Stuart is a recognised specialist in serious violence and public disorder, with extensive experience of defending and prosecuting in cases involving large organised criminal networks.
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Stuart is noted for his precise deployment of legal precedent to achieve results, paired with rigorous cross examination and thoroughly prepared cases, whether for the Crown or the defence. He has a successful appellate practice, his cases being cited in practitioners’ texts on multiple occasions and in one instance being incorporated into a new sentencing guideline.
Stuart has particular experience of football-based disorder and defending against the imposition of Football Banning Orders. As well as representing private individuals Stuart has appeared on behalf of many fan support groups and travels across the country to represent fans in both criminal cases and civil orders.
Stuart has a wide and varied criminal practice outside of these specialities and has led members of chambers in complex fraud and money laundering matters. Stuart has appeared in cases involving multi-million pound drug importation and production, multi-national criminal organisations and serious firearms-based violence.
Stuart is regularly instructed in cases of complex expert evidential dispute, he is a level 3 panel advocate and has successfully prosecuted and defended in a number of cases involving consideration and cross examining of experts, including drug creation and composition, encro phones, private driving, cell site, and medical causation evidence.
Outside criminal practice Stuart is heavily involved with his Inn of court and with chambers, he is a qualified advocacy trainer for Middle Temple, is part of the mentoring programme, has completed tutorial videos for Middle Temple on case preparation and runs the pupil advocacy programme in chambers.
Qualifications
LLB Law (hons) Warwick: 2:1
Professional Associations
Criminal Bar Association
Notable Cases
Serious Organised Crime
Operation Shogun – Lead counsel in a series of trials prosecuting an OCG for operating multi-target fraud and money laundering operations. Case involved tracing funds through multiple bank accounts and aliases.
Operation Germany – Junior counsel in prosecution of OCG targeting high-end cars in burglaries and aggravated burglaries across Surrey. Took place across two trials with extensive phone and cell site mapping to display the conspiracy.
R v T and others – Junior counsel in attempted murder/possession of firearms with intent to endanger life case involving multiple defendants and firearms with difficult cut throat defences being run. All defendants were participants to varying degrees in a drug supply OCG.
R v D and others (Operation Calqued) – Secured acquittal alone of defendant in 10 week, multi-million pound class A drug importation through Gatwick Airport. Case involved extensive surveillance evidence and detailed consideration of airport and security procedures as well as phone and Encrochat evidence.
Public Disorder
R v C – Widescale disorder at the finals of the Euro 2022 cup, including weapons and serious injury.
R v K – Multi-handed affray involving weapons and a knifepoint robbery.
R v C, M and others – case dismissed at half time following successful exclusion of entirety of Crown’s video evidence.
R v R, S and others – 9 handed football public disorder dismissed at half time following in depth legal argument and criticism of charging decisions.
R v H, J and J – Large violent disorder targeting police involving a helicopter chase and an assault on officers with petrol.
Drugs
Operation Esteemed –Prosecuted ringleader and lieutenant of cannabis production OCG in the Reading area to conviction. Case involved presentation of significant surveillance evidence and careful handling of sensitive intelligence.
R v C – Defendant acquitted by jury of Class A possession with intent, despite fingerprint evidence and a history of previous cocaine dealing.
R v N – Prosecution of a large-scale cannabis production operation involving hidden compartments/rooms and camouflaged surveillance equipment.
Violence
R v H – High-profile domestic abuse case requiring careful management of press and victim’s rights before the Old Bailey.
R v K – Aggravated knife point burglary warranting upwards of 10 years in custody. Successfully argued against the extension of the sentence on the grounds of ‘dangerousness’.
R v A & A – Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent. Required consideration of phone evidence and medical analysis/examination as to causation and injury.
R v R – Secured Acquittal by jury of threats to kill, actual bodily harm and further domestic assaults, defendant had significant previous convictions for domestic violence and Crown had injury photographs and recent complaint evidence.
R v S – Case stayed as an abuse of process after investigation of unused served at trial revealed a witness the Crown had failed to investigate or disclose
R v C – Witness Intimidation trial before Reading Crown Court. Despite severity of charge the defendant received a suspended sentence.
Dishonesty
R v C – Large-scale Proceeds of Crime Act (£500,000 +) proceedings relating to trademark infringement and evasion of income tax.
R v N et al – 21 Count fraud indictment including use of false trademarks and targeting of vulnerable victims before Lincoln Crown Court.
R v B – Defendant acquitted of burglary by jury despite DNA evidence linking him to the scene.
R v S – Businessman accused of multiple fraud offences as well as VAT evasion acquitted of all fraud counts at trial.
R v C – Large-scale Proceeds of Crime Act (£500,000 +) proceedings relating to trademark infringement and evasion of income tax.
Reported Cases
R v M – Successfully appealed the imposition of a mandatory 3-year sentence followed a third consecutive burglary. Court of Appeal overturned the imposition of the mandatory minimum and replaced with a suspended sentence.
R v A – 15 month sentence reduced by a quarter after successful appeal and application of surrounding case law in a case of perverting the course of justice.
