Practice Profile
Henry James has a busy practice. In recent years his caseload has included murders, arsons, large scale drugs conspiracies, frauds, conspiracy to commit bankruptcy offences, serious assaults.
In 2004 he was instructed in the landmark historic sexual assault case of R v Smolinski. Since then he has maintained a successful record both as a prosecutor and defence advocate in allegations of contemporary and historic abuse. Outside of court he has advised extensively on Sexual Offender Prevention Orders (now Sex Harm Prevention Orders). He has also been instructed to provide pre-charge advices in a large number of complex sexual cases. He is a level 3 rape accredited prosecutor.
Never content simply to accept the decision of first instance, Henry has a long and successful record of challenging sentences and convictions in the Court of Appeal. As well as dealing with his own cases, he has also been instructed to advise on a significant number of cold cases - successfully pursuing numerous out of time appeals against both determinate and indeterminate sentences.
Testimonials
Notable Cases
2019 – R v T and others, Stafford Crown Court – 2019 Section 47 Assault (Defence)
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm, Mr T was one of 5 prison officers accused of unlawfully assaulting a prisoner with batons while he was protesting about his transfer. Acquitted after trial.
2019 – R v P and others, Guildford Crown Court – 2019 Section 18 (defence)
Section 18 wounding with intent. Mother of 4 accused of being part of group in a revenge attack. Acquitted after trial.
Operation Kopak, Northampton Crown Court, 2019 Conspiracy to Steal (prosecution)
Complex conspiracy involving a number of members of the same family executing numerous high and low value thefts around Northamptonshire over an extended period. Guilty pleas entered at trial.
R v X, Wood Green Crown Court – 2019 Sexual Assault (defence)
Sexual assault - Retrial for a man accused of sexually assaulting a client while providing a profession massage at the complainant’s home address. Acquitted after trial.
R v Jeng & Others, Luton Crown Court – 2019 Murder (prosecution)
Murder. Junior in the prosecution of a 5 handed drug related revenge killing. After trial 3 were convicted of murder and 2 of manslaughter.
R v B, Northampton Crown Court – 2019 Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs (defence)
Conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Mr B was duped into collecting a significant consignment of heroin. Acquitted after trial.
R v G, Nottingham Crown Court – 2018 Rape & Blackmail (prosecution)
A difficult prosecution of man who attended a brothel posing as an immigration officer before demanding money and sexual services. Convicted after trial.
Operation Doubrava, Nottingham Crown Court – 2018 Modern Slavery (prosecution)
Modern slavery. Junior in the largest Midlands prosecution for modern slavers involving over 16K pages of evidence and 8 defendants. After 2 months of evidence the defendants changed their pleas.
R v M, Oxford Crown Court – 2018 Fraud (prosecution)
Fraud by a man who, when given some control of his mother’s bank and credit cards, set about systematically exploiting his filial relationship to funding his business and lifestyle. Over several years he eviscerating her savings and forcing her to sell her house. Convicted after trial.
Court of Appeal Cases
R v Rey [2002] EWCA Crim 2226
R v Smolinski [2004] 2 Cr App R 40
R v Hawkins [2005] EWCA Crim 2842
R v Iqbal [2006] EWCA Crim 1302
R v Spencer [2006] EWCA Crim 188
R v Ralph [2007] EWCA Crim 610
R v Mashoud [2009] 1 Cr App R (S) 113
R v Multi-Hungwe [2010] 2 Cr App R (S) 6
R v T [2011] EWCA Crim 729
R v Kotecha [2011] EWCA Crim 2229
R v Nguyen [2011] EWCA Crim 2634
R v Moss [2011] 1 Crim App R (S) 31
R v Andrews [2011] EWCA Crim 1381
R v Denton [2011] EWCA Crim 695
R v Turner [2012] EWCA Crim 775
R v Eddy [2013] EWCA Crim 2534
R v Campbell [2013] Crim EWCA 832
R v Muthulingham [2013] EWCA 2409
R v Pilat [2014] EWCA Crim 688
R v Johnson [2014] 2 Cr App R (S) 47
R v Shemwell [2015] EWCA Crim 2249
R v Spencer [2016] EWCA Crim 1882