Clerking team

Tim Booth
Tim Booth

Senior Clerk Sheffield

Jack Paxton

Criminal Clerk

Jessica Bull

Junior Criminal Clerk

Gordon read Engineering Science at Oxford University 1983-86. He rowed in his college 1st VIII, played hockey for his college 1st XI and chess for the university.

Gordon then attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, which later became The Royal Dragoon Guards. He passed out top of his Troop Leaders Course. After three years as a Lieutenant and Tank Troop leader, he was promoted Captain to command Recce Troop. In addition, Gordon was Regimental Gunnery Officer, Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare Officer, Hockey Officer, Skiing Officer and a Joint Service Mountain Expedition Leader. Thereafter, he attended the Junior Division Staff College, and then became a Brigade Staff Officer under Brigadier Arthur Denaro, where in addition to his military duties he ran the Rhine Army Summer Show and set up the Paderborn Equestrian Centre. He was Army Chess Champion and competed for the Combined Services in the NATO Championships on several occasions. He sat on Court Martial Boards, represented soldiers in Royal Military Police interviews and on Commanding Officer’s Orders.

In 1993, Gordon went back to University (Huddersfield) to study law (Post Graduate Certificate of Law). He was University Mooting Champion. He then attended at the Inns of Court School of Law, before being called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1995. He was the winner of the Gluckstein Prize for advocacy.

Gordon is a keen road cyclist (he regularly takes part in sportives and has taken part in the L’Etape du Tour twice), he continues to play chess (he is a County Master, and in 2011 qualified for the British Chess Championships) and he directs a choir.

As a Barrister, Gordon has an excellent analytical ability and is known for his thoroughness and tough approach, together with high-level advocacy skills.

Gordon is accredited to receive instructions directly from members of the public through the Public Access Scheme.

Click here to view our Public Access pages and details of the process for instructing public access accredited barristers.

 

Crown Court & appeals

Gordon is currently instructed to defend in several forthcoming murder and attempted murder trials, and to prosecute in a number of attempted murder cases including a large OCG firearms case in Sheffield.

Cases

R v Hassan Mohammed (April 2024): Prosecuted a man for weapons and drugs offences. Convicted and received an 11 year sentence. The case was reported in the Sheffield Star.

R v Daniel Astley (Nov 2022): Secured the acquittal of this man on a charge of murder. The jury accepted the manslaughter charge that he admitted.

R v CG (Oct 2022): Prosecuted this man on child sex offences.  Convicted.

R v RS (Oct 2022): Secured the acquittal of this man on weapon charge.

R v PM (Aug 2022): Prosecuted this man on child sex offences. Convicted and received an extended 25 year sentence.

R v Philip Gregory (Aug 2022): Prosecuted this man on fraud charges. Convicted.

R v LW (July 2022): Prosecuted this man on sex offences and offences of violence against his partner. Convicted. 18 years imprisonment

R v MK (June 2022) Prosecuted this man in relation to serious violence and sex offences. Extended sentence of 20 years.

R v RG (May 2022): Prosecuted this man for sex offences against children. Convicted. 12 years imprisonment.

R v France (May 2022): Defended a man charged with the historic sexual abuse of two children. The case received national coverage on the BBC and ITV as well as Yorkshire LiveHull Live and the websites of South Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Police.

R v Wilks (July 2020): Represented a man who stole David Cameron’s father-in-law’s phone. The case received widespread coverage in the press including the BBCITVThe GuardianThe TimesThe MirrorThe Daily Star, Grimsby Live, The Metro and The Sun.

R v Niall Mason (January 2019): Prosecuted this footballer for an offence of sexual assault.  Suspended sentence imposed. The case received significant media coverage including BBC SportThe Daily MailSky SportsSports MolePortsmouth.co.uk and The Argus.

R v DC (July 2018): Prosecuted this man for rape at trial. Convicted.

R v BT (July 2018): Secured the acquittal of this 15-year-old with learning difficulties at trial on a charge of Attempted Murder. Convicted of lesser offence of section 18 wounding.

R v AW (July 2018): Defended this man on numerous charges of sexual offences against a number of girls; compromise reached at trial.

R v ES (July 2018): Secured the acquittal of this young man with learning difficulties at trial on a charge of rape.

R v IN (June 2018): Prosecuted this man at trial for sexual activity with a child. Convicted. Reported in the Grimsby Telegraph.

R v BN & RS (June 2018): Prosecuted these men at trial on a charge of arson. Acquitted.

R v GD (June 2018): Secured the acquittal of GD at trial on a charge of sexual assault.

R v MY (May 2018): Secured the acquittal of MY at trial on charges of sexual offences with a 14-year-old girl.

R v RO (2018): Represented this man charged with possession with intent to supply class A drugs. Secured a compromise at trial in relation to class B, resulting in a sentence close to time served.

R v DH (2018): Prosecuted this man for sexual offences; compromise reached at trial in this difficult case, resulting in pleas to lesser offences.

R v DM (2018): Secured the acquittal of this defendant at trial on charges of sexual assault of a child.

R v CM (2018): Defended this man on charges of cruelty to a child and failing to protect a child from serious harm. Prosecution offered no evidence shortly before trial.

R v KM (2018): Prosecuted this man at trial on charges of sexual assault of two children. Convicted. Sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment

R v NN (2018): Represented this man, who was found unfit to stand trial, at a 6-week multi-handed trial. Found to have done the acts complained of.

R v SG (2018): Represented this man who pleaded guilty to rape. Secured a reduction in sentence before the Court of Appeal from 4 years to 3 years. The case was covered in the Sheffield Star.

R v CM (2018): Prosecuted this man at trial on charges of sexual offences against boys and rape of a woman. Convicted. The case was covered in the Sheffield Star.

R v TT (2018): Prosecuted this man at trial on a charge of rape. Acquitted.

R v BN (2018): Successfully opposed in the Court of Appeal the appeal against conviction of this sex offender.

R v EM (2018): Secured the acquittal of this defendant at trial on a charge of sexual assault.

R v BC (2017): Secured the acquittal of this defendant at trial on charges of robbery and kidnap.

R v CC (2017): Prosecuted this man at trial on charges of rape. Acquitted.

R v TG (2017): Prosecuted this man at trial on charges of indecent assault and indecency with a child. Sentenced to 6 years imprisonment. The case was covered in the Grimsby Telegraph.

R v MN (2017): Defended this man on a 4-week trial of sexual offences and cruelty charges against children. Acquittals on 10 charges. Convicted of 13 offences. Sentenced to 28 years. The case was covered in the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

R v Connolly (2017): Secured the acquittal of this man at trial on charges of wounding with intent and assault.

R v LW (2017): Prosecuted this man at trial on charges of sexual activity with children. Sentence 10½ years.

R v DP (2017): Prosecuted this man at trial for rape of a child. Sentence 10 years.

R v Daniel Young (2017): Prosecuted a man for multiple knifepoint rapes, who received an Extended Sentence of 20 years’ Imprisonment. The case was covered in the Hull Daily Mail.

R v Colley (2017): Secured the acquittal of a Defendant following trial of sexual offences.

R v NH (2017): Defended a student at trial who was acquitted of sexual assault and assault offences.

R v Leo del Pellegrino (2017): prosecuted this defendant at trial of rape offences, who was convicted and sentenced to an Extended Sentence of 22 years’ imprisonment. The case received media coverage on ITV, Get Surrey, the Daily Record, and the Star.

R v SM (2017): Prosecuted this man who was convicted by the jury of sexual offences.

R v DWM (2017): Prosecuted this man at trial of sexual offences. Sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.

R v GB (2017): Represented this man at trial who was convicted of sexual offences.

R v CM (2017): Represented this man who was acquitted at trial of sexual activity with a child.

R v Theyers (2017): prosecuted this defendant who was acquitted of Bigamy. The case received media coverage on the BBC, the Mirror and the Daily Mail.

R v JA (2017): represented this defendant who was sentenced for sexual offences. The case was covered on ITV.

R v CDM (2017): Secured the acquittal of this man charged with sexual activity with a child.

R v Kimberley (2017): Successful prosecution of this man charged with sexual assault of a stranger.

R v Sirbu (2017): Successful prosecution of this man charged with rape.

R v Bouskill (2017): Secured the acquittal of this man in relation to child cruelty.

R v Kirkby (2017): Secured the acquittal of this man on a charge of robbery.

R v Woods (2017): Secured the acquittal of this man on charges of rape and sexual assault.

R v LJF (2017): Successful prosecution of this man charged with rape, sexual assault and child cruelty offences who received a sentence of 16 years’ imprisonment.

R v Clark (2017): Prosecuted a stepmother who “abused, humiliated, belittled and neglected” her three daughters over a 16-year period. The case received nationwide media attention including in the Times, the Mail, the Sun, the Mirror and the Metro.

R v Roger Dodds (2016): Successfully prosecuted this former council employee for historical sex offences in this high profile case.

R v Raymond Butler (2016): Successful prosecution of this man charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, who received a sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment.

R v L’Amie (2016): Secured the acquittal of this professional driver charged with causing death by careless driving.

R v Jepson (2016): Defended a pensioner who was found not guilty of attempted murder following a week-long trial at Sheffield Crown Court. The case was covered in the Doncaster Free Press.

R v Priestley, Hinchsliff and Snowden (2016): Prosecuted at Hull Crown Court. All three pleaded guilty to ill-treating or wilfully neglecting a person without capacity. The case was covered in the Express and MetroITV News and BBC.

R v Dempsey (2016): Prosecuted Mr Dempsey at Grimsby Crown Court who pleaded guilty to six counts of armed robbery, affray and criminal damage.

R v Paul Eames (2016): Prosecuted Mr Eames at Sheffield Crown Court who was convicted of rape. The case received national press coverage on Mail Online, Mirror and BBC news.

R v Raymond Todd, James Clifford Todd & Byron Cowling (2015): Prosecuted three men who were found guilty of a variety of firearms offences and sentenced to a combined total of 27 years in prison. The case received national press coverage on the BBC and ITV as well as local coverage in the Star.

R v Jon Watson & Kathryn Mooney (2015): Prosecuted a man who was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on his 10-week-old son by shaking him, causing permanent and serious disability. Watson received an extended sentence of 15 years with a custodial element of 12 years. The mother was convicted of child cruelty for failing to protect her son and received a suspended sentence. The case received coverage in the Daily Mail.

R v Christopher Swain (2015): Prosecuted this eight-day trial and secured conviction of a man on multiple charges of rape and fraud and theft charges. The case received national press coverage in the Mirror, the Daily Mail, and the Express.

R v KAC (2014): Four-day trial. Secured the conviction of a rapist and paedophile on numerous sexual offences relating to numerous victims ranging in age from four to 19.

R v SW (2014): Seven-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this man charged with historic sexual offences against two complainants.

R v DK (2014): Four-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this man charged with a sexual offence against a child.

R v SG (2014): Eight-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this man charged with numerous sexual offences against children.

R v DL (2014): Three-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this woman charged with offences of child cruelty.

R v WS (2014): Six-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this man charged with sexual offences.

R v RM (2014): Five-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this retired gentleman facing charges of non-recent sexual abuse against three complainants.

R v Aras Mahmoud (2014): Two-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this gentleman on an assault charge.

R v Paul Critchlow (2014): Successful prosecution of a Mortgage Fraud case.

R v GD (2014): Five-day trial. Represented this defendant charged with multiple sexual offences against multiple victims.

R v Mantas Vilkaitis (2014): Seven-day trial. Represented this Lithuanian defendant on charges of false imprisonment and violence.

R v H (2013): Represented the teenage son of a soldier facing sexual offences before the Service Civilian Court. Successfully utilised the Crown Court ‘application to dismiss’ procedure before the SCC in Sennelager, Germany, and resisted the SPA appeal against the same before the Court Martial Appeal Court. The procedure had apparently not been used before in Courts Martial according to the SPA. Acquittals secured on all charges.

R v Jamie Todd (2013): Represented the lead Defendant in this much publicised Environmental Agency prosecution, arising out of unauthorised waste operations of Leeds Paper Recycling Ltd leading to £1.4million clear up costs, securing suspended sentences.

R v RM (2013): Four-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this teenager with learning difficulties charged with the attempted rape of an autistic teenage girl – a case with Intermediaries for both defendant and complainant, and with expert psychological evidence being called in relation to each of them.

R v Cathy Watson (2013): 14-day trial. Much publicised (national newspapers) fraud trial involving misappropriation of a disabled child’s £2M civil damages by the mother and step-father.

R v Darren Major (2013): 12-day trial. Conspiracy trial involving a fraud on the local authority empty homes renovation grants system. After 12 days of trial, the Crown’s case had been significantly undermined by detailed cross-examination, a compromise was achievable which led to a suspended sentence.

R v Karolis Rutkauskas (2013): Five-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this Lithuanian man charged with Blackmail and Assault.

R v Mantas Peckys (2013): Five-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this Lithuanian man charged with False Imprisonment and Assault with Intent to Rob.

R v Aligamantas Adomaitis (2013): 4 day trial. Secured the acquittal of this Lithuanian man charged with rape of a prostitute.

R v Ivan Nkazilema (2013): Three-day trial. Successfully prosecuted this man for offences of burglary and theft.

R v Jamie Hilaire (2013): Three-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this lady on a charge of Unlawful Wounding.

R v SGF (2013): Four-day trial. Successfully prosecuted this man for the sexual assault of a child.

R v Gary Allen (2012): Two-day hearing before a Judge. Successfully resisted a novel application for a tag to be worn for life under a SOPO.

R v Porter (2012): Four-day trial. Defended in this multi-handed trade mark trial.

R v Daill Fawcett (2012 and 2013): Two-day trial and Court of Appeal. Prosecuted this case, successful resisting an abuse of process argument, after which guilty pleas were entered. Then successfully resisted the appeal on the abuse of process point before the court of appeal.

R v CB (2012): Four-day trial. Successfully prosecuted this defendant for non-recent sexual abuse of two children.

R v LJS (2012): Four-day trial. Obtained a conviction of this Defendant for sexually assaulting a child.

R v Emma Greaves (2012): Three-day trial. Secured a conviction on a charge of ABH.

R v Daniel Tuplin (2012): Two-day trial. Secured a stay of the indictment for abuse of process in this case where it was alleged the Defendant had assaulted, intimidated and racially abused a police officer.

R v Darren Paul Gray (2012): Seven-day trial. Secured the conviction of this defendant on 24 charges of rape and sexual assault against four child victims, resulting in sentence of 18½ years’ imprisonment.

R v Stephen Urry (2011): Secured the acquittal of this defendant, who was facing charges in a multi-handed high value mortgage fraud case, following legal argument.

R v Hitchmough, Cooledge, Blake & Bence (2010): Nine-day trial. Secured the convictions of three defendants on firearm and robbery charges in which a firearm was discharged.

R v William Hippsley (2010): Three-day trial. Successfully defended this retired gentleman on a charge of causing the death of his wife by careless driving. The case involved whether the Toyota car had experienced a sudden unintended acceleration as a result of a fault (similar incidents were being investigated by the U.S. House of Representatives) or whether the Defendant had miss-footed the accelerator instead of the brake.

R v Michael Bailey (2009): Nine-day trial. Secured the acquittal of this defendant who was charged with others with a high-value fraud involving a conspiracy to steal diesel from an employer.

Op Carwash (2009): Successfully prosecuted this 12-defendant conspiracy to commit burglary and handling stolen goods, involving dozens of burglaries in Grimsby and the fencing of the proceeds through those running a car wash in the town.

Fraud & financial crime

Gordon is experienced in prosecuting and defending fraud cases. He is meticulous in preparation and a very effective and successful trial advocate.

Cases

R v DB (2018): Defended a man on charges of evading in excess of £250k of VAT. Secured a compromise relating to £40k of unpaid VAT and a suspended sentence.

R v SM (2017): Secured the acquittal of a man at trial on charges of money laundering involving international money transfers and Hawala Banking.

R v Nielsen & Beech (& another) (2017): Represented two men who pleaded guilty to their parts in a conspiracy to pass off horsemeat as beef. This case received national press coverage in the BBC NewsITV NewsHorse and HoundFarmer’s WeeklySky News and The Guardian.

R v Ean Noble (2017): Successful defence of £2M fraud charges.

R v Paul Critchlow (2014): Successful prosecution of a Mortgage Fraud case.

R v Cathy Watson (2013): Much publicised fraud trial involving the misappropriation of a disabled child’s £2M civil damages by the mother and step-father.

R v Darren Major (2013): Conspiracy trial involving a fraud on the local authority empty homes renovation grants system. After 12 days of trial, the Crown’s case had been significantly undermined by detailed cross-examination, a compromise was achievable which led to a suspended sentence.

R v Stephen Urry (2011): Secured the acquittal of this defendant, who was facing charges in a multi-handed high value mortgage fraud case, following legal argument.

R v Michael Bailey (2009): Secured the acquittal of this defendant who was charged with others with a high value fraud involving a conspiracy to steal diesel from an employer.

Environmental

Gordon practises in all areas of regulatory work. He is able to provide advice at any stage of the proceedings. He is a very effective and successful trial advocate.

Cases

R v Ean Noble (2017): Represented this Defendant in an Environmental Agency prosecution arising out of activities at Bank End Quarry involving glass recycling, securing a very low level financial penalty and avoiding POCA proceedings.

R v Ean Noble (2015): Listed for a six-week trial. Representing this Defendant in a multi-handed EA prosecution.

R v Jamie Todd (2013): Represented the lead Defendant in this much publicised Environmental Agency prosecution, arising out of unauthorised waste operations of Leeds Paper Recycling Ltd leading to £1.4million clear up costs, securing suspended sentences, and avoiding POCA proceedings.

Personal injury

Gordon has practised in the field of personal injury since 1995. He has advised in thousands of cases, and prepared countless particulars of claim, defences and schedules of loss etc. He has appeared in many contested personal injury cases including cases where he has been led by Queen’s Counsel. He practises in all areas of personal injury including accident at work, deafness, VWF, fatal accident, general road traffic, public liability cases and cases against the MOD. He is known for his ability to produce detailed and case-changing schedules of loss in complex and substantial cases, and for his thorough and detailed pleadings and advice.

Cases

B v M (2018): Secured a substantial six figure payout for the widow and children of a motorcyclist killed in a fatal road traffic accident

Pilton v RMBC (2014): Successfully represented the estate of the deceased in this high profile case. The case involved the bullying of Britt Pilton, a teacher, at work by the school’s Deputy Head Teacher, leading to the exacerbation of her bulimia nervosa causing her death. The case was fought on every point by the local council, and resulted in a four-day trial with a significant amount of lay evidence and numerous experts on each side being called in relation to the bullying, the deceased’s psychiatric illness and the causation of death.

Holleworth v M.O.D. (2011): In this high profile case, successfully represented an injured submariner who, as a result of an accident on board the submarine HMS Tireless beneath the arctic ice, was physically and psychologically injured, resulting in him being discharged from the Navy. Two of his colleagues were killed in the incident. The Claimant had been a high-flier who would most likely have gone on to have a full and successful career with an extension of service. The case required projections of promotion, length of service and calculations of allowances and pensions that would have been received, together with future likely civilian earnings had he had a full career. The schedules of loss were extremely complicated, lengthy and comprehensive and they ultimately persuaded the M.O.D. to raise their offers of settlement to a significantly higher and appropriate level.

Boot v Guildway: Achieved a significantly higher offer from the defendant as a result of his detailed and persuasive schedules of loss of earnings for a professional self-employed man.

Violet Clark & 16 Others v Severn Trent Water Ltd: Represented 17 Claimants in this long-running public liability case, following flooding of their homes as a result engineering works carried out by Severn Trent.

Conoco Oil Refinery Cases: Represented over 80 Claimant’s in this long-running large-scale litigation following an explosion at the Conoco Oil Refinery resulting in physical and psychological injury to numerous workers and some neighbouring residents.

Sheffield Supertram Inquest: Represented the family of the deceased at the Inquest following a fatal road traffic accident on a road shared with tram tracks. This inquest was the precursor to the significant and lengthy Supertram litigation flowing from this and other accidents linked to the Supertram tracks.

Inquests & coronial

Gordon has practised in the field of inquest work since 1995. His personal injury work and engineering background often compliment this work. He has appeared in many cases for families of the deceased or interested parties.

Gordon has experience of inquest cases relating to apparent suicides of users of mental health services, and examined whether there had been failure of care, and whether the suicides had been foreseeable and preventable. He acted for parties who potentially fell to be criticised during the inquest process. All criticism was avoided. Skilled at cross-examination, and legal argument. In addition, he has 20 years of experience in the field of personal injury work, and so is adept at understanding medical reports and issues and causation etc.

Courts martial & service law

Gordon’s military background gives him a particularly good knowledge of firearms and he regularly acts for soldiers who find themselves before the courts, including Courts Martial and the Courts Martial Appeal Court. His former service leaves him uniquely placed to understand the jargon and the military establishment and the military family.

Cases

R v H (2013): Service Civilian Court, Germany. Represented the teenage son of a soldier facing sexual offences before the Service Civilian Court. Successfully utilised the Crown Court ‘application to dismiss’ procedure before the SCC in Sennelager, Germany.

R v H (2013): Court Martial Appeal Court, Royal Courts of Justice: Successfully resisted the Service Prosecution Authority appeal against the decision in the above case before the Court Martial Appeal Court. The procedure had apparently not been used before in Courts Martial according to the SPA. Acquittals secured on all charges.

Trading standards & consumer

Gordon’s Regulatory practice extends to all aspects of trading standards and consumer criminal law, including counterfeit goods and fraudulent trading and/or receiving money through deceit. Cases include:-

R v Porter (2012): Four-day trial. Defended in this multi-handed trademark trial.

Memberships

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Personal Injury Bar Association

Appointments

  • Appointed as a Recorder in 2023
  • CPS Grade 4 Prosecutor
  • Member of the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel for the North Eastern and Northern Circuits
  • Accredited for Direct Public Access instructions