Our legal assessors - David Swinstead, Peter Jennings, Nicholas Leviseur, Timothy Bradbury, Lachlan Wilson and Mark Sullivan - share with you hints and tips from their own experience, focused for the second time on the use of language: the different ways in which people use language, and which words can mean different things to different people.
Timothy Bradbury
Year of Call: 1989
Email Address: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
Telephone: 01202 292 102
Clerk Details
- Clerk Name: Robert Leonard
- Clerk Telephone: 01202 292102
- Clerk Email: [email protected]
Overview
Timothy (Tim) Bradbury defends and prosecutes in all areas of serious crime.
Formerly Standing Counsel to HM Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (Western Circuit), Tim now regularly prosecutes HMRC cases and other serious crime for the CPS and other government prosecuting agencies. He is a Category 4 prosecutor. In this capacity he regularly conducts confiscation proceedings and advises in relation to the same.
He has extensive expertise in prosecuting and defending fraud including Cheating the Revenue, Evasion of VAT & Excise fraud, importation of drugs, arms trafficking and serious sexual and violent offences.
He also regularly prosecutes and defends in the field of regulatory crime and the proceeds of crime.
Tim undertakes regulatory and disciplinary law and is regularly instructed in fisheries, animal and firearms cases.
Despite practising principally in crime he also accepts instructions in relation to civil claims against the police, in particular, actions for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
Practising principally on the Western Circuit, he also travels nationwide.
Tim sits as a Legally Qualified Chair for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.
Expertise
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Public and Regulatory Add this expertise to your shortlist Tim has experience in defending and prosecuting within a wide range of regulatory crime and is frequently instructed to prosecute on behalf of local authorities. By way of illustration he recently prosecuted a national solar thermal heating company in a widely publicised case concerning false claims made in respect to solar thermal heating systems. He has also successfully defended a company director alleged to have been involved in the supply of millions of pounds worth of counterfeit Microsoft software. His particular areas of experience are in:
- Trade Descriptions
- Trade Marks and Copyright
- Food Safety
- Animals; Animal Cruelty, Cattle Database Regulations and related legislation
- Medicines Act and related regulations.
Timothy Bradbury is also regularly instructed to advise in relation to, and appear in, Police Disciplinary hearings.
Notable Cases
- Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation v Carlin Boat Charter Limited [2012] EWHC 1359 Admin - Successful challenge, following Case Stated to Divisional Court, as to validity of fisheries bye-law made pursuant to Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1996 on grounds of ultra vires/ irrationality/ illegality
- Dorset County Council v David Yeates House [2010] EWCA Crim 2270 - Cattle Database and Cattle Identification Regulations 1998/ Proper construction of regulation enforcing EC obligations/ Effect of repeal of EC Regulation on domestic regulations.
Asset and Tax Recovery
Timothy Bradbury is instructed in cash forfeiture proceedings and to act on behalf of local authorities in relation to confiscation proceedings in the field of regulatory crime.He also regularly prosecutes and defends in the field of serious crime. In particular he is frequently instructed on behalf of HM Revenue & Customs in relation to drug importations, tax and duty evasion offences. In this capacity he regularly conducts and advises in relation to confiscation proceedings invariably multi-handed cases with very substantial benefit/assets. He has also been instructed to appear on behalf of the AFU.
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Crime Add this expertise to your shortlist Tim prosecutes and defends in all areas of serious crime. Formerly Standing Counsel to HM Revenue & Customs Prosecutions Office (Western Circuit), he now regularly prosecutes HMRC cases for the CPS and other government prosecuting agencies. He is a Category 4 prosecutor. Tim also regularly conducts confiscation proceedings and advises in relation to the same.
He has extensive expertise in fraud including cheating the Revenue, Evasion of VAT & Excise fraud, importation of drugs, arms trafficking and serious violent and sexual offences. He also regularly prosecutes and defends in the field of regulatory crime and the proceeds of crime.
Although practising principally in crime he is also instructed in relation to civil claims against the police, in particular, actions for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution for both Claimants and Defendants.
Tim undertakes regulatory and disciplinary law and is regularly instructed in fisheries, animal and firearms cases.
Notable cases:
Operation Barren (2019) - Successfully prosecuted 5 handed ‘phoenix’ fraud committed over some 10 years and defrauding HMRC of in excess of £3.2 million. Leading Tom Evans.
Operation Uptown (2019) - Successfully prosecuted jewellery thieves following an armed raid at J Franses Jewellers in Bournemouth. Over £600,000 worth of jewellery and watches was stolen. At trial at Southampton Crown Court, three defendants were found guilty for their role in the conspiracy. Four others had already entered guilty pleas. Leading Tom Evans.
R v Pacurar (2016)(19)SJ.37, CLW/16/19/3, [2016] EWCA Crim 569 - the Court of Appeal, definitively settled the issue as whether an offence under Section 63 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (Trespass with Intent to Commit a Sexual Offence) required the prosecution to prove a specific sexual offence (See Archbold 2016 20-201 and e-update 24th May 2016)’
R v Hannam [2015] unreported CACD – Appeal conviction inconsistent verdicts historic sexual offences committed by former Justice of the Peace.
R v Adesaogun & Others [2014] Southwark Crown Court leading junior in prosecution of Organised Crime Group (OCG) in relation to ‘cyber fraud’ which involved the largest ever attack, at that time, on HMRC computer VAT/income tax systems.
R v Lawal & Others [2014] Chelmsford Crown Court leading junior in prosecution of OCG involved in vat and income tax ‘cyber fraud’ on HMRC internet computer systems.
R v D [2014] EWCA Crim 1683 Abuse of Process/Bad Character successful prosecution appeal against terminatory ruling; It is not an abuse of process to allege indecent assault as alternative to rape where rape could not be charged with historic offences committed by defendant, when 10 to 14 years old, at time when irrebuttable presumption that a child under the age of 14 was incapable of performing intercourse applied; also, prosecution not precluded from adducing evidence of bad character relating to acts committed by defendant before he had reached age of criminal responsibility.
R v Chiswell & Others [2013] Bournemouth Crown Court defended mortgage broker who was lead defendant in multi-handed, multimillion pound mortgage fraud.
Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation v Carlin Boat Charter Limited [2012] EWHC 1359 Admin.
Successful challenge, following Case Stated to Divisional Court, as to validity of fisheries bye-law made pursuant to Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1996 on grounds of ultra vires/ irrationality/ illegalityR v Michael Ranger [2012] Southwark Crown Court
Successful prosecution of arms dealer brokering export of multi-million pound shipment of arms including ground to air missile systems from North Korea to Azerbaijan, contrary to Export Control Order 2008.R v Dhillon [2011] EWCA Crim 1455
Historic and familial sexual abuse of children over 25 year period misdirection/mis-transcription of video evidence/ safety of conviction.R v B [2010]
Prosecuting contravention of UN Embargo on trade in goods to Iran contrary to sanctions imposed to combat the Iranian nuclear proliferation program and the production of WMD, contrary to the Export Control (Iran) Order 2007.Dorset County Council v David Yeates House [2010] EWCA Crim 2270
Cattle Database and Cattle Identification Regulations 1998/ Proper construction of regulation enforcing EC obligations/ Effect of repeal of EC Regulation on domestic regulations.R v Martin Donald Gumbrell [2009] EWCA Crim 550
Bad Character/ Propensity/ Single incident not subject of conviction/ Obtaining pecuniary advantage by deception/ Confiscation.R v Roger George Doncaster [2008] EWCA Crim. 5, Crim. LR [2008] 709
Bad Character/Cheating the Revenue/Admissibility of Evidence Obtained in Tax Enquiry in Criminal Proceedings/Applicability PACE Codes of Practice to Local Tax Inspectors/ Section 76 and 78 PACER v SR and W [2006] All ER (D) 214, [2006] EWCA Crim 1404
Expert Evidence/Admissibility/Childhood Amnesia/ Historic Sexual Abuse AllegationsR v Beardall & Lord [2006] EWCA Crim 577
Abuse of Process/Fresh Evidence/ Disclosure/Diversion Fraud.
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Articles -
3PB legal assessors' tips for advocates on 'mind your language' - (part 2)
2nd May 2023View Article
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Recommendations Timothy Bradbury is a senior junior with a strong reputation for his skilful prosecutions on behalf of HMRC as well as other government bodies. He has expertise as a defender and prosecutor in all manner of tax cases, fraud and regulatory crime. He is also regularly instructed in serious crime cases, including those concerning major drugs conspiracies, rape and murder.
Strengths : "Tim is an excellent advocate."
Chambers UK 2025/Crime/Western Bar
Strengths: “He is a bright and calm individual.”
Chambers UK 2024/Crime/Western Bar
Strengths: “He is excellent on the law and in oral argument.”
“Timothy has a formidable intellect, is tactically astute and a very effective prosecutor.”
“Timothy is extremely experienced and always consummately on top of his case and the brief.”Chambers UK 2023/Crime/Western Bar
Strengths: "He is an excellent criminal barrister."
Recent work: Appeared as lead prosecuting counsel in a trial regarding historic and recent offences of intergenerational child sexual abuse and rape.Chambers UK 2022/Crime/Western Bar
Strengths: "He is brilliant in cross-examinations, especially on the technical matters. When it comes to jury speeches, he is excellent." "He presents his cases brilliantly. He can focus on the key issues in a case in order to present it clearly, coherently and effectively."
Recent work: Acted as leading junior in R v Keay, prosecuting historic and recent offences of intergenerational child sexual abuse and rape.Chambers UK 2021/Crime/Western Bar
Strengths: "He is always a safe pair of hands and a reliable choice." "Fair and unflappable."
Recent work: Prosecuted a senior British Army officer accused of raping a United States Air Force captain.Chambers UK 2020/Crime/Western Bar
He is also regularly instructed in major drugs conspiracy cases. He is particularly well versed with fisheries, animal and firearm cases.
Successfully defended a principal party in a seven-handed conspiracy to supply cocaine and heroin.Chambers UK 2019/Crime/Western Bar
Strengths: "He is very easy to work with and gives very good, sound advice."
Chambers UK 2018/Crime/Western Bar
Recent work: Instructed by the CPS Specialist Fraud Division in relation to a multi-handed cyber repayment fraud case involving an international organised crime group.
Chambers UK 2017/Crime/Western Bar
'An experienced junior who is instructed to act on behalf of both claimants and defendants in criminal cases relating to drugs, fraud, serious violence and arms trafficking offences.
Strengths: "He has a real capacity for hard work, an emphasis on polished, fluent advocacy and an effective courtroom style."'Chambers UK 2016/Crime/Western Bar
'...has a mixed prosecution and defence practice with particular expertise in fraud, drugs conspiracy cases and violent crime.
Expertise: "He is a great advocate, well suited to top-end, serious cases."'Chambers UK 2015/Crime/Western Bar
'...a criminal practitioner with considerable experience of prosecuting on behalf of the CPS, HMRC and other government agencies. His expertise covers a range of regulatory crime and fraud.'
Chambers UK 2014/Crime/Western Bar
Timothy Bradbury is ranked in the Legal 500 2025/Crime (General and Fraud)/Leading Juniors/Western Circuit - Tier 1
‘Tim is at the zenith of the junior Bar; you are getting silk quality in a highly experienced junior. He is refined, conspicuously well-prepared, and never wrong-footed or out of his depth.'
Legal 500 2024/Crime (General and Fraud)/Leading Juniors/Western Circuit - Tier 1
Timothy Bradbury is ‘very bright‘, ‘incisive‘ and ‘razor-sharp in cross-examination.'
'Timothy is a silk in junior's robes. He has a commanding court presence, the complete respect of the judiciary, and is the consummate jury advocate.'
Legal 500 2023/Crime (General and Fraud)/Leading Juniors/Western Circuit - Tier 1
‘A class act. A silk in all but name. Very bright. Persuasive. Devastating cross-examiner.’
Legal 500 2022/Crime (General and Fraud)/Leading Juniors/Western Circuit
‘A fearsome advocate, his cross-examinations are unrivalled on the Western Circuit.’
Legal 500 2021/Crime/Leading juniors
‘An outstanding advocate with a first-class intellect.’
Legal 500 2020/Crime/Leading juniors
'A dedicated barrister who remains calm under fire.'
Legal 500 2018/19/Crime/Leading juniors
‘He has a measured and influential manner before both the judge and jury.’
Legal 500 2017/Crime/Leading juniors
'Well known for fraud prosecutions'
Legal 500 2016/Crime/Leading juniors
'His practice includes fraud, drugs importation and serious violent and sexual offences cases'
Legal 500 2015/Crime/Leading juniors
'One of his strong suits is his prosecution work for HMRC in tax fraud cases'
Legal 500 2014/Crime/Leading Juniors
‘highly regarded by the judiciary’
Legal 500 2013/Crime
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