Colin has over 17 years’ experience both defending and prosecuting in the criminal courts. He has been instructed as a leading Junior, led Junior and acting alone in serious and complex criminal allegations. He regularly defends and prosecutes cases including aggravated burglary, grievous bodily harm with intent, violent disorder, drugs conspiracies, robbery and large-scale fraud.
Colin is graded by the CPS as a Level 4 Prosecutor and is a member of the Specialist Panels for Fraud (including fiscal fraud) and Serious Crime (including terrorism).
Colin has extensive experience in serious road traffic offences. He is regularly instructed by insurers to represent defendants, particularly in cases involving serious injury with underlying civil litigation. He accepts private instructions in all forms of motoring offences either directly or by referral.
Notable Cases
R v RS, DB and KM
2016
Instructed by the NCA in a multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A drugs amounting to 50.4m. The case was conducted against a silk and two leading juniors.
R v KS-R
2016
Case involving allegations of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
R v CP
2016
Successfully defending a middle-aged lady alleged to have defrauded a pension scheme.
R v ZN
2016
Defending a male alleged to have conspired to import a large amount of Khat into the UK.
R v AB, PB and AE
2016
Prosecuting an allegation of conspiracy to supply cannabis amounting to almost 500,000. All three defendants were convicted after a contested trial.
R v AJ
2016
Prosecuting a trial relating to the armed robbery of a co-operative store where the defendant had attempted to fabricate an alibi immediately after carrying out the offence.
R v JS (and Others)
2015
Six-handed conspiracy involving the large-scale supply of heroin and crack cocaine by organised criminal networks from London to Hampshire and Kent.
R v SM
2015
Fatal road traffic collision involving the defendant’s convertible motor vehicle and the deceased’s motorcycle. Allegation that the defendant careless when she pulled out of side road into path of motorcycle. Defendant received significant injuries, including severe burns to her face, neck and arms.
R v GB
2015
Death by dangerous driving. The defendant’s motor vehicle collided with a HGV tractor unit and trailer, forcing itto leave the road to the nearside and collide with a concrete support pillar to an over bridge. A fire started within the tractor unit, which resulted in an explosion. The driver remained within the tractor unit cab and subsequently died.
R v AM
2015
Representing defendant charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Collision between a motor vehicle and a HGV at a slip road leading onto the A38. After protracted negotiations, the Crown accepted a plea to careless driving. The defendant received a fine and penalty points.
R v C (and Others)
2014-2015
Instructed as leading Counsel for the Crown in a nine-handed conspiracy to steal.
R v CM (and Others)
2014
Multi-handed car-ringing conspiracy.
R v JN (and Others)
2014
Successfully defended in a multi-handed trial relating to the sale of large amounts of controlled drugs through several websites purporting to sell ‘legal highs’. It was alleged that the drugs sold over the course of the conspiracy amounted to 3.6m. The trial came after local police raided eleven addresses across Bolton, Bury, North Manchester and Salford.
R v Agbugba-Cansie and Others
Murder
R v Da Silva
Murder
R v C
Leading Junior in nine-handed Conspiracy to Burgle, Conspiracy to Steal
R v James
Conspiracy to Murder
R v G
Fraudulent Trading
R v Montilla and Others
Money Laundering case leading to the landmark House of Lords authority
R v Tallo and Miah
Conspiracy to Handle Stolen Goods
R v Gerald and Others
Seven-handed Conspiracy to Burgle
R v Smith
Conspiracy to Defraud
R v Vu and Others
Aggravated Burglary and Rape
R v Owusu and Others
Aggravated Burglary
R v Kemokai and Others
Kidnap and s.18 GBH
R v Berry EWCA Crim 543
2012
Appeal Against Sentence – Suspended Sentence – Parity – Whether length of sentence excessive.
R v Garjo EWCA Crim 1169:
2011
Appeal Against Conviction – Summing up – Failure in judicial function – Unsafe verdict.
R v Macauley EWCA Crim 436:
2011
Appeal Against Conviction – DNA evidence – Unsafe verdict.
R v A, J, T EWCA Crim 2616:
2010
Appeal Against Conviction – Reliability of evidence – Bad character – Inconsistent verdicts.
R v Agbugba-Cansie and Others EWCA Crim 1775:
2010
Appeal Against Conviction and Sentence – Murder – Bad character – Sentence in the interest of public protection – Whether length of sentence excessive.
