“Andrew understands difficult and document heavy cases quickly and is able to provide professional and sensible advice in a straight forward manner.
His professional and approachable manner engages clients at an early stage. His industrious, hands-on style keeps clients engaged throughout the case.
He is an extremely effective advocate who gets to the very heart of the issue and performs with confidence under pressure.”
Jennifer Capelen, Cyfreithiwr / Solicitor, Legal, HR and Democratic Services
Chambers UK Bar
Andrew is a Criminal and Regulatory barrister.
Andrew read Law at The University of Sheffield and was called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in 1992.
Crown Court & appeals
Andrew defends and prosecutes all categories of serious crime including; rape, historical sexual abuse and domestic violence, computer crime, arson, serious assaults, fraud, armed robbery, drugs importation and distribution and public order offences.
Andrew has been a Category 4 Prosecutor since 2003 and is a member of the Specialist Rape Panel. He provides training for the College of Policing (formerly NPIA) in relation to Surveillance and RIPA including Authorising Officers and Covert Human Intelligence Sources. Training is provided for officers to up to and including the rank of Chief Constable and Assistant Chief Constable.
Cases
Andrew regularly appears in cases involving; large multi-handed drugs conspiracies, rape/serious sexual assaults and serious violence.
R v CM: Defended a 72-year-old ex-teacher facing 20 serious historical sexual and violence charges from 10 complainants. After a 5-week trial at Derby Crown Court client acquitted of 17 charges and convicted of 3 offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Received a suspended prison sentence.
R v HT: Murder – Defended mother who killed her baby. Complex psychiatric issues. Infanticide. Diminished responsibility. Trial involved Leading counsel on both sides.
R v PON: Defended client charged with 26 historic sexual offences. Six complainants. Three week trial.
R v H: Defended client charged with voyeurism, inciting sexual activity. Case involved technical complexity including the use of Omegle software, hacking into domestic webcams and recording the footage.
R v CA: Defended (non-UK) transgender client. Gender identity and gender expression male. Alleged to have committed sex offences against an under-age girl. Remanded in a female prison. Prosecution offered no evidence.
R v ML: Defended Muslim police officer who is also an Imam. Acquitted after trial.
R v MD: Defended member of the travelling community charged in a large multi-handed sex conspiracy involving the targeting of minors. Extensive mobile phone data. Prosecution offered no evidence.
R v A: Defended businessman charged with rape. Acquitted after trial.
R v M: Defending Polish client charged with drugs supply. Assisted by interpreter and occasionally used Google translate to facilitate communication.
R v H: Successfully defended a police officer charged with harassment of his former partner who is also a serving police officer. Deployed a legal argument that resulted in the prosecution abandoning the case and offering no evidence. Also successfully avoided the imposition of a restraining order. The result maximised the client’s chances of resuming normal duties and placed him in the best position for any professional standards enquiry.
R v Emery: Prosecuted historic rape case, the defendant received a 20-year sentence
R v Daly: Conspiracy to supply class A drugs
R v Gordon: Rape. Very young complainants.
R v Williams: Large multi-handed public order violence.
R v Higgins: Computer sex case. Defendant with complex medical history.
R v Coppack: Rape. Domestic and relationship.
R v Swift: Historical multiple child rapes.
R v Williams: Rape – Defending young client ADHD – multiple complainants
R v Bennett: Arson – Defending – complex psychiatric issues
R v Butler: Rape – Defending – young client, low IQ – multiple complainants
R v McKellar and Ford: Father & son multi-complainant familial & relationship historical rapes
R v Styles: Armed robbery – firearms – substantial cell-site mobile phone evidence and PII issues. Organised crime.
R v Dykes and Norbury: Blackmail – covert surveillance
R v Watson: Judicial Review, rape case involving youth
R v Ferguson: Murder (Prosecution junior) – domestic violence
Health & safety
Andrew is developing a special interest in regulatory crime and in particular Health and Safety cases.
Cases
Denbighshire CC v M: Prosecuting multiple breaches of Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 regulations in relation to a spectator death at a Borderline Downhill Mountain Biking competition.
Denbighshire CC v F: Prosecuting multiple breaches of Animal Welfare and Farming regulations.
R v Sanders Machinery: Successfully prosecuted as leading junior for Denbighshire County Council. Lengthy trial. Health and Safety. Fatality in the workplace. Complex technical issues involving experts on both sides. Split-rim wheel explosion at machinery and stock yard. See testimonial below.
R v Batley: Trademarks trading standards case.
R v Ashmore: Trademarks trading standards case.
Fraud & financial crime
Cases
Flintshire CC v KR: Defending large multi-handed conspiracy to defraud. Allegation of participation in a fraudulent scheme to sell advertising from a call centre. Substantial volume of evidence.
R v SC: Defending large scale conspiracy to defraud by false representation involving multiple fraudulent claims management businesses. Substantial volume of evidence.
R v Clancy: Large multi-handed cash for crash fraud. Extensive phone evidence.
R v Ashmore: Trademarks trading standards case.
R v White: Benefits fraud.
R v Edwards: Fuel cards fraud.
R v Jones: Mortgage fraud – Defending mortgage adviser at centre of fraud – substantial documentary exhibits – VHCC.
Trading standards & consumer
Andrew is an expert in trading standards and consumer protection law and related criminal offences.
Cases include:-
R v D: Defended member of the travelling community charged with multiple offences including Unfair Commercial Practice and fraud.
R v O: Defended businessman charged with multiple Unfair Commercial Practice offences in relation to alleged sub-standard workmanship.
Environmental
Andrew is experienced in representing parties facing prosecution by the Environment Agency and/or Local Authorities. This includes crown court offences. Examples include:-
R v Faulkner: Fisheries and Environmental regulatory offense.
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
