Cases of Interest
Prosecution
R v Harle – Southwark Crown Court, 2011. Successful prosecution of warehouse owner storing counterfeit cigarettes illegally imported on vast scale from Eastern Europe.
R v Baxendale - Guildford Crown Court, 2011. Prosecution of defendant who stabbed to death a mother of three, hours after meeting her. The defendant fled to Spain, where he had previously been convicted of murder by stabbing in 2003. He was tracked down and extradited back to the UK where he was convicted after a three week trial. Baxendale joins a list of about 30 current prisoners in the UK serving life with a whole life tariff.
Operation Tartrate - Southwark Crown Court, 2010-2011. Lead counsel in prosecution of large scale duty evasion by organised crime group with Mafia links abroad. Total of 16 defendants prosecuted. 13 convicted.
Op Upward - Southwark Crown Court, 2010. Lead counsel in prosecution of complex £35m money laundering fraud, where money service bureaus were set up and used specifically for the purposes of laundering cash. Main defendant sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Op Tulan - Southwark Crown Court, 2010. Two linked prosecutions of organised charity frauds. Case involved a number of separate individuals and organisations defrauding award giving bodies throughout the UK. Successful prosecution led to reorganisation of award granting system.
R v. C, B and M - Kingston Crown Court, 2010. Prosecution of three young offenders for assault leaving the victim with life threatening injuries. Many young and reluctant witnesses for the prosecution. Main defendant sentenced to IPP with 10 year sentence.
R v. Z - Blackfriars Crown Court, 2009 - 2010. Prosecution of firearms offences including possession of expanding ammunition. Successfully resisted interlocutory application in the Court of Appeal, and appeal against conviction regarding strict interpretation of mens rea required for such offences.
R v. Press CPS, Kingston Crown Court, July 2009. Murder prosecution, concerning hit and run driver deliberately driving at victim after an earlier altercation in a pub. Defendant convicted after trial.
Operation Moorthorpe - RCPO, Wood Green, April 2009. Largest seizure of cannabis [four tonnes] by Metropolitan Police, sensitive issues including application to court for witness anonymity order for undercover officer under section two of the Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Act 2008.
R v. Angel - CPS, Central Criminal Court, led by Mark Dennis QC, 2008. Murder.
Operation Slogan - Prosecuted nationwide, 2007-2008. Series of linked opium importations from Iran and Afghanistan.
R v. George - RCPO, Ipswich Crown Court, led by Simon Draycott QC, 2005-2008. International money laundering and drug trafficking using high performance rigid hull inflatable boats. Advised on judicial review, obtaining of evidence from abroad, including phone intercept material obtained from Spain.
Defence
R v N - Aylesbury Crown Court, 2012. Defendant alleged to be part of conspiracy to import cocaine from South America. Proceedings stayed for abuse of process after successful legal argument
R v Q – Reading Crown Court, 2011. The defendant was charged with dangerous driving, threats to kill, causing GBH with intent and attempted GBH by driving deliberately at a group of people. She had psychiatric issues, and was not called to give evidence. She was acquitted on all charges, with the judge binding over the complainants to keep the peace, and reprimanding the police for not taking seriously her previous complaints.
R v. M - Oxford Crown Court, 2010. Possession of various class "A" drugs with intent to supply.
R v. K - Reading Crown Court, 2010. Young offender involved in group attack causing serious injuries to victims (section 18 GBH)
R v. N - Reading Crown Court, 2010. Robbery trial, joint enterprise in planned and targeted attack of high value victim at his house. Defendant alleged to be part of conspiracy to import cocaine from South America. Proceedings stayed for abuse of process after successful legal argument.
R v. W - Kingston Crown Court, 2009. Defendant involved in attack leading to serious injuries suffered by the victim.
R v. Q - Reading Crown Court, 2009. Death by dangerous driving.
R v. Distin - Manchester Crown Court, 2008. Represented premiership footballer in contempt of court proceedings after failure to attend for trial of Joey Barton.
R v. T - Reading Crown Court, 2008. Rape. Issues concerning consent where allegation of aiding and abetting.
R v. Grewal and others - Court of Appeal, Sir Igor Judge LCJ, Rafferty J, Grigson J, 2008. Conspiracy to supply class 'A' drugs. Multi-handed conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine. Retail seller, sentence reduced on application from six-and-a-half years to three-years-nine-months.
R v. Miles - Central Criminal Court, 2008. Gross negligence/unlawful act manslaughter.
R v. Sofidiya - Oxford Crown Court, 2007-2008. Police operation involving extensive surveillance evidence, proceedings stayed on basis of second limb abuse of process 'unfair to try' argument.
Independent counsel
R v. H and others - Kingston Crown Court, 2006-2007. DWP prosecution concerning international trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals, mostly from China and Far East. Consideration of documents to which legal professional privilege attaches.
Inquiries/inquests/tribunals
Steven Lawrence Inquiry, 1997-1998. Led by Michael Egan. Involved in six-month inquiry and subsequent consultation [Lord McPherson assisted by John Sentamu, Bishop of Stepney and now Archbishop of York; Tom Cook, Retired Deputy Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police; and Dr Richard Stone of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality].
Publications
Author of Fraud Advisory Panel's official response to Department of Constitutional Affairs' consultation paper entitled 'Judicial Powers to Manage Conflict of Interest and Capacity Issues in VHCC', 2006.
Member of the Fraud Advisory Panel's Legislative Review Working Group drafting the Fraud Advisory Panel's official response to the Attorney-General's Office consultation papers entitled 'The Introduction of a Plea Negotiation Framework in Fraud Cases in England and Wales', 2008, and 'Extending the Powers of the Crown Court to Prevent Fraud and Compensate Victims', 2008
Associated Work
Has lectured to solicitors and other professionals on topics including Abuse of Process, confiscation, disclosure and obtaining evidence from abroad.
Richard is a trustee of Outside Chance, a London based charity providing guidance and seminars to children in schools and young offenders institutions. Its primary aim is to seek to inform children and young people of the dangers of crime and gang culture.
