Crime

Paul's practice includes the most serious and complex criminal cases including Murder, Manslaughter, serious sexual offences, gang crime and serious violence.

Recent important cases

R v Thomas Lane (2012) The Defendant was prosecuted for an offence of Causing Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent. The defendant was sentenced to a community order (click here for Telegraph Article)

Operation Confection (2011) a large multi handed conspiracy involving firearms and the importation of an estimated £50million of Cocaine.

R v Massey (2011)A conspiracy to rob post offices with firearms involving a large number of defendants.

Operation Badge (2011) a large conspiracy with eight defendants involving an arson attack upon a police compound destroying a number of vehicles preventing their being forensically tested and causing over £1million of damage. Mr Hodgkinson's client was the only defendant to avoid custody.

R V Iriogbe (2011) Murder trial involving an alleged revenge attack with incidents spanning a period of six years. The case involved the novel defence of "loss of control".

R v S (2010) The successful defence of a lady charged with causing Grevious bodily harm with intent. It was accepted she had stabbed her partner in the eye with a kitchen knife causing the victim to lose his sight in one eye. During the trial we were able to show that the defendant was subjected over many years to domestic violence at the hands of the victim.The Defendant was acquitted by the jury.

Operation Weasel (2011) A case involving an alleged 22 armed robberies around the north west. The defendant pleaded guilty on a basis and received a sentence of 9 years custody. This sentence was successfully reduced following arguments advanced before the Court of Appeal.

R v Bambrick (2010) A case of attempted murder involving the alleged use of weapons the victim being the defendants partner. The Defendant was ultimately convicted of making a threat to kill.

Solicitor v Manchester Crown Court. Judicial review of a decision by a Judge at Manchester Crown Court to award wasted costs against a firm of solicitors. Matter heard before the Administrative Court and is now considered the authority in this area.

R v Butt. Defence counsel in a large trading standards case involving the manufacture, distribution and sale of over £1milion worth of counterfeit designer perfume, leather goods and clothing. 

R V EMILY HORNE (Aug 2009)
The Defendant pleaded guilty to Bigamy. The lady had very complex mental health issues and had admitted engaging in her fourth bigamous marriage.
This case attracted enormous media interest being the first story on that nights BBC 6 o’clock national news and the subject of a channel 4 cutting edge documentary.

Click Here to view The Times newspaper's coverage of this case

Click Here to view the BBC's coverage of this case

R V ALI MAJID KADIR (Aug 09)
The defendant was indicted in respect of 3 counts of Rape. The evidence came by way of video interview of the complainant, hours of CCTV footage, DNA evidence and evidence from telephones. The trial lasted 8 days and the Defendant was convicted and sentenced to 11 years imprisonment. An appeal of the Sentence was lodged but rejected.

R V BILLY HAWTHORNE (Oct 2010)
The Defendant was indicted with 24 others for an offence of Conspiracy to commit violent disorder. The case was felt so complex that it was in fact divided into 4 separate trials. The investigation involved covert observation evidence, telephony evidence, CCTV and evidence from football intelligence officers. Client was one of only 2 who were acquitted.

RV KEVIN MATTHEWS (Aug 09)
The Defendant was charged with allegations of historic Rape and sexual assaults. The matter proceeded to trial which lasted 8 days.
The Defendant was ultimately convicted of the Sexual assaults against his natural Daughter but acquitted of the Rape and Sexual Assaults against his Step Daughter.

R V MELANIE LEA (Sept 2010)
The Defendant was charged with 7 others with Conspiracy to defraud, Money Laundering and Perverting the Course of Justice. The case involved a sophisticated Fraud involving fraudulently obtaining vehicles on hire purchase agreements, providing false details and then selling the cars and ultimately laundering the proceeds.
Following discussions with and enquiries of the Crown they decided not to pursue Melanie Lea. The other Defendants were convicted.

R v TERRENCE TIMPERLEY (Dec 200 9)
The Defendant was charged with another with conspiracy to rob.
A major feature of the case was the bad character of the Defendant in that he had been convicted of identical offences in the past.
Ultimately following negotiation with the Crown the Defendant pleaded guilty to a series of thefts despite his co accused pleading to robbery.

R v Thompson, Twist and Taylor. Prosecution of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice following a false allegation of rape.

R v T (a youth). Successful Court of Appeal case involving an appeal of the sentence of a youth for a s.18 offence.

R v Lomas. Six week trial involving abuse of process arguments

R v D (a youth). Successful defence of a youth against manslaughter charge.

R v Schofield. Court of Appeal GBH case.

R v Leatham. Successful appeal of sentence following rape conviction.