With vast experience handling criminal cases in the Crown Court, and Court of Appeal, John is a formidable advocate. He obtained his Higher Rights of Audience qualification while still a trainee and became a qualified Solicitor able to conduct advocacy in the Crown Court in 2014. Since then, he has built a strong and varied practice in all areas of criminal law.
Throughout his career as a Solicitor and Director of one of the largest Criminal defence firms in the North, John developed a professional and robust attitude with an ability to deal with all nature of clients, including youth and vulnerable witnesses, at every stage of the Criminal Justice System.
John has represented clients in almost every area of criminal law. John’s experience ranges from conducting trials for driving offences at the Magistrates Court to multi-handed high value fraud trials in the Crown Court. He has also conducted numerous trials for serious offences including conspiracy to supply drugs, rape and robbery.
John has been instructed as Junior Counsel for many cases including on cases of murder and high-profile fraud and money laundering. His pragmatic and effective approach has led to a busy and well-respected practice among colleagues and clients.
As well as accepting instructions for legally aided matters John has represented many private paying clients for a range of offences in the Crown Court and driving offences in the Magistrates Court for Road Traffic matters.
Notable cases:
R v K – Junior on Murder cold case brought on new DNA evidence
R v H – junior on a Murder involving sexual abuse.
R v B & others – Defence junior, secured acquittal of chartered accountant in one of the largest money laundering trials in British legal history, the trial lasted over 7 months.
R v B –allegation on sexual assault on grand daughters
R v H – sexual assault involving very young witnesses
R v S – Rape, successful submission of no case to answer at close of prosecution case
R v S – Multimillion-pound duty evasion trial against HMRC with two junior counsels
R v D – junior counsel to Karma Melly KC in an allegation of baby shaking
R v M – Historic grooming
R v A – Arson with intent to endanger life
R v H – Death by dangerous driving
R v D – junior counsel to Karma Melly KC allegation of sexual abuse where the defendant had also been the victim of sexual abuse
R v N – Attorney General reference case
R v A – Youth Robbery
R v D – Arson where defendant was unfit to plead
R v H – Cannabis production modern slavery defence
R v S – Causing an explosion likely to endanger life
R v S – Large multihanded conspiracy to supply class A drugs
Contact John’s clerks
Andrew Thornton on 0113 213 5202
Rebecca Wilson on 0113 213 5203