Crime Team blog: this week in Chambers

Nigel Edwards QC, Daniel Walker and Ian Anderson from Ison Harrison Solcitors, having been inundated by requests for advice on furlough fraud and bounce back fraud have announced a series of Webinars on the subjects, dates to be advised.

On Thursday 30th July Anesta Weekes QC moderated a Webinar hosted by Gray’s Inn on what Barristers say about ‘Black Lives Matter’ and what if anything can Gray’s Inn do to help?

Andrew Hill secures a suspended sentence for a Defendant was convicted of over 1400 Class A images, 1800 Class B and 3,000 Class C images contrary to section 1 of the Protection of Children Act 1978. There had been many searches for illicit material over a 2- year period. The material had been deleted by the use of specialist software designed for such purpose. Despite the lack of a guilty plea the Learned Judge was persuaded to impose a suspended sentence supervision order with the addendum of a programme to address the nature of the offending. The Sentencing Guidelines range from 26 weeks to 3 years for the Class ‘A’ material and in cases without the benefit of a guilty plea from a first- time offender with the amount of illicit material a custodial sentence normally follows. However, in circumstances where there is sufficient prospect of rehabilitation a community order with a sex offender treatment order can be an alternative for sentences below 2 years imprisonment {Section 202 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003}. In this case the Defendant had initially denied the offence but he was to admit his actions in the preparation of the pre-sentence report so benefitting from some remorse and indeed allowing submissions to be advanced on the issue of rehabilitation. 

'Ravinder Saimbhi instructed in a case of Arson with intent to endanger life at Harrow Crown Court. The allegation involves a fire inside an occupied family home. The case will involve careful consideration of psychiatric issues and expert evidence. Instructed by Shan Yaqub at Langfield Law’

Jennifer Brenton appeared at Great Grimsby Crown Court for a client who had pleaded Guilty to cultivating cannabis. The client was in the UK without leave from Albania who was running a cannabis factory out of a residential property in a local village, he was apprehended as part of a widescale police operation. A basis of plea had been entered and refused by the Crown. Following defence disclosure applications, the Crown withdrew their objections. The Judge accepted that it fell at the bottom level of culpability as the offence was motivated by desperation. He was sentenced to 8 months custody.

Dudley Beal make successful submissions to the CPS resulting in their offering no evidence against a client charged with assaulting an emergency worker in Hastings.

Instructed on a Direct Access basis, Dudley Beal has appeal upheld for a client charged with two counts of stalking police detectives over an 8 month period.

Annahita Moradi secures a Suspended Sentence of six months' imprisonment for client sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court for four counts of Benefit Fraud. Client obtained over £23,450 in benefits whilst owning a London property and having savings in excess of £40,000. 

I am pleased to report that another member of our team got a trial underway at Croydon Crown Court which is currently part heard.

Please keep an eye on our social media accounts & website for updates regarding next months webinar.

I hope everyone is surviving in the heat!

Have a good weekend all.

Jamie