Crime

Richard prosecutes and defends across the whole spectrum of criminal offences. He has particular recent experience of cases involving gang and/or drug related serious violence, and significant and complex disclosure exercises. He has defended in sensitive cases, including cases involving offences committed by police officers both inside and outside the exercise of their duties.

He has extensive experience of the law in relation to issues of public interest immunity, and is frequently instructed to act for third parties in applications for disclosure. He has acted for the Prison Service in criminal proceedings arising from serious offences committed in prison, and involving requests for third party disclosure. He has also been instructed by the former Serious and Organised Crime Agency to act as independent counsel, advising in relation to matters of legal professional privilege.
He has lectured to the Crown Prosecution Service and solicitors on aspects of the hearsay provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and the sentencing of dangerous offenders. He is also an occasional guest lecturer on the Law of Evidence at Sheffield Hallam University.

Notable cases
R v Jarvis and others (2011)
Junior for the prosecution in multi-handed case involving kidnap, firearms and drug money.

R v Currie and others (2011)
Prosecuted case of gunpoint robbery in the home.

R v Docta (2010)
Prosecuted gang-related section 18 wounding.

R v Muhammed (2010)
Junior for the defence in attempted murder involving drug-related shooting.

R v Chattoo and others (2010)
Junior for the prosecution instructed to deal with issues of disclosure in murder trial of 5 gang members involved in the Sheffield “post code wars”.

R v McManus (2009)
Junior for the defence in domestic murder.

R v Hirst (2008)
Junior for the defence where stepfather charged with murder by neglect of 3 year old girl. Issues involving the applicability and proper interpretation of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

Personal Injury

Richard advises in conference and in writing, settles pleadings, and appears for Claimants and Defendants in fast track and multi-track claims. Areas of work include: employers’ liability, industrial disease (deafness, WRULD and respiratory illness) and public liability claims. He has a particular interest in cases involving interesting or complex medical issues.

He has long standing inquest experience, including Article 2 inquests. He has appeared for the Prison Service in cases involving deaths in custody. Other significant cases have included the drowning of a pupil on a school trip, a death following the injection of heroin by a third party, and the death of a child in the care of a local authority.
Richard is presently the legal secretary of the South Yorkshire Medico-Legal Society.

Regulatory

Richard’s criminal and civil work have provided the background for his regulatory and disciplinary practice. He has represented individuals before police disciplinary tribunals and before the General Medical Council. His regulatory work includes health and safety at work, environmental protection and food standards.

Public/Administrative Law

Richard is frequently instructed, as Junior Counsel to the Crown, to respond to applications for judicial review, in particular in prison law cases involving the Parole Board and/or the Ministry of Justice. He has also advised and appeared in relation to claims for malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office and false imprisonment.

Notable cases
R (on the application of H) v Parole Board [2011] EWHC 2081 (Admin)
Judicial review of decision not to recommend the transfer of life sentence prisoner to open conditions, where the Parole Board proceeded on the basis of a mistake of fact.

R (on the application of Peter Chester) v Governor of HMP Wakefield [2010] EWHC 63 (Admin)
Judicial review of prison policy in relation to the handling of confidential legal correspondence.
 

Public Access