Richard was junior Counsel for the Defence in the case against the former Speaker of the House of Commons Nigel Evans MP who was acquitted of all the sexual allegations against him at his trial at Preston Crown Court.
R v Stephen Taylor (Attorney-General’s Reference) [2012]successfully defended the imposition of a suspended sentence order imposed for a conviction after trial of possession of 7 kilograms of mephedrone with intent to supply. The case concerned a point of public importance regarding sentencing guidelines for this relatively new drug.
R v Postlethwaite and Others, Heysel Football Disaster – Case Extradition and Divisional Court
DPP v O’Connor [1992] RTR 66 Laced Drinks Case
R v Walter Woods – Rape – (1982) Cr.App.R 74 (self induced intoxication)
Courts Martial case in Bosnia (dangerous driving) and Bulford Barracks – Soldiers assaulting an Iraqi
Additional Information
For many years before call to the Bar Richard was a Senior Legal Executive dealing with serious criminal defence cases for one of the larger criminal firms in the North West (see R v Woods). Richard also appeared in the BBC 2 Parole series, ‘Lock Them Up or Let Them Go’ representing ‘Britain’s most dangerous criminal’ who had served 27 years for murder and successfully sought a lower prison category. The entire parole hearing was filmed and broadcast.
Interests
- Sport
- Cycling
- Mountain Walking
- Playing drums
- Watching Burnley Football Club
Appointments
CPS Level 3 Prosecutor
Qualifications
LLB (Hons), Ede & Ravenscroft Prize Winner, Winston Churchill Pupillage Award
Areas of Expertise
Criminal Law