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James joined 36 Crime after 10 years in the West Midlands, having built strong foundations in criminal and regulatory law.
He has a way of speaking to witnesses and clients that dispels myths and fears about the Crown Court. Experience with vulnerable witnesses includes teenagers who witnessed the murder of their friend, as well as a family who were blackmailed and ultimately had their son kidnapped for ransom by an organised criminal group.
As well as trial work, James has represented appellants and respondents in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). He has been complimented there on his concise oral and written submissions.
James has particular experience in local authority and trading standards prosecutions, where he lends his expertise to instructing solicitors at the earliest stages of case preparation. He enjoys seeing cases all the way through, providing continuity and strategy from beginning to end.
A qualified advocate appointed to “List C” for government agency work, James prosecutes and defends in cases involving the Environment Agency, HSE etc. He has trained inspectors and experts at the HSE. His grasp of this area assists in other cases, particularly in Coronial Law where he has represented local authorities, the NHS and families of the deceased at Inquests.
His regulatory practice extends to licensing work too. James takes cases before local licensing committees and on appeal in the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.
James has experience defending cases in the Courts Martial, from desertion to ill-treating subordinates. He has appeared in Bulford, Catterick, in Colchester and Portsmouth Military Court Centres when they were used, as well as the Court of Appeal sitting as the Court Martial Appeal Court. James is able to represent clients nationwide and overseas.
CPS Panel appointments
General Crime Level 3
Serious Crime Level 2
Fraud Level 2
Key cases & testimonials
R v Demiraj and others – Prosecuted five defendants for conspiracy to blackmail and kidnap, leading Sebastian Walker in Reading Crown Court. Successfully applied to introduce the video interview and witness statements of the three complainants as hearsay, over the course of a week’s legal argument.
R v L – Defended a Corporal in the RMP who had allegedly assaulted a colleague, putting his head through a first aid box in the service police station. Established self-defence: acquitted by the Board and the client was able to return to his unit.
R (Birmingham City Council) v Bousjin – Prosecuted to conviction the sale of illicit (counterfeit and smuggled) tobacco by a corner shop. The case proceeded to confiscation where James successfully challenged expert accountancy evidence to persuade the Crown Court to impose a substantial order.
Re: Hennessey’s, Torbay Council – Represented Devon and Cornwall Police in their successful application to review and revoke the licence of a premises in Torquay. It had been a problem venue for some time, but continued to trade during the pandemic and flouted the Tier rules which were in place in 2020.
Re: D – Represented the family of a deceased patient who had mistakenly had a Do Not Resuscitate notice left on their bed. Persuaded the Coroner to issue a Report to Prevent Future Deaths, over objection by the NHS Trust involved.
James is a tenacious and confident advocate. He has an eye for detail and a forensic approach to preparation for his cases.Legal 500, 2025
Areas of expertise
James has gained extensive experience of the disclosure regime through his work supporting high profile investigations. He applies this knowledge in all of his cases. It is particularly valuable when advising on local authority and private prosecutions, but also when defending to ensure the police and prosecutor reveal all material which will help a defendant’s cause.
R v Demiraj and others
Prosecuted five defendants for conspiracy to blackmail and kidnap, leading Sebastian Walker in Reading Crown Court. Successfully applied to introduce the video interview and witness statements of the three complainants as hearsay, over the course of a week’s legal argument.
R v Salgado-Tuzon and another
Prosecuted two individuals who used fire extinguishers to spray-paint the side of the Department of Transport in protest against HS2. After thorough cross-examination of the defendants, the Judge withdrew from the jury as a matter of law all the defences initially advanced. Both defendants were convicted by the jury.
R v Cohen and others
Led by Diana Wilson in Southwark Crown Court, prosecuted the group of Extinction Rebellion protestors who caused over £100,000 of damage to Barclays in Canary Wharf. Some of the defendants dispensed with their legal representatives the week before the trial. All seven defendants were convicted by the jury.
R v AT
Represented the Respondent in the Court of Appeal on an appeal against sentence, against an Appellant represented by Queen’s Counsel. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence of 5 years with a 3 year extended licence for a “chilling” stabbing that caused grave injuries to a teenager committed by a 14 year old who had a fascination with knives.
R v Qadeer
Prosecuted to conviction a carjacker who used a hammer to rob a lone female in a car park at night. Issue in the case was identification and scientific evidence. Successfully rebutted Defence arguments on DNA contact transfer.
R v Moscrop
Defended a driver who injured his friend whilst driving on the M4 near Reading. Was able to show the friend’s description of dangerous driving was from a point well before the accident and that there had been no concerns in the half an hour before the crash. Acquitted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
R v G
Defended a 16 year old accused of rape. The case involved careful challenge of a number of young prosecution witnesses. Defendant acquitted through contrasting the accounts of the witnesses with CCTV, and each other.
R (Lancaster City Council) v B. Davies & Sons [2019] EWCA Crim 1624
Prosecuted a food processing company for taking pet-food-grade meat and relabelling it as fit for human consumption. The company pleaded guilty after losing a legal argument before the trial judge.
The company challenged their sentence in the Court of Appeal, where James continued to represent the local authority. The sentence was upheld, with their Lordships expressing their thanks for his assistance.
R (Lancaster City Council) v Ellison
Prosecuted what The Times referred to as the only breach of Smoke Control Zones rules in the preceding five years (as at 2016). Secured conviction by demonstrating in cross-examination that the defence “expert” was in fact a friend of the defendant.
Re: Hennessey’s, Torbay Council
Represented Devon and Cornwall Police in their successful application to review and revoke the licence of a premises in Torquay. It had been a problem venue for some time, but continued to trade during the pandemic and flouted the Tier rules which were in place in 2020.
Re: C
Represented the licensee in their successful application to extend the licensed hours of a premises in a small coastal village in Devon. Overcame the objections of the neighbours by critically analysing their evidence and revealing they too held a licence so stood to gain from a refusal.
Re: D
Represented the family of a deceased patient who had mistakenly had a Do Not Resuscitate notice left on their bed. Persuaded the Coroner to issue a Report to Prevent Future Deaths, over objection by the NHS Trust involved.
R v L
Defended a Corporal in the RMP who had allegedly assaulted a colleague, putting his head through a first aid box in the service police station. Established self defence: acquitted by the Board and the client was able to return to his unit.
R v S
Defended a Marine who was involved in supervising a high-profile “joining run”. New joiners at 45 Commando were put through an initiation ceremony which included being forced to eat dog food. The case was reported in the national press at the time.
Further information
Appointments & Memberships
CPS General Crime Grade 3
CPS Specialist Fraud Grade 2
Regulatory Crime List C (Environment Agency, HSE, CQC, ORR, ONR)
Serious Crime Panel Grade 2
James has gained extensive experience of the disclosure regime through his work supporting high profile investigations. He applies this knowledge in all of his cases. It is particularly valuable when advising on local authority and private prosecutions, but also when defending to ensure the police and prosecutor reveal all material which will help a defendant’s cause.