Profile
Covers the full range of criminal cases.
Particular experience with vulnerable witnesses and defendants.
Appointments
Former member of the COIC Disciplinary Panel (i.e. the barrister member on disciplinary tribunals).
Previously a member of the Bar’s Professional Conduct and Complaints Committee.
Former Chairman of the Continuing Professional Development Board.
Bencher of the Middle Temple since July 2001.
Former member of the Bench Selection Advisory Committee.
Member of the Inn’s Scholarship Interviewing Team.
Education
1979 LLB(Hons) King’s College, London
1980 Inns of Court School of Law
1980 Called to the Bar (Middle Temple)
Further Professional Information
Teaching Experience
More than 30 years’ experience in teaching advocacy and ethics in England and overseas.
Created an advocacy training scheme on the Western Circuit.
Established an advocacy training course for City Solicitors at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Gave a series of lectures in Tokyo, Japan at the United Nations Far East Institute and at the Ministry of Justice.
Charitable Activities
Volunteer advocate for Advocate (formerly known as the Bar Pro Bono Unit).
Volunteer for the Inspiring the Future Scheme (i.e. I give speeches at inner city schools on careers at the Bar).
Interests
Foreign travel, eating out and classical ballet.
Practice Areas
Cases
R v Singh – represented man charged with exceptionally serious death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice
R v Rawlings and Broadbent – Court of Appeal decision establishing the procedure for a jury watching again all or part of a pre-recorded interview with a child witness.
R v Aston and Others – prosecuted as a leading junior 15 defendants for a serious violent disorder and wounding with intent.
R v Stewart – prosecuted as a leading junior one soldier for the murder of another soldier.
R v Kirsch – prosecuted as a leading junior a man for the murder of his partner.
R v Cooke – unusual defence involving assertions of computer hacking at a top secret facility by members of the Secret Services.
R v Haunch – represented elderly former teacher on serious charges of historic sexual offences involving satanic practices and members of the Paedophile Information Exchange.
R v Webster – represented man charged with the attempted murder of his wife in the presence of their children.
R v Ellison, Goode and Quacoe – prosecuted three men who had kidnapped and tortured another male in the mistaken belief that he had stolen their drugs and firearms.
R v Bloomfield – baby shaking case involving numerous expert witnesses.