Richard Thyne KC

Richard prosecutes and defends in the most serious, challenging and high-profile criminal cases. He is accustomed to handling cases that attract significant media attention. He has appeared in numerous cases involving large police operations and multiple defendants. He is adept at dealing with expert evidence including complex medical issues, forensic scientific evidence, ballistics and firearms evidence, and road traffic collision reconstruction. He has dealt with cross-jurisdictional issues, and recently successfully prosecuted the first UK case involving a formal joint investigation with Albanian law enforcement authorities.

In addition to his work in the Crown Court Richard regularly advises and appears in relation to appeals before the Court of Appeal.

Listed below is a small selection of his recent and notable cases.

 

Murder / Manslaughter

JM & others (2023)

Prosecuting five defendants for a brutal revenge attack on 2 teenage children resulting in life changing injuries.

AK (2023)

Prosecuting skydiving instructor for the murder of his partner.

WP (2023)

Prosecuting man who killed his next door neighbour in a dispute over anti-social behaviour.

SL (2022)

Prosecuting businessman who kicked another man to death for stealing from his car.

AJ (2022)

Prosecuting teenager for double murder arising from the stabbing of two men in the street. Following a reference by the Attorney General (reported at [2022] EWCA Crim 1811) the Court of Appeal held that, notwithstanding that the appropriate starting point was increased to 30 years because two people had been murdered, the taking of a knife to the scene amounted to a further significant aggravating feature which justified an additional increase in the starting point.

SJ (2022)

Defending company director charged with gross negligence manslaughter and associated health and safety offences arising from the death of one of his employees at a waste recycling facility.

 

Serious Organised Crime

Operation Amplify Kilo (2023)

Prosecuting members of an OCG involved in a series of linked firearms offences.

Operation Lakeside Kilo (2023)

Prosecuting two gang members who falsely imprisoned their victims in degrading and humiliating conditions in order to levy substantial ransom demands. First example of a JIT involving law enforcement agencies in the UK and Albania.

Operation Robin (2022)

Prosecuting Encrochat case involving the importation of multiple consigments of Class A drugs.

Operation Erbium (2021)

Prosecuting series of cases involving joint NCA and Regional Organised Crime Unit investigation into the supply of drugs and firearms in South Yorkshire.

Operation Reed (2020)

Prosecuting conspiracy to supply a loaded firearm.

Operation Mandrake (2018)

Proseucting County Lines conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine.

 

Serious and Fatal Road Traffic Collisions

DH (2023)

Instructed for the prosecution in case where the defendant driver had suffered a hypoglycaemic attack leading to a collision involving two fatalities.

AL (2022)

Defending allegation of causing death by dangerous driving involving assertion of undiagnosed epilepsy.

CR (2019)

Defending a young driver charged with causing catastrophic injuries to a motorcyclist as a result of an allegedly dangerous right turn across a junction.

RT (2019)

Defending an HGV driver facing allegation of causing death by careless driving, arising from a low speed collision with an elderly pedestrian at a difficult road junction.  Cross examination of the prosecution collision expert revealed a potential break in the chain of causation, giving rise to a successful submission of no case to answer.

AM (2019)  

Defending in high profile trial of the passengers of a stolen HGV involved in a fatal collision with a pedestrian. All of the occupants were prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving, by joint enterprise.

DM (2018)  

Successfully defending HGV driver charged with causing death by dangerous driving, arising from a collision with a recovery vehicle on the hard shoulder of the M25.

 

Serious sexual offences

Operation Monroe 2 (2020)

Successfully defending allegation of gunpoint rape of a 15 year old child. Part of a trial of 10 defendants facing child sexual exploitation offences

Operation Kansas (2018)

Prosecuting multiple complainant allegations involving rape and penetrative sexual activity with girls under 16, involving spreading of STIs.

 

Other reported cases

Downs [2021] 1 Cr App R (S) 20

Consecutive prison sentences were appropriate for offences of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, criminal damage and driving whilst disqualified. Although the latter offences were committed during the course of the same incident, they were distinct from the final collision which resulted in the serious injury.

Munroe [2019] 2 Cr App R 29

Conjoined appeals addressing the interpretation of a “noxious thing” under section 24 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, and guidance issued on the appropriate levels of sentencing for assaults upon prison staff.

B [2017] 1 Cr App R (S) 5

Activation of suspended sentences and totality

Ishaq & others [2015] EWCA Crim 1885

Conspiracy to produce and supply Class A drugs. Effect of non-disclosure by the prosecution, and impact of judicial comment in summing up.

Wood [2013] 1 Cr App R (S) 92

A judge had been wrong to express scepticism about a basis of plea which had been accepted by the prosecution, and then go on to sentence the defendant on a different basis without affording her the opportunity to give evidence

• Strengths: “Richard works exceptionally hard at preparing cases for trial. His attention to detail is excellent.” “Richard is tenacious, smooth and considered.” Chambers UK 2024
• “’Richard’s advocacy is measured and persuasive. He never takes a bad point, which commends him to judges and juries alike. He has a long and successful career in silk ahead.” Legal 500 2024 
• “Richard has a great legal mind. He has an exceptional work ethic and is excellent with clients. His ability to make complicated legal issues seem straightforward is truly outstanding.” Legal 500 2024
• “Richard Thyne KC is a new silk who prosecutes and defends complex crimes including homicides, drug trafficking and firearms offences, as well as cases involving road traffic collisions. Strengths: “Richard is fantastic.” Chambers UK Bar 2023
• “Very thorough, exceptional work ethic and excellent with clients. His ability to make complicated legal issues seem straightforward is outstanding.” Legal 500 2023
• “Richard has an excellent knowledge of the law and excels as an advocate in court. He is very friendly and approachable.” Legal 500 2022
• “His style as an affable yet exceedingly acute advocate warms him to jurors, and ensures he retains the concentration and attention of the courtroom, even in the most lengthy and complex trials.” Legal 500 2021
• “Organised and collaborative with great understanding of the law.” Legal 500 2020
• “He has the ability to swiftly assimilate complex aspects of a case.” Legal 500, 2019
• “His practice includes murder, serious sexual offences and drug trafficking matters.” Legal 500, 2017
• “He instils confidence in his clients.” Legal 500, 2016
• “He prosecutes and defends a range of serious offences, and has significant experience in multi-handed cases.” Legal 500, 2015 

• North Eastern Circuit
• Criminal Bar Association

• Silk (2022)
• Secretary of the North Eastern Circuit (2020-2022)
• Advocacy Trainer (2019)
• Recorder (2018)
• CPS Level 4 Prosecutor (2013-2022)
• Junior of the North Eastern Circuit (2013)
• Pupil Supervisor (2011)
• Attorney-General’s Junior Counsel to the Crown, Regional Panel (2007-2017)
• Called to the Bar (2002)