Crime

Recent cases have involved the trial of a West Yorkshire police officer charged with male rape, sexual activity with a children, allegations of historic sexual abuse, sexual offences against multiple young complainants, rape of a child under 13, assault by penetration and rape of a prostitute.

Prosecuted a number of cases in involving human trafficking for sexual exploitation which have involved multiple defendants, vulnerable witnesses giving evidence through interpreters, live link to another country and issues of law relating to acts done abroad. I prosecuted the first such case in the country under the 2003 Act and the guideline case on sentence – R v Maka.

Substantial experience of and interest in special measures and have conducted cases with witnesses giving evidence through pre-recorded dvd (often edited by me to shorten the evidence) live-link, screens, through an intermediary and via a live link to another country.

I have also conducted a number of sham marriage cases in Sheffield involving defendants of many nationalities.

In addition I have regularly prosecuted and defended a number of cold case review rapes from many years ago with rapes which have recently been detected dating from the early 1980’s.

In 2010 prosecuted (leading another member of chambers) the case of R v Razaq and others (known as Operation Central). There were 8 defendants. The allegations were numerous sexual offences committed by the 8 defendants against 4 vulnerable teenagers. The trial lasted 8 weeks. This was a high profile case both locally and nationally. The indictment contained 25 counts. The case involved the targeting of young girls by adult males who then performed various sexual acts with the girls.

Regularly lectures particularly in relation to Sexual Offences and Special Measures. Set up and now oversee training of South Yorkshire Police in relation to the interviewing of Intimidated and Vulnerable Witnesses in connection with the South Yorkshire Police Training Department.

Recently lectured to Family Practitioners in Sheffield and then again in Doncaster on Special Measures in the Family Courts and have previously lectured to the Family Law Bar Association at their Annual Conference on
children’s evidence.

A member of the British Psychological Society’s Working Party and co author of Guidelines on Memory and the Law June 2008 and invited to sit on the committee looking to update the guidance.

A key speaker at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s conference on the 7th of April 2011 on ‘Safeguarding Children. Tackling Sexual Exploitation: Learning the Lessons.’

Participated in workshop run by Ministry of Justice Better Trials Unit in September 2011 in London to look at the implementation of section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 – pre-trial video recorded cross examination and re-examination.

Lectured at the South Yorkshire Police Child Sexual Exploitation Masterclass in October 2011 dealing particularly with the experience of prosecuting R v Razaq and others.

Co-wrote with HH Judge Robinson ‘Indicting and Sentencing Historic Sexual Abuse’ and produced an ‘At a Glance Table’ in relation to sentencing historic sexual abuse. Both were distributed to all Judges and Recorders attending the Midland Circuit Sentencing Seminar in 2010 and were also distributed to all Judges and Recorders attending the Serious Sexual Offences Course run by the Judicial Studies Board in 2011.

Prosecuted a series of gang related murder and attempt murder trials appearing as Junior Counsel at trial and presenting the case alone at the Court of Appeal.