Criminal

R v W B

Prosecution. Rape of child under 13. Defendant received 16 years imprisonment and was declared an offender of particular concern.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/paedophile-raped-girl-who-forced-16455086

R v J F

A legally complex driving whilst disqualified trial where a number of authorities were relied upon to lead to the defendant being found Not Guilty.

DCC v Colecliffe

John has been instructed to defend in a large Trading Standards Prosecution by Denbighshire County Council. The defendant is charged with participating in a fraudulent business under Section 9 of the Fraud Act 2006.  Between 2012 and 2017 he traded in counterfeit golf merchandise worth at least £135,000. The matter is listed for trial in Caernarfon Crown Court and is due to last 3 weeks. John is instructed by Gamlins solicitors of Rhyl.

R v D T

John has received instructions to defend in a case alleging the murder of a vulnerable man who lived in Preston. The defendant is charged with the murder of a vulnerable man  who is a 50 year old male who lived  in Preston. The majority of the civilian witnesses in this case are either family members of the aggrieved or live or work in the area of Raven Street. Witnesses say that since about February this year the defendant  moved in and was living, as a lodger, with the deceased. Family members state that the victim was a man of poor health. He had been alcohol dependant for many years as well as suffering from COPD and being an epileptic and was so unwell and vulnerable that Lancashire Social Services were funding an external care company to visit six days a week to ensure that Mr MAY was eating, taking his medication and looking after himself. 300 hours of CCTV footage has been served by the Crown. The matter is listed for trial in Preston Crown Court in November/December. John is being led by John Jones QC and instructed by Forbes of Preston.

Operation Tigris

John has been instructed to defend one of the defendants involved in the alleged involvement in Operation Tigris. Operation Tigris is an investigation into an Organised Crime Group (O.C.G.) involved in the supply of Drugs in Preston along with the exploitation of young, vulnerable females. This O.C.G. has been actively targeting young vulnerable females encouraging them to frequent premises under their control where the victims were supplied with drugs and alcohol before being sexually exploited and assaulted. The males involved have their own roles within this O.C.G. however the common purpose is to supply controlled drugs, namely Class A (Cocaine and Ecstasy ) and Class B (Cannabis and Ketamine) and the sexual exploitation of young girls.The matter is contested by the defendant  and the matter is listed for a 8 week trial in Preston Crown Court in September 2019. He is instructed by Farleys in Preston.

Successfully resisted Reference by the Attorney General

In April 2019, John appeared before the Vice President of the Court of Appeal Criminal Division Lady Justice Hallett responding to a reference made by the Attorney General’s office in relation to a sentence imposed on his client by HHJ Kershaw at Wolverhampton Crown Court. His client received a suspended sentence at the sentencing hearing in February this year. She was sentenced for her part in Operation Poppett which involved a Conspiracy to Supply Cocaine on an Industrial scale. Benzocaine was imported from China in industrial quantities. John was instructed by Bridgette Hibbert of Farleys in Preston.

Operation Marquette

John has been instructed in this complex and interesting gross negligence manslaughter where he represents one of the defendants charged with having a loaded shotgun in public when he was sat in the back of a land rover when the firearm discharged and killed a fellow passenger. Those charged with manslaughter were represented by silks and a legal argument was presented to the Judge on the basis that he had no “immediate control” over the firearm. Instructed by Andrew Scott of Parry Davies Solicitors in Bangor.

Operation Heathbird

John has been instructed to prosecute this case which alleges Possession of a magnum firearm and live ammunition with intent to endanger life. The weapon and ammunition were discarded by the defendants in a public thoroughfare in central Manchester. A close analysis of DNA evidence and a thorough investigation by National Crime Agency officers has led to the apprehension of both defendants. John is instructed by the Organised Crime Division North of the CPS.

Operation Tamar

John has been instructed to defend one of three defendants charged with attempting to import firearms into the Country from the USA. The firearms include a Glock 9mm hand gun and ammunition. Masks and balaclavas have also been recovered from the premises of one of the defendants. The case involves covert surveillance and statements from Law Enforcement officers in USA. The trial will take place in Preston Crown Court.

Operation Wainscot

John has been retained to defend in forthcoming criminal proceedings relating to the procurement funding of a North Wales hospital. The allegation against his client is that he aided and abetted the main defendant. The case is described by the team Specialist Fraud Division as “complex”.

The main defendant is alleged to have wilfully misconducted himself to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public’s trust in the said defendant, namely by submitting or causing to be submitted to Welsh Government business cases which falsely misrepresented the true total outturn cost of the Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Main Redevelopment Project, without reasonable excuse or justification, Contrary to Common Law.

Operation Fraser

John is instructed by Cardiff County Council on behalf of the Wales Illegal Lending Unit to prosecute a “loan shark” who plied his trade for 20 years lending and collecting nearly half a million pounds from vulnerable borrowers. WIMLU is one of only three units in the UK set up by the Government to prosecute “loan sharks”

Operation Zeus

John has recently been retained to defend in this Conspiracy to supply class A drugs involving the alleged activities of two organised crime groups along the North Wales corridor. The investigation includes covert surveillance, telephone evidence and covert listening devices. The trial will be heard in Caernarfon Crown Court.

Operation Rossi

John has been instructed to defend one of seven defendants charged with Conspiracy to Defraud. The Investigation relates to the activities of Express Motors and their directors and involves allegations of fraud in relation to concessionary fares paid by Gwynedd County Council.

Operation Ulysses

John has been instructed to defend in this massive Conspiracy to Supply class A drugs. The pages run into over 30,000 and the case is described as the biggest drugs case prosecuted in Wales. It involves defendants from Liverpool, North Wales and also from Mid and South Wales. It is to be heard at Swansea Crown Court.

Operation Funder

John is currently instructed in a 6 week trial in Leeds Crown Court which involves an allegation that  three defendants conspired to defraud elderly and vulnerable members of the public to service and purchase both Dyson and Kirby vacuum cleaners. It was alleged that a company owned by the Main defendant had benefitted to the tune of £1.5million.

The Case is brought by Yorkshire Trading Standards and was investigated by”Scambusters”.

John is instructed by Farleys of Preston and appears for the main defendant.

Operation Cobweb

John has received instructions to appear in a massive mortgage and money laundering case in Manchester. The matter is listed for a 12 week trial at Manchester Crown Court and he will be led by John Jones QC.

He is instructed by Forbes of Preston.

Operation Astute

Class A Drugs conspiracy involving detailed telecoms evidence- defending.

Operation Yonside

Class A and B Drugs conspiracy – acting for the main defendant with extensive telecoms evidence in excess of 30,000 pages.

Operation Measure

Defending in a multi handed drugs conspiracy with over 30 defendants.

Operation Ralston

Defending a defendant in a conspiracy to defraud involving £800,000 of public money.

Operation Oriel

Recently instructed to defend a fireman and landlord charged with five counts of gross negligence manslaughter based on alleged Breaches under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

Operation Affleck

Recent instructions to defend in a multi handed conspiracy to defraud in an alleged £3.5m land bank fraud.

R v France

Prosecuting – Prisoner on day release helped with robbery of security guard in bank.

http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Prisoner-day-release-helped-robbery-security/ story-14054558-detail/story.html

R v Ian Maxwell

Defended Falklands war veteran accused of 7 counts of fraud against elderley victims.

http://www.itv.com/news/wales/topic/ian-maxwell/

R v Robert Sullivan

Prosecution. Defendant admitted 25 sex charges including 9 rapes.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/robert-sullivan-sadistic-paedophile-jailed-1517508

R v Gwilym Roberts

defended councillor charged with stabbing his wife. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1295937/Councillor-stabbed-wife-finding-hotel- room-political-rival-jailed.html

R v Iestyn Davies

Six week murder led by P Harrington QC – including complex DNA and SOIL Analysis evidence. http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-13119857

R v Alwen Jones

Three week murder led by Mr I Murphy QC – involving issue of loss of control.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-19897554

R v Gardiner

Manslaughter prosecution involving causation issues. http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/chester-liverpool-arms- manslaughter-ellesmere-6998083

R v Ken Jones

Manslaughter – defendant acquitted of killing his father.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7893003.stm

Operation Kalina

Drugs conspiracy for CCU involving detailed telephone evidence.

http://www.winsfordguardian.co.uk/news/11016223._Evil_Winsford_drugs_gang_turned_Moulton_home_into_a_crack_house_/? ref=var_0Operation Base

Drugs conspiracy for CCU involving gangland warfare, guns and live ammunition.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-24162236

Operation Knock

Drugs conspiracy.

Operation Justice

Large drugs conspiracy in North Wales. Rape prosecutions involving children and vulnerable adults.

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/90129/judge-warns-rapist-he-can-expect-long-jail- sentence.aspx

R v Newcombe-Buley

Child abuse. http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/206809/Scientist-jailed-for-extreme-cruelty-to- adopted-children RSPCA prosecutions.