Crime: I am a criminal practitioner who defends and prosecutes serious criminal allegations before the Higher Courts. I also appear regularly before the Military Courts in the UK and abroad. There I defend members of the Army and the RAF together with civilians who, because of the nature of their employment, also appear before courts-martial. I have over 15 years experience of this type of work. I am also a Grade 4 prosecutor dealing mainly with cases involving allegations of sexual abuse and cases involving the causing of death by dangerous driving. In addition I prosecute on a private basis for one of the Train Operating Companies.

Civil: I have practiced in the field of civil litigation since 1990 and have a wide experience of a variety of areas of civil law including

Personal Injury: all aspects of PI practice for Claimants and Defendants including complex multiple injuries, injuries sustained aboard aircraft mid-flight, road traffic injuries, balloon flight injuries, infant settlement cases and fatal accident proceedings

Clinical Negligence: including multi-failure infant birth cases , cardio-vascular cases and failed diagnosis and inappropriate procedure cases

Specialist Tribunal Work: Including the Coroner's Court, the Care Quality Commission, Criminal Injuries Compensation Agency, the Army Board (in respect of AGAI and Redress of Complaint proceedings) and the Reserve Forces Appeal Tribunal

I have dealt with a number of high-profile cases as well as cases involving injuries of the upmost severity to children and members of the armed forces, cases involving psychiatric and psychological damage, allegations of care home negligence and cases involving the representation of members of the medical profession including before the Care Quality Commission.

JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS Jones v. Whalley (The Times 31 July 2006) The leading authority on the commencement of a private prosecution rather than seeking review of the decision not to prosecute by a public body. Also, the effect of a prior decision to caution upon the same.

COURT OF APPEAL (CRIMINAL DIVISION)
R v. Ainsworth (The Times 13 September 2006) The authority regarding the relevance of intent to kill as an aggravating feature in a case of murder (see paragraph 10 of Schedule 21 to CJA2003).

COURTS MARTIAL APPEAL COURT

R v. Ball and Rugg (The Times 17 February 1998)
The authority on the actual disparity between apparently equal sentences of prison and corrective detention.

R v. Preece [2004] All ER (D) 96
Defines parameters for sentencing in cases of absence without leave.

R v. Blaymire
Leading Junior defending a TA soldier facing court martial for manslaughter he having shot dead his Troop Sergeant whilst on active service in Iraq.

Acquitted after 6 week trial. Case turned on military’s lack of compliance with mandatory training requirements as set out in Army Operational Shooting Policy. Type ‘Reevell’ and ‘Blaymire’ into Google and search the web (not just UK pages) to see what emerged during this case about the war in Iraq; when decisions were actually made by government and how much the MoD really cared about the pre-deployment training of the TA.

R v. Toon
Leading Junior in a 12 handed ‘supergrass’ case. Allegation of conspiracy to supply Class ‘A’ drugs throughout North of England. Instructed for one of main three defendants. Legal argument for 3 and a half months culminated in a stay of the indictment due to inadequate preservation and disclosure of evidence and unreliability of the ‘supergrass’ by comparison with aspects of the surveillance evidence.

R v. Cameron
Leading Junior in trial arising from the riot at HMP Lincoln. Listed as eight week trial. Most significant ‘C’ Wing prisoner charged with Prison Mutiny and section 18. Case generated nearly 20,000 pages of material.

R v. Smith
Leading Junior representing man described as “Britain’s worst ever paedophile” after campaign of rape and sexual abuse against over 20 family members from the early 1950’s until 1992. Successfully argued that a determinative sentence had to be imposed as voluntary cessation of offending precluded definition that he was dangerous.

R v. McKenzie
Leading Junior representing elderly man accused of the manslaughter of his wife. She was discovered dead outside the matrimonial home having been left outside for most of the night after the couple returned home from a dinner party. Causation raised as defence. Crown offered no evidence.

R v. Lindo and Others
Prosecution of 14 year old for causing death by dangerous driving of 8 year old child. Also prosecution of passengers. Instructed by DPP at appeal of co-accused.

R v. Dodsworth
Prosecution of man for oral, anal and vaginal rape of mother and systematic physical abuse of her children.

R v. Johnstone
Defence at Court Martial of young soldier who shot and paralysed 12 year old boy whilst on active service in Iraq. After legal submissions case reduced to an offence under the Army Act and fine of £750 imposed.

R v. O’Keefe
Charge of manslaughter. Causation issue as to whether fatal attack of epilepsy could have been caused by heated argument prior to physical contact with deceased. After submissions the Crown offered no evidence.

I am married to Louise and we live in East Yorkshire. When I am not in court I enjoy spending time outdoors, both on land and at sea.

I am currently the Member of Parliament for Dewsbury.

I play a little tennis and am interested in late-Victorian oil paintings.

If I’m feeling brave I sometimes look out for the Leeds Utd result on a Saturday afternoon!!