Giles Grant is a C-List Specialist Regulatory Advocate.
Health & Safety
Giles is currently instructed in proceedings arising out of a workplace accident at a quarry when a concrete mixing truck collapsed during a wheel replacement causing fatal injuries.
Inquests
Giles has been instructed on behalf of North Lincolnshire Council, Local Safeguarding Children Boards, Healthcare Providers, The Police and family members in inquests. In these proceedings Giles has gained significant experience of working with and cross examining a range of expert witnesses. He takes pride in dealing with such matters with the appropriate sensitivity and consideration whilst ensuring that the interests of his clients are fully advanced.
Firearms
Giles has a specialist interest in firearms and shotgun certificate appeals. He is regularly instructed to advise and represent in contested appeals as well as accepting instructions to advise and represent appellants.
Licensing
Building on experience working in firearms licensing has enabled Giles to develop a wider interest in public licensing law, in particular in relation to cases concerning public safety and serious allegations of misconduct.
Notable Cases
- Inquest touching the death of JP (2020): Death of a young girl who’s body was discovered in a cemetery
- Inquest touching the death of TLS (2020); Representing the healthcare provider self inflicted ligature death whilst in custody
- Inquest touching the death of WMJ (2020): Impatient with Mental Health Services who was discharged to community care and following the decline in his mental health had taken to sleeping near a railway line and was tragically hit by a train.
- Inquest touching the death of MR 2019: Giles represented South Yorkshire Police. Motorcycle collision. The deceased had been diagnosed with Glaucoma and had been advised to inform the DVLA
- Re: Alty, Preston Crown Court 2013: Giles successfully opposed the appeal against the revocation of firearms certificate of a retired police officer who had been acquitted of charges of domestic violence and historic sexual abuse. This case involved detailed legal argument as to the burden of proof and admissibility of evidence in such proceedings.
- Inquest Re Hutchinson (deceased), Sunderland Coroner’s Court 2013: Instructed by the family members of the deceased, Giles cross examined several expert witnesses including a Home Office approved pathologist, a Professor of radiology and consultant oncologists as well as a number of nurses and other medical staff in relation to the appropriate treatment of terminal cancer patients. As a result of evidence heard, the Coroner made a number of recommendations to the responsible hospital trust.
- Re: Aldous House Hotel, Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court 2014:After being the venue for a number of child grooming and sexual abuse offences the police objected to the granting of a license to the owner this premises who was alleged to have been complicit in hiding the identities of those involved. Representing the co-directors of the business on appeal from the council, Giles successfully argued that a premises license could be granted with new conditions.
- Re: SG (a child) (deceased) 2015, Stockport Coroner’s Court: Giles was instructed to represent a local authority and a local safeguarding children board in a case which involved contested legal arguments about disclosure and public interest immunity where a potential conflict arose between the public coronial proceedings and a confidential Serious Case Review process. This was a complicated case involving a large number of public agencies and required particular sensitivity to issues of mental health, domestic violence and safeguarding.
- Re: Appleton, Preston Crown Court 2016: Giles successfully opposed the appeal against the granting of a shotgun certificate heard before Mr Justice Sweeney. This case involved analysis of mental health treatment records, police intelligence information and a police Superintendent was called to give evidence. This case ultimately turned on the evidence elicited from the Appellant as to his unresolved underlying emotional difficulties. The Judge stated that Giles had cross examined the appellant with appropriate restraint but to great effect.
Contact Giles’ clerk
Madeleine Gray on 0113 202 8603
Giles has a growing criminal practice and he undertakes all areas of criminal law for both defence and prosecution. He is a level 3 prosecutor. He has experience of presenting trials electronically and via interpreters. Giles has also dealt successfully with sensitive cases involving vulnerable parties and defendants with learning difficulties.
Giles has developed a particular interest in representing football supporters who face criminal allegations of violence and public disorder. He also enjoys a strong track record of opposing football banning order applications relating to such cases.
Notable Cases
- R v PH, AT, JR, CH, JT, JW (2018) – Giles Grants & Soheil Khan prosecuted a gang of robbers who conspired to rob a family in their Seacroft home using imitation firearms, on New Year’s day. Please click here for media report.
- R v AE (2018) – Acting as junior counsel for the prosecution, secured a successful prosecution of a man, who stockpiled weapons and plotted revenge on authorities, following a 12-day trial in Bradford Crown Court
- R v Carter 2013, Manchester Crown Court: The defendant was a Swansea supporter who was convicted in the magistrates’ court of throwing a bottle during Sir Alex Ferguson’s last match. After several applications to obtain disclosure of CCTV from Manchester United FC and even an inspection of Old Trafford’s security centre with Manchester United’s head of legal, Giles secured an acquittal on appeal.
- R v Blood 2014, Manchester Crown Court: Giles was instructed to represent the alleged ringleader of over a dozen men involved in an alleged organised fight between Manchester City Fans and Barnsley Fans in the Dry Bar in Manchester which involved the throwing of chairs, tables and glasses. The incident was covered by high quality CCTV cameras and Giles was able to present the jury with a frame by frame analysis of the footage. Following a hung jury, at the re-trial the Crown accepted a plea to s.4 Public Order Act 1986 reduced from the original charge of violent disorder. The Defendant received 60 hours of unpaid work.
- R v Scott Wells, Preston Crown Court 2014: Giles represented a defendant who admitted to lying to the court, jury and police whilst under oath in a high profile conspiracy to pervert the course of justice trial involving police officers and organised football violence. After obtaining expert psychological expert evidence, Giles successfully advanced an abuse of process argument and the Crown offered no evidence.
- R v Bartkus, Liverpool Crown Court 2015: Giles was instructed to represent a Lithuanian who was accused of kidnapping two young ladies by pretending to be a taxi driver before departing and refusing to allow them to leave. Giles made a successful submission of no case to answer and the Defendant was acquitted.
- R v Goult, Teeside Crown Court 2015: Giles secured an acquittal on appeal for a football supporter convicted of racist chanting and gestures at a Middlesbrough v Blackburn match. This high profile case involved expert evidence relating to industrial sign language and the cross examination of three premiership footballers.
- R v Leighton, Manchester Crown Court 2016: Giles represented a stair-lift engineer who faced four allegations of theft and burglary from four different complainants from different parts of the country. Giles successfully advanced submissions of no-case to answer in respect of each allegation and the defendant was acquitted.
Contact Giles’ clerks
Andrew Thornton on 0113 213 5202
Rebecca Wilson on 0113 213 5203
