Introduction
With a specialist criminal practice, Tom has a wide range of experience and expertise in all areas of crime. He comes recommended as an accomplished, talented and dedicated trial advocate, but is also known for the quality and intelligence of his written work and his attention to detail. He is a level 4 prosecutor and member of the specialist rape panel.
Tom believes that hard work, preparation and working closely with his professional clients are the keys to successfully presenting a case.
Homicide (Murder and Manslaughter)
Tom has considerable experience in homicide cases, including cases of lethal group violence,planned individual murders, conspiracies to murder, attempted murder and death by dangerous driving.
Reported Cases:
- R v PW (2014): Causing death by dangerous driving
- R v ST (2013): Attempted murder, home invasion stabbing
- R v Martyn Geoghegan (2013): Conspiracy to murder – drive-by shooting
- R v Meenan, Meenan, Ryan, Bayliss & others (2011): Murder of shopkeeper in the course of a robbery. Issues of joint enterprise and visual capacity.
- R v Hollyoake, Poyner & Neelan (2008): Group murder by sustained beating within the Coventry homeless community
- R v Britten (2007): Murder. Complex issues of mixed sample DNA contamination and transfer.
- R v Campbell & others (2006): Murder and assisting an offender. City centre nightclub shooting.
Organised Crime and Terrorism
Tom prosecutes and defends cases involving serious organised crime, from multi-million pound international smuggling and drug importation to regional gang violence and domestic conspiracies to murder, rob and steal.
Reported Cases:
- R v BOR (2013): Conspiracy to escape from prison – the John Anslow escape from HMP Hewell
- [2013] EWCA Crim 1916
- R v Shoyeju (2011): UKBA Immigration Officer charged with corruptly granting ILR for money. The conspiracy extended over a number of years from UK to Nigeria.
- R v Mason, Chiverton, Pryce & Fennell (2011): Alleged gang shooting in the Moss Side area of Manchester.
- R v Conner, Delaney, Rooney & others (2007): Large scale conspiracy to burgle. Distraction burglaries committed against the vulnerable and elderly.
- R v Collins & Robertson (2007): High value firearm cash-in-transit robberies.
- R v Bale & others (2005): Conspiracy to attack cash machines with industrial equipment. Involved sensitive issues of disclosure and the use of covert listening posts.
- R v Owens, Grassick & others (2005): Multi-million pound international cigarette smuggling conspiracy.
Serious Sexual Offences
Reported Cases:
- R v Alan Male (2013): Historic abuse of family members.
- R v Copestick (2013): Allegations of rape and abuse of children fostered by the defendant.
- R v Jones (2010): Historic rape and sexual offences against a sibling. Doctrine of Doli Incapax applied.
Restraints and Confiscation
Tom has substantial expertise in confiscation proceedings. He practices in both the civil and criminal sides of restraint, cash forfeiture and confiscation. He believes that a sound understanding of confiscation and restraint is essential to the proper conduct of many criminal cases.
Reported Cases:
- R (on the Application of Afzal & Suhail) v the Crown Court at Birmimgham (2011): Successful defence before the Administrative Court of an application to judicially review the decision to forfeit monies seized from the claimants under s.298 POCA.
- Edwards v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police (2010): Appeal against a decision to forfeit £20,000 in cash.
Disciplinary Tribunals & Professional Regulation
Tom defends civil actions against the police before the civil courts. His expertise in crime gives him an advantage with both the jury advocacy and the unique legal questions involved in this area of the law.
Reported Cases:
- Holmes v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police (2013): Successful defence of a claim for assault and false imprisonment.
- Thakore v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police (2012): Successful defence of a claim for false imprisonment and breach of articles 6 and 8 of the ECHR.
- Warrillow v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police (2011): Successful defence of a claim for assault, breach of the Data Protection Act 1998, breach of various rights under the ECHR and defamation.
- Hickman v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police (2009): Successful defence of a claim for false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and assault
- Martin v Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police (2009) :Successful defence of a claim for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
Education
BA (Hons) Philosophy, First Class
Winner of Cicely Coulson Prize, awarded to the most promising final year student
Common Professional Examination (Postgraduate diploma)
Winner of Branthwaite Prize, awarded for best performance on the CPE
Bar Vocational Course
Lincoln’s Inn Levitt Pupillage Scholarship
Appointments and Memberships
Testimonials
“A hard-working barrister with a really cerebral approach to cases.” Chambers UK 2022
