v AB (2020-21)
Acting for an Iranian national who had bank accounts containing approx. £1.1 million frozen by Leicestershire Police. Following detailed written representations the Account Freezing Order was set aside before the case reached the forfeiture stage. Led by Rachel Barnes.
R v SS (2020)
Acting for a British-Iranian national who was the subject of an application by HMRC for an Account Forfeiture Order. Following detailed written representations the application for forfeiture was dropped and HMRC agreed to pay most of the respondent’s legal costs. Led by Rachel Barnes.
Civil Preventative Orders
R v SYL (2021) (Westminster Magistrates’ Court)
Acting alone for the MPS in an application for a Stalking Protection Order in relation to a high-profile public figure. The defendant had engaged in acts associated with stalking in relation to a journalist at a national newspaper, along with her partner. The order was granted for a period of 5 years.
Read further following links here and here.
R v YZ, QX, GM, YZ and WN (2020-2021) (Westminster Magistrates’ Court)
Acting alone for the MPS in its first applications for Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders. The applications related to five defendants involved in the trafficking of primarily Chinese women for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Orders were granted in relation to three defendants, with adverse findings made in relation to a fourth. All defendants have now been charged with a raft of criminal offences.
Read further here.
Licensing / Regulatory
117 Trading Limited (2021)
Acting for a company in a successful application for a premises licence. The application was granted in the face of a large number of objections from local residents.
Read further here.
Club 29 (2020)
Acting for the MPS in a successful application to revoke a Premises Licence. The application, robustly opposed, followed a violent brawl outside of the premises which resulted in four people being stabbed.
Public Law, Inquests and Inquiries
Grenfell Tower Inquiry (Phase 2) (2020)
Instructed by the London Fire Brigade to assist with disclosure and the preparation of Rule 9 statements for the Inquiry.
Cecil Steven Heilligger v Wesminster Magistrates’ Court and Anor [2022] EWHC 1056 (Admin)
Acting for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in judicial review proceedings in respect of an unlawful search warrant. Led by Nicholas Yeo.