Clerking team

Andy Booth

Lead Criminal Clerk

Shell Edmonds

Criminal Clerk

Nageena Mahmoud

Junior Criminal Clerk

Stephanie Casey

Junior Criminal Clerk

James specialises in criminal law, both prosecuting and defending. He enjoys a busy Crown Court practice and has been involved in large-scale drugs conspiracies, firearms offences, serious organised crime and sexual offences. He is a Category 2 Prosecutor and has started to accept instructions in RASSO youth cases.

Since joining Chambers in August 2023, James has had some impressive results, including a successful appearance in the Court of Appeal which resulted in his client’s immediate release from prison.

James has the ability to quickly grasp the real issues in a case. He has a down-to-earth approach with clients and provides detailed and considered advice, thinking through issues from all angles before deciding on a course of action. James is always thoroughly prepared which is evident in his advocacy.

James read Law at Lancaster University and was called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 2021 after being awarded a Distinction in his Master’s Degree in Legal Practice. He completed pupillage at the Crown Prosecution Service in 2022.

Crown Court & appeals

Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)

R v Kennard Gray [2024] EWCA Crim 296: Successfully appealed against sentence in a case concerning the importation of over 16.5 kilograms of cannabis from Jamaica into Manchester. The original sentence of 33 months’ imprisonment was quashed and replaced with a 22-month suspended sentence. Read the Judgment here.

R v Andrew Newton [2022] EWCA Crim 1441: Advised the Solicitor General in a case of child cruelty relating to bone fractures caused to a 10-week-old baby. A Suspended Sentence Order held to be ‘unduly lenient’ was replaced with a sentence of three years’ imprisonment. The case was reported by BBC News.

Crown Court

Drugs

Operation Riverside (2024): Prosecuting, led by Maria Brannan. Large-scale class A drugs conspiracy. Reported in the Manchester Evening News.

R v Popov (2024): Defending. Production of cannabis. No evidence offered by the Prosecution after cross-examination of the Officer in the Case.

R v Asif (2023): Defending. Possession of half a kilogram of class A drugs with intent to supply. Successfully mitigated for a sentence of just 2 years’ 8 months’ imprisonment.

Firearms

R v Alfredo (2024): Defending. Persuaded the Court to keep to the mandatory minimum term of three years’ imprisonment for the possession of three firearms; a 9mm pistol and two shotguns. Reported in the Manchester Evening News.

Dishonesty

Operation Dilemma (2024 – ongoing): Defending. Many dwelling burglaries and theft of high-value motor vehicles.

R v Barnard (2024 – ongoing): Defending. Fraud by abuse of position. 

R v Budd & Smith (2024): Prosecuting. Conspiracy to blackmail involving an elderly family member. Defendants sentenced to seven and three years’ imprisonment.

R v Miah & Noor (2024): Prosecuting. Conspiracy to burgle 13 dwellings where property (mainly gold jewellery) worth over £100,000 was stolen. Defendants sentenced to nine and seven years’ imprisonment.

Sexual Offences

R v Ellis (2024 – ongoing): Defending. Sexual assault involving a vulnerable Complainant.

R v Davies (2024 – ongoing): Prosecuting. Arranging the rape of a child under 13.

R v Cookson (2024): Defending. Sexual activity without consent involving penetration. Acquitted.

R v Matthews (2024): Prosecuting, alone against KC. Sexual Activity with a Child.

R v Watson (2024): Defending. Publishing obscene articles and breaching an SHPO. Lenient sentence imposed. Reported in the Manchester Evening News.

R v Townsend (2024): Prosecuting. Sexual offences including arranging the commission of a child sex offence with a vulnerable victim. 10-year extended sentence imposed.

Violence

R v Ghulam (2024 – ongoing): Defending. False imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm.

R v Cregan (2024 – ongoing): Defending. Violent disorder and s.47 ABH arising from large-scale violence towards the police and public in the Manchester Riots.

R v Esiaka (2024): Defending. s.20 involving the use of a glass as a weapon causing wounds to the face. Suspended Sentence Order imposed.

R v Gillibrand (2024): Defending. s.18 wounding of a police officer. Plea to s.20 accepted by the Prosecution. Defendant suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Hospital order imposed.

R v Khan (2024): Defending. Stalking involving fear of violence and disclosing/threatening to disclose private sexual images. Defendant with autism and leaning difficulties. Suspended Sentence Order imposed.

R v Matthews (2024): Defending. Violent robbery of an elderly neighbour. The Prosecution accepted pleas to a s.47 ABH and theft on a limited basis. Short custodial sentence after a Goodyear indication, thereby avoiding a lengthy term of imprisonment.

R v Johnson (2024): Defending. Controlling/coercive behaviour and child cruelty case involving pre-recorded cross-examination. Acquitted of two child cruelty counts after trial.

R v Jones (2023): Defending. s.20 stabbing of a family member where wounds were caused to the head. Excessive self-defence basis accepted. Numerous aggravating factors were present such as the presence of a child, being under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and previous convictions for violence. Suspended sentence imposed.

Other

R v Grundy (2024): Defending. Perverting the course of justice. Suspended sentence order imposed despite a recent conviction for identical offending.

Education

  • LLM, BPP University: Distinction
  • Bar Training Course, BPP University: Very Competent
  • LLB Law, University of Lancaster: 2.1

Memberships

  • The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
  • The Northern Circuit
  • The Criminal Bar Association