Criminal
With over 27 years’ experience at the Criminal Bar, Andrew is a highly regarded advocate with a successful heavyweight criminal practice. He is regularly instructed in the most serious, complex and high profile criminal cases.
Although his practice is now largely focussed on financial crime, Andrew continues to act for individuals charged with serious and organised criminal offences, from murder and firearms cases to serious sexual offences and drugs conspiracies.
He is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend in a wide range of cases involving:
- Drugs offences
- Assault and other violent offences
- Sexual offences
- Dishonesty offences including burglary and robbery
- Proceeds of Crime Applications
- Motoring and vehicle offences
He is currently representing a man involved in a very significant County Lines drugs conspiracy and another man accused of attempted murder.
Cases
2020/2021 – Operation Chairs
Case involving three defendants and others not yet before the Courts who were involved in conspiracies to shoot rivals and possess firearms and ammunition. Much of the evidence came from encro phones.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/warrington-attempted-murder-face-trial-18422367
2020 – R v Gregory Vassell
Successfully defended a serving prisoner accused of sexual assault and assault on a female prison officer. Defence argued allegations had been fabricated by members of the prison staff because client claimed to have witnessed other prison staff assaulting and killing an inmate. Prosecution dropped the case without any real explanation. Completed in November 2020 at Manchester Crown Court.
2019 – R v Cole and others
Successfully defended a Liverpool doorman accused of violent disorder. A large group of well organised football hooligans, some of them armed with knuckledusters and gum shields, had flown to Liverpool from Germany with the specific intent of causing large-scale public disorder.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/prosecution-doormen-who-fought-german-15880976
2018 – R v Johnson and others
The case involved huge quantities of cocaine being flown into Kent from France and Belgium in hidden compartments in a specially converted helicopter. I represented a man who was stopped by police driving back up to Liverpool. He had 40kg of high purity cocaine in the boot of his car. He was acquitted by the jury after a 5 week trial.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5646927/Belgian-drug-lord-jailed-17-years.html
2018/2019 – Operation Mandolin
The case involved the importation into the UK of shipping containers of cigarettes and tobacco on which no duty was paid. The duty evaded exceeded £5m. The proceeds of this operation were then laundered through the purchase and sale of motor vehicles. This case proceeded to trial and is now at the confiscation stage of proceedings.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/man-jailed-ten-years-part-14961808
2015/2017 – Operation Tungsten
This case involved the importation of Class A, B and C drugs into the UK. The defendant was involved in organising the transport route for approximately £50m worth of cannabis and ketamine. He was convicted after trial in 2015. The Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings recently concluded after defence written submissions with the Prosecution agreeing to reduce the criminal benefit figure from £50.5m to £200k, a reduction of over 99.6%.