3PB Barristers Crime

We are delighted to announce that the King has appointed 3PB’s criminal barrister Daniel Sawyer (pictured here) to be a Circuit Judge with effect from Monday 4 November. Daniel has been deployed to the Western Circuit and will be based at Portsmouth Crown Court. Called to the Bar in 2001, Daniel Sawyer has been a Recorder for the last four years. With over 20 years’ experience at the Bar, Daniel is a barrister who was instructed in the full range of criminal cases, including murder, violence, drug supply, sexual offences and multi-handed conspiracies, military cases as well as causing death by dangerous or careless driving. Daniel has extensive experience in dealing with expert witnesses and technical points of evidence and trained expert and professional witnesses, including police drugs experts, communications data analysts and medics. Read the formal confirmation of His Honour Judge Daniel Sawyer's appointment from the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary here: https://lnkd.in/eZXgAzNP

3PB's crime barrister Thomas Acworth acted for a 60-year-old man of previous good character, who was accused of serious sexual offences said to have taken place from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. He was tried before HHJ Feest KC at Winchester Crown Court. The indictment included 22 incidents of what would now be charged as rape of a child under 13. The litigation involved considerable arguments over disclosure, which were only resolved once Thomas drafted an abuse of process application. Several reluctant witnesses attended court for the defence as a result of witness summonses. Some only provided an account on the final day of the trial. The jury acquitted Thomas' client of all counts after a retirement of just over an hour. Thomas was instructed by Alex Moore of law firm Churchers. If you wish to instruct Thomas, or see about his availability, please email his clerk Stuart Pringle on stuart.pringle@3pb.co.uk or telephone 01962 868884.

3PB specialist business and regulatory crime barrister Jonathan Underhill was instructed to defend a company and its director in a Crown Court case involving the large scale import of counterfeit and “grey goods” which are contrary to the Trade Marks Act 1994. The items imported included clothing from a number of high profile and well-known brands including Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's and Diesel. As a result of Jonathan’s careful case preparation and submissions, the company director avoided an immediate custodial sentence. In subsequent proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) 2002, the prosecution sought confiscation orders in the sum of over £1 million against the director personally and in excess of £500,000 against the company. Following a fully contested hearing and oral submissions, Jonathan persuaded the court to limit the confiscation order against the director to jointly-obtained criminal benefit of less than £60,000. The order sought against the company was also reduced by more than 50%. The case showed the importance of instructing and retaining expert counsel in technical cases against businesses and their directors in the criminal courts. Jonathan was instructed by specialist law firm KTS Legal in London. To instruct Jonathan, or see about his availability, please email Jonathan's clerk, Stuart Pringle on stuart.pringle@3pb.co.uk or call him on 01962 868884.

3PB's Crime Team welcomes barrister Ben Thompson from the CPS as a probationary tenant.   After completing his pupillage at the CPS, Ben joins 3PB's Tier 1 Crime Team, bringing added strength to the busy team of barristers. Based in Bournemouth and working across the Western Circuit, Ben handles both prosecution and defence cases in the Crown Court and Magistrates Court.   To view Ben's full barrister profile, please click here: https://lnkd.in/eNHq6BtA A Grade1 prosecutor, Ben is frequently managing trials, sentencing and procedural issues and has good experience already in cases involving serious violence, hate crimes and domestic abuse amongst others, and is adept at tackling novel legal challenges such as offences under the Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act 2018, where there is little precedent. Ben recently prosecuted a convicted murderer who subsequently threatened to kill his mother, as well as a 65-year-old man who believed he was messaging a 12 year old girl, inciting her to engage in sexual activity.

3PB’s Criminal Law team has retained its top tier ranking in the Legal 500 for Crime (General and Fraud) in the Western Circuit and welcomes three new rankings: 14 of its 28 practitioners are now ranked by the Legal 500. In our clients’ words, “3PB is ‘a strong set with barristers of every level and specialism’ and continues to handle cases across a wide spectrum of serious criminal cases, spanning murders, large-scale drug conspiracies, sexual offences and serious violence.” The team remains in Tier 2 for Business and Regulatory Crime (incl. Health and Safety) on the Western Circuit, with the Legal 500 recommending three of our barristers, commenting that “3PB has members with expertise across a wide range of civil and criminal health and safety cases for local authorities, regulatory bodies, businesses, individuals, and the Health and Safety Executive.” In London, the team earns one new accolade for Crime: fraud work. Head of team Tom Horder commented: "We are delighted to have earned five new rankings this year, confirming 3PB’s strengths and depth in criminal and regulatory law.” Congratulations to Robert Grey, Richard Onslow, Timothy Bradbury, Nicholas Cotter, Tom Horder, Jodie Mittell, Audrey Archer, Nick Robinson, Jonathan Underhill, Berenice Mulvanny, Gemma White, Thomas Evans, Thomas Acworth and Graham Gilbert. Contact Chambers Director Stuart Pringle for more information.

Criminal barrister Berenice Mulvanny represented one of two Chichester community rangers who were charged with assault and false imprisonment of a 15 year old boy in Superdrug on 22nd March 2023. This case attracted considerable media attention after a short clip of the incident was published on the internet with allegations the incident was racially motivated. Miss Mulvanny's client detained the youth after being headbutted by the youth who was trying to shoplift. Whilst waiting for the police, the two community rangers were further assaulted by another youth. The prosecution had charged both defendants with false imprisonment for detaining the youth in handcuffs whilst waiting for the police to arrive. The Jury at Portsmouth Crown Court unanimously acquitted both defendants after a 7 day trial. For press coverage see: https://lnkd.in/dnZ-mrHf https://lnkd.in/dnrwkkiB https://lnkd.in/dXCNVgta To instruct Berenice Mulvanny on a criminal matter, please email her clerk Stuart Pringle on stuart.pringle@3pb.co.uk or call him on 01962 868884.

The final speaker at our Expert Witnesses and the Modern Criminal Justice System half-day crime conference is our keynote speaker: forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd. Dr Shepherd is speaking about a just a few of the cases he’s come across during his illustrious career.

Next, we’re hearing from Lady Edwina Grosvenor, Founder and Chair of One Small Thing, who is speaking about the charity’s Hope Street residential community.

Our third speaker this afternoon is Dr John Sandford, who is speaking on Expert Psychiatric Evidence & Diminished Responsibility!

Next up, we’re hearing from Amelia Riviere, Magistrate and former High Sheriff of Hampshire, about the charities she champions including Hampton Trust and Trinity Winchester.