Regulatory

David has extensive experience of professional disciplinary hearings. He regularly appears before the GMC to represent doctors facing serious allegations of misconduct.

He is also trusted to represent police officers on behalf of the Police Federation when officers find themselves facing disciplinary and/or criminal proceedings. Such cases involve allegations of assault, perverting the course of justice, sexual offences, possession of Class A drugs and misuse of the Police National Computer.

David receives instructions to defend clients in private prosecution cases brought by the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) & Media Protection Services (MPS) on behalf of the F.A Premier League. These cases concern the alleged theft of the intellectual property rights of broadcasters under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. David is currently involved in cases concerning Sky Television and the broadcast of live Premiership football in the UK.

Recent Notable Cases:

•  “Operation Cobalt” - instructed to represent one of the main defendants in a trial brought by the Environment Agency and listed for 8 weeks at Newcastle Crown Court in 2012.
• MPS -v- Goulbourne & Crane - defendants faced private prosecution brought by the F.A Premier League in relation to copyright infringement.

CORONIAL:

David has extensive experience of proceedings in the Coroner's Court and has
appeared on many occasions at inquests representing the legal interests of NHS Trusts, Local Authorities, Police, Ambulance Service and other interested parties. Such inquests involve deaths in hospitals, police custody, prisons, at work, restraint deaths and those involving individuals with mental health issues.

Crime

David also undertakes a broad spectrum of criminal cases and has considerable experience prosecuting and defending criminal cases at all levels. Such cases involve serious and organised crime including armed robbery, commercial fraud, money laundering, large scale drugs conspiracies, murder/manslaughter, firearms offences and human trafficking.

Many of David's cases have received strong media interest and have been reported extensively in the local and national press. In addition, some of his cases have featured on Crimewatch UK. David is a Category 3 prosecutor and is fully conversant with the requirement for sensitive dealings with young and other vulnerable witnesses and the relevant special measures rules and regulations. He has also prosecuted cases on behalf of the Probation Service and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Recent Notable Cases:

• Regina v. Paul Davies & Others - "Operation Norfolk" involved the investigation into a £5 million pound conspiracy to import/distribute Class A drugs.
• Regina v. Andrew Reddicen - murder trial involving the death of a male outside a nightclub in Ashton Town Centre.
• Regina v. Michael Walker - 36 armed robberies over a 6 month period, this case featured on Crimewatch UK.
• Regina v. Paul Firth & Others - £2 million conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine. The indictment was stayed after two months of legal argument.
• Regina v. Catherine Glover - £4 million money laundering case involving the proceeds of a drugs operation headed by the defendant's husband. He had already received 25 years imprisonment for importation of Class A drugs having been convicted at an earlier trial. The defendant was acquitted of money laundering.
• Regina v. David Johnson & Others - represented four of the ring leaders of the "Naughty Forty" Stoke City football hooligan firm. This involved large scale football related violent disorder which occurred throughout Manchester City Centre when England and Wales met at Old Trafford.
• Regina v. Kieron Salway & Others - "Operation Nemesis" involved a large scale undercover police operation in the Stoke area into heroin and cocaine supply.
• Regina v. Kirsty Burdon & Others - the torture and murder of a suspected paedophile in Blackpool.
• Regina v. Peter Kemp & Others - Large scale conspiracy to defraud involving bogus sponsorship acquired from UK businesses in excess of £3 million.

Public Access

David is renowned as a dedicated “petrol head” and therefore gravitated naturally towards road traffic law. He has developed an enviable reputation for successfully defending motorists across the country in privately funded cases. These include drink driving, speeding, dangerous driving, tachograph offences, overweight loads and all other related matters.

David also has a keen interest in sports law and can be instructed directly to provide representation at disciplinary hearings and in sporting regulatory matters. Through direct access he is available to provide advice to sporting figures on staying within the law both inside and outside the sporting arena – including guidance on professional conduct, public order and issues involving alcohol, driving, sexual behaviour, privacy and social networking.

David is instructed regularly to represent premises licence holders and designated premises supervisors (DPS) in relation to Licensing Act offences. He represents his clients vigorously before licensing review committees and undertakes the full appeal process on their behalf as and when required.

David receives instructions from a number of Taxi Driver Associations and their individual members in relation to Hackney Carriage Licence applications and review hearings. David appears before the Licensing sub-committee concerning issues relating to the renewal, suspension or revocation of licences and Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) related issues. He is often instructed at a later stage to advise upon and undertake a full appeal process with a view to reversing the negative decisions of earlier review hearings.