criminal law
Are we too reliant on sentencing guidelines?
“What am I looking at then?” asks a client charged with assaulting an emergency worker. A pertinent and reasonable question any anxious individual would ask – often before they have even pleaded. Thankfully, the Sentencing Council are on hand to assist and members of the criminal justice system will be all too familiar with the […]
Pump Court Criminal Law Podcast Episode 3 – Casey Chard
In the latest episode of the Criminal Law podcast, Ed Wylde speaks with Casey Chard about his pupillage experience at Pump Court Chambers, where he provides helpful techniques for how one can make the most out of the process. Casey discusses a number of insights he learned from each of his supervisors and how acquiring […]
Pump Court Criminal Law Podcast Episode 2 – Stephanie Painter
In the second episode of Season 2 of our Criminal Law Podcast, Ed Wylde interviews Stephanie Painter about the techniques for applying for CPS panel grades and directories’ rankings. Stephanie offers valuable insights on suggested training and experience for newly qualified barristers, as well as guidance on how to maintain a balance in life at […]
Siân Beaven secures finding of no impairment for Registrant at NMC
Siân, instructed by Rebecca Austin of the RCN, represented a care home manager accused of several charges relating to failures in care for an end-of-life resident and a number of failings in the home identified within a CQC report. The Registrant accepted the charges relating to the CQC findings but denied those in respect of […]
Christopher Pix successfully prosecutes man accused of causing death by dangerous driving
Christopher Pix successfully prosecuted Dannie O’Leary accused of causing death by dangerous driving, almost exactly a year ago. After two days of the prosecution case, the defendant pleaded guilty to killing George Greaves and to causing serious injuries to two others in the same car. Dannie O’Leary accepted that he was racing his Mercedes car […]
Pump Court Criminal Law Podcast Episode 4 – Ruba Huleihel
In the most recent episode of the Pump Court Criminal Law podcast, Ed Wylde and Ruba Huleihel discuss the new law relating to intentional strangulation, and its prevalence in the criminal justice system. The pair also discuss the tactical advantages and disadvantages of introducing one’s own bad character, as well as the process for applying […]
Siân Beaven secures conviction and custodial sentence in dangerous dogs case
Siân was instructed by CPS Wessex in the trial before Salisbury Crown Court. The Defendant was convicted after trial of an offence of being an owner/person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. The case concerned the Defendant’s Belgian Malinois dog, biting the leg of the victim who, at the time, […]
Richard Tutt successfully acts for Defendant in Isle of Wight murder trial
Richard Tutt, led by Ignatius Hughes KC, represented Piers Brazier who was found not guilty of murdering Scott Cooper at a flat in Ryde in January 2021. The original trial was held in June and July 2022, but that jury could not reach a verdict. The trial is the first murder case to be heard […]
How much mitigation should be afforded to a gambling addiction when sentencing for dishonesty?
By Mark Ruffell This was the question that the Court had to consider when sentencing Martin Sargeant for fraud. He had stolen £5.2 million from the Church of England over 11 years when working as an administrator. He had worked hard, and had a good reputation, but this had hidden his dishonesty which had commenced […]
Mark Ruffell appears in £5m Church of England fraud case
Mark Ruffell acted for the defendant, a former operations manager at the Church of England’s Diocese of London, who defrauded the Church out of £5.2m. The case has been widely reported in the national press: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/12/19/church-england-official-took-52m-spent-flights-burberry/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11555467/Convicted-thief-given-second-chance-CofE-defrauded-church-5-2M.html https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/church-official-admits-ps5-million-fraud-on-diocese-of-london-b1032738.html https://www.itv.com/news/london/2022-12-19/ex-prisoner-jailed-after-landing-86k-church-of-england-job-and-stealing-52m Mark Ruffell is regularly instructed in heavy weight criminal defence work and is also regularly instructed […]
