Operation Sheetful (2024)

Led Holly Menary of Counsel in the prosecution of a Kurdish ‘smuggler’ who was at the head of a sophisticated people trafficking network which assisted migrants to cross Europe and enter the UK illegally by dinghy.   Instructed by the Serious Economic and International Directorate of the CPS who worked in association with the National Crime Agency. 

Operation Gybe (2024)

Led Megan Cox of Counsel, in the prosecution of six Defendants accused of conspiracy to import cannabis resin over £1.5 million pounds in value, concealed in ceramic pots of Citronella candles from Spain, into the UK via mainland Europe. 

Operation Mount (2024)

Led Emily Land of Counsel, in the prosecution of eight Defendants in a complex trial over a 4-week period.  The case emanated from a major public disturbance at a late-night venue in Liverpool City Centre and involved violent disorder; the possession and use of weapons and multiple section 18 woundings.

Operation Paintbox (2023/2024)

Steven represented the prosecution in the trial of an inside-job by DWP employees, who along with accomplices, misused the private financial details of 64 claimants. The value of the fraud exceeded £80,000 and involved breaches of trust significantly impacting many vulnerable people who did not receive payments that they were entitled to and who had their personal data compromised. Instructed by Serious Economic and International Directorate of the CPS in conjunction with the DWP, Liverpool

Operation Castle (2022)

Prosecution of a multi-handed conspiracy to rob involving a team of professional burglars who targeted two houses on opposite sides of the city on one morning of June 2022. The offences were meticulously planned, with the burglars, in the two different areas, using the same stolen vehicle for transportation.

Rape and Serious Sexual Offences

R v S (2024)

Prosecution of serious charges that demonstrated a pattern of violent behaviour: Rape, Strangulation, and Assault followed by Kidnap (of victim’s 6 year old Daughter), Dangerous Driving and Section 18 as the Defendant deliberately drove over the Mother as she tried to rescue her Daughter from the abduction. The court imposed a sentence of 21 years with 3 years extended licence.

R v S (2024)

Prosecution of a Defendant aged 89, with a history of being prosecuted for the abuse of several boys over 5 decades, whilst he was a Vicar. In this case, another victim of his offending had come forward after learning of a previous trial and conviction in 2020.

R v N (2024)

Prosecution of a 78-year-old Defendant for historic sexual offences against a vulnerable 15-year-old girl, whilst he was the warden at a caravan park.

R v W (2024)

Prosecution of a female Defendant aged 19, who had embarked on a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. The Defendant had been warned on several occasions by the girl’s mother to keep away.

R v H (2024)

Prosecution of a Defendant for the sexual abuse of his daughter, the possession and distribution of images related to the abuse, amongst chatrooms and on social media.

R v D (2024)

Prosecution of a 26-year-old male Defendant who had met, online, a 14-year-old schoolgirl. The Defendant embarked on a secret relationship with her, she was groomed and sexually abused. He solicited intimate photographs from her which were then used to coerce her by his threat to distribute them on social media.

R v L (2024)

Prosecution of a Defendant who was the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for previous possession of indecent images. Whilst being monitored post-offence, he was found to be in possession of several videos depicting himself performing sexual acts on victims, who appeared to be unaware and asleep. The victims were children and adults who had visited the home where he lived with his Mother.

R v D (2024)

Prosecution of a bus driver charged with the sexual assault of a schoolgirl. The Defendant had offered the schoolgirl a lift home in his car after gaining her trust; she had fallen asleep on the bus and had become stranded at the depot. On the way home he took a detour; he behaved inappropriately both in his comments and by physical contact.

R v B [2023] 

Prosecution of a 19-year-old University student for allegations of rape and sexual assault on two different female students within days of each other shortly after Fresher’s Week.

R v ES (2024)

Prosecution of a male Defendant for sexualised communications, on social media, with an adult (part of an on-line child safety group) posing as a 14-year-old boy. The Defendant proceeded to groom the ’14-year-old’ and arranged to meet up with him. The Defendant had been entrapped and the group handed over their evidence to the Police.

R v R (2023)

Prosecution of a Defendant for historical sexual abuse of his stepdaughter from around the age of 10, groomed by the Defendant whilst her mother was at work.

R v L (2023)

Prosecution of a Defendant for historical sexual abuse of his niece, aged 10 at the time, and the simultaneous abuse of a 13-year-old daughter of a family friend.

R v JBT (2023)

Prosecution of a Defendant involved in the distribution of a large volume of indecent images and videos depicting his serious sexual offences against adults and children.

R v DS (2023)

Represented a Defendant charged with: Rape, and Coercive and Controlling Behaviour. Charges were significantly complicated by the existence of a video, filmed from the side of the bed by the partner’s mobile phone and therefore the Jury had to determine whether the Defendant had been “set up”.

R v L & S (2023)

Prosecution of two Defendants, a man, and a woman, who had met online, but never in real life; the first time the individuals met was in the dock at court. The male Defendant had encouraged the female Defendant to engage in sexual activity, in the presence of her child (under 2 years old), who was lying in a cot next to her. The female Defendant had filmed these activities on numerous occasions and sent him the recordings from her mobile phone to his.

R v MV (2023)

Represented an 82-year-old Defendant accused of historical sexual offences against his daughter, who was under 13 at the time. The daughter now aged 16, when the Defendant was being charged, had been taken into care. A considerable amount of material from the Court of Protection had to be considered, which made the case sensitive and distressing. There had to be careful preparation towards the Section 28 cross examination hearing, which considered the complicated history.

Firearms

R v S (2024)

Prosecution of a Defendant whose DNA was found on bullet casings, a Skorpian sub-machine and a hand grenade, all hidden in a house cupboard.

R v F (2023)

Prosecution of a Defendant for possessing a fully working antique Westley-Richards shotgun and ammunition without a licence.

R v M (2023)

Prosecution of a Defendant whose DNA was found within the muzzle of a 1920’s Webley revolver, found hidden behind a shed. Three spent bullets in the gun chamber and one live bullet were found, indicating recent use.

R v KM (2023)

Prosecution of a Defendant whose DNA had been found on a Turkish Retay imitation handgun, converted for use as a firearm. The prohibited weapon was found in a plastic bag buried in a park. Despite his claims of finding it whilst walking his dog and briefly handling it forensics discovered his DNA on concealed parts of the firearm.

Driving Offences 

R v KM (2024)

Requested by Judge Aubrey KC to deliver a closing speech on behalf of a Defendant after his barrister withdrew from the trial due to professional embarrassment. The Defendant was charged careless driving resulting in the death of his girlfriend. Having familiarised himself with the case over 24 hours, Steven was able to deliver a technically detailed closing speech on the Defendant’s behalf without the trial being aborted.

R v DP (2023)

Prosecution of a Defendant for causing the death of a 12-year-old schoolgirl due to careless driving. The Defendant was in his van, on busy road, on his way home mid-afternoon. The girl had just alighted her school bus and walked into the road, straight into the path of the Defendant’s vehicle, which was exceeding a safe speed, given the circumstances.

R v D (2023)

Prosecution of Defendant who had caused serious injury to a Police Officer by dangerous driving. The Defendant was involved in a Police chase on busy roads and a motorway and required the need for tactical containment due to the risk posed to the public. After careful analysis of the medical evidence, Including the police officer’s medical records, it was decided that the aggravated charge could not be sustained, and the Defendant pleaded guilty to the basic offence.

Modern Day Slavery

R v AA & MP (2023)

Defending an Eastern European female accused of: Conspiracy to Control Prostitution, and Trafficking and Exploitation of numerous Eastern European sex workers, across the Midlands and North-West.

Guilty pleas had been entered, however there was significant dispute between the parties as to the basis for which the Defendant and her husband were to be sentenced. A trial of the issue would determine the extent to which the sex workers had been exploited and coerced to continue this work by the Defendants.

R v NHL (2023)

Prosecution of a Vietnamese national who had been found living alone in a terraced house which had been set up as a cannabis farm.

R v DX (2023)

Prosecution of an Albanian national who was found in a derelict mobile phone warehouse which had been set up for the wholesale production of cannabis.

R v QVT (2023)

Defended a Vietnamese national who had been illegally trafficked into the UK in a lorry without documents on the promise of construction work.  The Defendant was found hiding in an attic of a residential property where he was tending to a large crop of cannabis plants.

Regulatory and Misconduct

R v PH (2023)

Defended a prison officer who pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office. The Defendant had been taking Class C steroids and SIM cards into HMP Liverpool with intent to distribute amongst inmates. There were no sentencing guidelines for this offence and Steven was able to distinguish the facts from other, more serious reported cases.

R (Maritime & Coastal Agency) v  DE (2022)

An eight-day trial representing a Defendant, a tugboat skipper, facing maritime regulatory offences following the death of a crew member. The tugboat had been moored to a jetty designed for tankers, however it was common practice for tugboats to moor there, until this tragedy. The crew member had fallen into the river whilst trying to jump back onto the boat.  The Defendant was cleared of charges of conduct endangering life.

Fraud

Operation Ballast (2024)

Led by James Rae of Counsel, in the prosecution of a complex fraud going back to 2012. The Defendant had become the proprietor of a petrol station and had forged 2 letters of guarantee from a bank, which afforded him credit for up to £100,000. Another Defendant, alleged to have caused financial losses of over a million pounds, through fraudulent activities, remains at large. Instructed by the  Serious Economic and International Directorate of the CPS

R v LJS (2023)

Represented a Defendant in a case brought by the Insolvency Service. The Defendant, a company director, was accused of 3 charges of Fraud, failing to keep accounting records, and misconduct during the winding up of the company. Steven helped secure his acquittal of all the most serious charges and the Defendant avoided immediate custodial sentence.

Mental Health 

R v M (2024) 

Prosecution of a 19-year-old Defendant, who had purchased a BB handgun, and used to attempt to rob a taxi driver of his vehicle and cash. Medical records were obtained, and the court ruled that the Defendant was unfit to stand trial, and he was excused of his attendance. The Court proceeded with a Finding of the Facts, before a jury, who having heard the evidence, found that the Defendant had committed the act.

R v CHT (2024) 

Prosecution of a Defendant, who was the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, imposed a few years before owing to convictions for possession of indecent images of children.

The Defendant had been visited by officers, from the local Sex Offenders Unit, and they found him to be in possession of several unregistered devices. He had been regularly using social media to engage in conversations with several schoolgirls.

After obtaining medical reports, the court ruled that the Defendant was not fit to stand trial and excused. The Court proceeded with a Finding of the Facts, before a jury, who having heard the evidence, found that the Defendant had committed the acts.

R v LJ (2024)

Prosecution of a Defendant for causing serious injuries.  The victim had set up a liaison on Grindr and had invited the Defendant back to his house where the victim suffered from significant head injuries whilst he repeatedly beaten by the Defendant using a fire poker.  Whilst fit to plead the Defendant’s mental health deteriorated before sentence and he was made subject of a Hospital Order.

Other 

R v JC (2024)

Defended a man accused of assisting co-accused by driving him from Skelmersdale to Kingston-upon-Hill, and by keeping watch whilst his co-accused discharged a shot gun into the front of a house which was occupied.

The case involved the careful drafting of a basis of plea, which although not entirely accepted by the Judge – who also presided over the trial of his co-accused – led to a sentence being passed which was substantially lower than expected.

R v B, S and L (2024)

Prosecuted a three-handed robbery trial where a house was targeted by a group who broke in and threatened the house holders with imitation guns and Samurai swords before making off with cash and mobile phones.

R v MC (2024)

Defended a man accused of strangulation, assault and coercive and controlling behaviour against a former partner. He was also accused of threatening his former partner with a gun and coercing her into taking out car finance.

Following extensive and detailed analysis of social media and exchanged messages, the Crown were made aware of significant issues relating to the complainant’s credibility and the case resolved on a limited basis. Which significantly reduced the Defendant’s culpability when sentenced.

R v S (2024)

Defended a serving prisoner on an IPP for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs from his cell.

R v D (2024)

Prosecution of 3 Defendants for conspiracy to kidnap a child. Two of them were  accused of attempting to pass themselves off as uniformed police officers, armed with warrant cards and paperwork from the court, to take the child away from its foster parents.

R v K (2023)

Prosecution of an Albanian national found with 4 kg of Cannabis Resin in the boot of his vehicle. Blocked into a cul de sac by the police he drove dangerously by ramming the police vehicle in order to escape.

R v W (2023)

Prosecuted a doorman for section 18 after he lost his temper with a drunken customer and assaulted him with punches before kicking him in the head with a steel toe capped boot.

R v SF & SN (2023)

Appointed by Judge Murray at Liverpool Crown Court pursuant to section 38 Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, to cross examine in a case involving two un-represented Defendants facing allegations of perverting the course of justice, and perjury arising from a civil case to a will.

Steven was principally appointed to cross examine the Sister of one of the Defendants and to assist with the preparation of legal arguments on a number of evidential issues, which required determination before the trial could proceed.

R v AR (2023)

Defended a man who was caught in possession of several brightly coloured pills, bearing logos, on the last day of the Creamfields Festival 2021. The Defendant was prosecuted for attempted possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.  The pills contained Chloroquine, a substance used for Malaria treatment.

R v D (2023)

Prosecution of a Defendant who caused non-accidental injuries to his 3-month-old son by forcing his leg into a baby grow out of impatience and frustration, whilst he was tasked to change him; this resulted in multiple fractures to the baby’s femur.