Crime News

Sir Richard Sutton trial: Life sentence with a 36 year minimum term imposed after Adam Feest QC successfully prosecutes case of ‘ferocious’ knife attack

20th December 2021

3PB's Adam Feest QC (pictured here), who heads the national barristers' chambers 33-strong criminal law team, successfully prosecuted Tom Schreiber for the murder of Sir Richard Sutton and attempted murder of his partner and the mother of the defendant, Anne Schreiber. The case, which was heard in Winchester Crown Court, attracted significant media interest - including the Times and BBC -  followed the son's attack on the couple at  Moorhill, Sir Richard Sutton’s mansion near Gillingham...

3PB crime barristers appointed to CPS approved advocates panel

15th December 2021

3PB would like to congratulate specialist crime barristers Tom Horder (pictured right), Berenice Mulvanny (pictured second right), David Jenkins (pictured second left) and Thomas Acworth (pictured left) for recently being appointed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) approved advocates panel. Tom Horder, appointed to Grade 4 of the CPS approved panel of advocates, is frequently instructed in multi-handed murder trials, high value frauds, complex drug importations and cases involving modern slavery, trafficking and allegations of...

Tom Horder successful in Court of Appeal

29th November 2021

3PB's crime and regulatory barrister Tom Horder, pictured here, recently represented the Appellant in R v Badawi in an appeal against a 13-year sentence for rape (an 8-year term of imprisonment and 5-year extended licence period). The sentencing judge had found the Appellant ‘dangerous’ on the basis of a previous acquittal for rape. In reducing the original term to a determinate sentence of 6 ½ years the Court of Appeal accepted Tom’s submission that a...

Top Scottish criminal Silk Kevin McCallum QC heads to 3PB  

26th November 2021

3PB Barristers has welcomed top Silk Kevin McCallum QC (Scot), pictured here, a former criminal defence solicitor and a Procurator Fiscal Depute in Scotland - who specialises in criminal defence work, fatal accident inquiries and inquests - to the national chambers.  He will work from its Inner Temple offices in London. Appointed as a Senior Advocate Depute in November 2006; Kevin was responsible for the preparation and conduct of a significant number of intensive, large...

Graham Gilbert successfully prosecutes Holiday Inn Express for health and safety breach

25th November 2021

3PB’s specialist crime and regulatory law barrister, Graham Gilbert (pictured here) was recently successful in prosecuting the Holiday Inn Express, Dunstable for a health and safety breach. In November 2018, a Holiday Inn Express employee was instructed by a manager to empty and clean a commercial oil fryer in the kitchen. The member of staff picked up the filled container and was immediately burned from hot oil melting through the thin plastic container that had...

Berenice Mulvanny successfully defends accused with significant mental health issues

22nd November 2021

3PB criminal barrister Berenice Mulvanny (pictured here) successfully defended a client of good character with significant mental health vulnerabilities charged with historic rape and sexual assault of a 4-year-old. The jury at Southampton Crown Court took less than 45 minutes to return unanimous not guilty verdicts after hearing the evidence and closing submissions from Miss Mulvanny. The trial involved sensitive cross-examination of the complainant, complaint evidence and issues of character. The client had longstanding and...

Thomas Acworth’s client acquitted of sexual assault

15th November 2021

3PB criminal barrister Thomas Acworth (pictured) saw his client, DN, has been acquitted of sexual assault following a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. DN was a driving instructor of previous good character. Under Thomas’ cross-examination, it emerged that the complainant had told lies to the police, provided a partisan selection of her text-message history with DN to the police and deleted some messages from her phone. The impact of the questioning on the complainant’s credibility...

Graham Gilbert successfully defends client against money laundering charges

10th November 2021

In R v James & Others at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London, 3PB's crime and regulatory barrister Graham Gilbert secured the acquittal of a client initially charged with money laundering in 2017. His client, Mr James, alleged that he had been duped by criminals into allowing money to pass through his account. Graham’s preparation and cross-examination allowed for the identification of a man who fitted the description given by Mr James in his police interview. The jury...

Graham Gilbert appears in first Court of Appeal decision on Knives Act 1997 (section 1)

8th November 2021

3PB crime and regulatory barrister Graham Gilbert appeared before the Court of Appeal in R v STC LIMITED [2021] EWCA Crim 1237 in July 2021 representing three parties charged with offences under section 1 Knives Act 1997 (unlawful marketing of the items). The Court noted that, in its extensive experience, it had never been required to consider this piece of legislation previously. The matter is of particular note as, in coming to its decision, the Court...

Jane Rowley in successful sentence appeal at the Court of Appeal 

4th November 2021

3PB criminal barrister Jane Rowley (pictured here) achieved a reduction of 5 years from the 14 years originally imposed on the Appellant, reducing the term to 9 years following her successful appeal on the 4th November to the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal [R v Ryland]. The Court agreed with her submissions that the original sentencing Judge had passed a sentence which was wrong in principle and manifestly excessive, and that all custodial...

Regulatory law barrister Sunyana Sharma volunteers for Advocate

5th October 2021

3PB’s specialist regulatory law and inquests barrister, Sunyana Sharma (pictured here) recently assisted on a criminal law matter for the pro bono charity of the Bar, Advocate. Sunyana’s client was extremely thankful to Sunyana and sent the following feedback to Advocate - “Ms Sharma was extremely professional, supportive and helpful. We had a positive outcome at court and she worked on my case throughout her annual leave which I have nothing but respect and deepest...

Nick Robinson successfully defends in a number of notable cases this summer

28th September 2021

3PB criminal defence barrister Nick Robinson (pictured here) has defended in a number of notable cases this summer, which stand out for their unusual facts and the exceptional nature of the results. In R v AR (Southampton Crown Court), Nick defended a man at his sentence hearing in respect of an offence of Possessing a Prohibited Firearm, a sawn-off shotgun. He fell to be sentenced to a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment. The...