John Batchelor

Originally from Leeds, John Batchelor has specialised in defending serious crime since 1993 when he was admitted as a solicitor. He is an effective jury trial advocate and obtained his higher rights (crime) in 2005, and has appeared regularly in the crown court since. John transferred to the bar in 2016 but has almost 30 years’ experience in advising in cases involving serious violence, homicide, drugs, public disorder, proceeds of crime, fatal driving cases, and an array of serious sexual offences. He is on teh CPS panel prosecuting 2016-20 list for general crime at level 3, for the North Eastern circuit.

“A persuasive advocate who pays attention to every detail and is committed to the interest of the client”

– Instructing Solicitor

John has also advised in serious police enquiries of national interest, including The News International phone hacking investigation.

With particular experience in advising on serious fraud cases and VHCC cases brought by the CPS and the SFO (R.v.Papworth, R.v.Grove, R.v.Mitchell) he is skilled at handling complex and large electronic cases. He has a particular interest in business crime and regulatory work.

John has recently appeared as leading counsel in a multiple death, care home neglect case involving a criminal/regulatory crossover with CQC and CCG disclosure issues.

John has conducted trials involving serious violence and general crime, as well as multi-handed cases. He has been led by both silk and junior counsel and brings to the Bar his wealth of experience from advising suspects at the police station all the way through to jury trial.

Having provided positive advice on appeal from the Crown Court he has also appeared successfully before the Court of Appeal.

A number of prominent figures from public life and those that have attracted media interest have been discreetly represented by John.

With experience at first hand of the changes and pressure brought to solicitors in practice, John is ideally placed to assist solicitors in looking after their lay clients from a diverse and varied background. He is an affable, approachable advocate who is plain speaking in his advice when supporting his professional and lay clients.

John has recently appeared in several serious sexual offence cases, including non-recent cases and those with multiple allegations and multiple complainants of all age ranges. A number of these cases involve pre-recorded cross-examination. John is comfortable and adept at handling sensitive cross examination of child or other vulnerable witnesses.

Recently John has represented a number of people with mental health issues or additional needs. He is used to representing those with complex communication needs, including those with autism, ADHD and associated vulnerabilities.

Notable cases

R-v-KL and others. Leeds Cown Court Successful defence and acquittal in a high value long running multi handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs between London and North Yorkshire.
R-v-CM and others – Teesside Crown Court. Leading counsel in a multiple death wilful neglect care home case, representing a senior carer alleged to be involved in a number of the deaths. Regulatory crossover with CQC and CCG disclosure issues.
R-v- PM and others. Leeds Crown Court. Junior counsel in the country’s largest ever money laundering case (£265M). Significant disclosure issues. Full acquittal.
R -v- TM Leeds Crown Court – Defence of Wilful neglect and assault – exposed after death of elderly homosexual partner. Vulnerable defendant . A sensitive case attracting national media interest.
R -v- H,S & T Leeds Crown Court – Successful prosecution of joint enterprise Stabbing with Forensic issues and issues of joint participation. Vulnerable witnesses.
R -v- MC Leeds Crown Court – Successful prosecution after trial of Home Invasion Robbery based on trace DNA profiling and contested Cell site analysis. Elderly (90) and vulnerable complainant. Lengthy extended sentence imposed.
R-v-SH – Leeds crown Court – Successful acquittal of a young man in sexual assault allegation within a relationship. This case attracted nationwide media coverage.
R-v-CT – Chester Crown Court – Successful application to have allegations of arson dismissed over the issue of DNA transfer from moveable objects.
R-v-CT – Leeds Crown Court – Defending a conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Multiple defendants in professional offending.
R-v-BH – York Crown Court – Defending a mature defendant in rape and associated offences from 1974-1978.
R-v-AB – Leeds Crown Court – Instructed junior in a murder allegation. Significant expert evidence, D acquitted of murder after trial.
R-v-RH – Leeds Crown Court – Defending a father in serious sexual case involving his own children.
R-v-VF – Hull Crown Court – Representing a lady with additional needs in a kidnap case.
R-v-HH – Leeds Crown Court – Defending a young man with Asperger’s and additional needs in a child abduction case.

Called to the Bar in 2016 but admitted as solicitor in 1993, John brings his wealth of experience in advising on regulatory cases and business crime, having specialised from the turn of the millennium in fraud and regulatory work. John has defended large SFO cases, organised fraud and money laundering cases brought by the CPS, HMRC, DWP and other agencies.

“A persuasive advocate who pays attention to every detail and is committed to the interest of the client”

– Instructing Solicitor

John has recently been instructed in food hygiene and food safety proceedings brought by the Food Standards Agency. His experience extends to RAN appeals and he is familiar with all aspects of the hierarchy of the enforcement within the food industry.

He has significant experience in defending complex multi-handed frauds including Ponzi and Boiler room frauds, and cases presented on encrypted case management software.

John has case managed and planned defences in many large fraud cases and has also appeared as an advocate in similar cases including those with cross-jurisdictional issues and non-domiciled defendants.

As a solicitor John advised lay clients in a number of significant fraud enquiries, including The News International phone hacking enquiry.

He was a police station adviser for over 20 years as well as an advocate and has also advised and appeared in money laundering and POCA cases and has significant experience in financial crime and advising in FCA compliance issues.

John has experience in defending environmental pollution and industrial waste prosecutions, and health and safety industrial accident and criminal negligence cases, together with a number of trade licence cases.

In addition he has coronial law experience and has appeared at a number of inquests in West Yorkshire for medics at different levels of their career in hospital fatalities.

He has also regularly advised in police investigations for all the types of work described above.

He is an affable and approachable advocate who strives to give clear, concise and structured advice to his professional and lay clients alike.

John is a grade 3 prosecutor and regularly prosecutes serious crime and has undertaken CCU and RASSO cases; John has also undertaken work for the Complex case unit in prosecuting firearms offences.

Notable cases

R-v-G&H – Prosecuting youths in sexual offences on a 12 year old.
R-v-BH – Prosecuting a high value POCA contested case with issues of hidden assets, third party (S10A) interests and tainted gifts.
R-v-TW – CCU Prosecution of D in PWITS with a firearm. Other prosecuting agencies involved with the CPS.

John has recently been instructed in numerous NAI and other complex cases

John is a widely experienced advocate, previously a senior solicitor `(admitted 1993) and Higher Courts Advocate (June 2005) and then called to the bar and joining PSQB in 2016. John has a great amount of experience in dealing with both vulnerable clients and those who find themselves in emotionally draining circumstances. He also has experience of cases involving cultural sensitivity and conflict.

John has experience of both representing and challenging those with additional needs, in particular with learning or behavioural issues. He has experience in cases with intermediaries and cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses.

John has a background of dealing with both sensitive and complex cases, including those with complex medical issues or conflicting expert evidence. He also has experience in dealing with issues crossing cultural and religious boundaries.

Having had a long standing interest in family law since first being actively involved in care cases when in his early years John is accepting instructions in family law, and in particular in care work.

John, originally from Leeds, is an approachable advocate providing robust but considered straightforward advice.