Practice Profile
John Lloyd–Jones QC is a trial strategist, dedicated to the forensic analysis of evidence and passionate about the in-court examination of witnesses. He is one of the most highly experienced, in–demand specialist Criminal Barristers defending and prosecuting on the Midland and South Eastern Circuits in high profile and multi-handed cases, including fraud, murder, cybercrime, fatal accidents and conspiracy.
Testimonials
Strengths "Very good at presenting the prosecution's case and can see the wood for the trees. He is a charming jury advocate and a hard worker.""
'He's always been an extremely professional and competent advocate and has obtained incredible results for his clients over the years.' 'He is no-nonsense, works very hard and his preparation is second to none.'"
'He will fight for you and for your clients and is strong and hard-working'"
His client care is outstanding and the strength of his preparation marks him out."
Work Undertaken
- Crime including Appeals
- Cybercrime
- Disciplinary and Regulatory work
- Fraud and Business Crime
- Homicide and related Grave Offences
- Serious and Organised Crime including Terrorism
- Serious Sexual Offences
Appointments & Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Midland Circuit
- South Eastern Circuit
- BTAS Panel Chair from 2020
Notable Cases
OP Mountain (2022 Derby)
Murder. Prosecuting 4 Defendants, all armed (machete, knife, baseball bat and ASP baton), for ambushing group of males with whom they were in dispute. One man stabbed to death.
R v Ben-Zur (2021 Bristol)
Money Laundering. Prosecuting (for CPS International Justice & Organised Crime Division, Birmingham Office) extradited Defendant for historic (2010-2014) laundering of proceeds - as banker and book-keeper - of cannabis importation operations. Coded ledgers revealed transactions involving 8,500 kilos of cannabis worth £9.3m.
OP Rorschach (2021 Nottingham)
Conspiracy to commit firearms offences. Prosecuting (for East Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit) two multi-handed conspiracies (over two trials) relating to targeted, revenge shootings at addresses in rural Derbyshire and central Nottingham.
OP Haxey (2020 Nottingham)
Murder. Prosecuting 7 Defendants for their involvement in revenge machete murder of vulnerable drug addict during attempt to regain control of his flat that had been seized by rival Class A drug dealing gang.
OP Spruce (2020 Blackfriars & Inner London)
Money Laundering. Prosecuting (for West Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit) multi-handed conspiracy to export stolen cloned Range Rovers and Mercedes to Southern Africa and Far East.
R v Amari Smith (2019 Northampton)
Murder/Manslaughter. Prosecuting young Defendant for stabbing to death young victim (both armed with knives) during argument/encounter on the street.
[2021] 1 Cr.App.R.(S.) 37
R v Girn & Nath (2019 Derby)
Murder. Prosecuting two Defendants for beating to death vulnerable victim in his own flat.
R v Doherty (2019 Northampton)
Murder/Manslaughter. Prosecuting Defendant for killing drug addict victim over non-payment of debt.
R v Dodd & others (2018 Northampton)
Murder/Manslaughter. Prosecuting 7 young Defendants for their involvement in the fatal revenge stabbing of another youth during a street fight.
R v Gamble (2018 Leicester/Central Criminal Court)
Cybercrime. Instructed by CPS International Justice & Organised Crime Division, London. Prosecuting Defendant (15/16 years old at the time) for hacking (‘social engineering’) into computers and communication accounts of Director of CIA, Deputy Director of FBI, Secretary of Homeland Security and other high-ranking US government and intelligence officials. Defendant was founding member of online collective “Crackas with Attitude”. He also gained unauthorised access to US Department of Justice and law enforcement networks.
R v Alan Yeomans (2018 Derby)
Confiscation / Money Laundering. Defending. Instructed in confiscation proceedings by Sonn MacMillan Walker, London after the previous Solicitors went into administration and previous Counsel sacked. The case attracted notoriety as Defendant had disguised a substantial luxury mansion as a farm shed. Insolvency Service claimed a benefit and available amount figure of £8m. After complex proceedings, £650,000 was eventually agreed as available with no ‘hidden assets’ being pursued.
R v Johnson (2017 Leicester)
Murder. Successfully prosecuting Defendant for stabbing victim to death following an argument at a party in his house.
[2019] EWCA Crim 1025
OP Dynasty (2017 Leicester/Nottingham)
East Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit. Successfully prosecuting three Defendants for False Imprisonment, Manslaughter and Perverting the Course of Justice. Defendants had been the targets of a black money scam. The Deceased was involved in the fraud. The Defendants held him hostage while the black money ‘deal’ was completed in London. When the Defendants realised they had been tricked, they assaulted the Deceased who died as a result of mechanical asphyxiation. They then moved his body and disposed of his phone and the CCTV system from the factory. Defendants were convicted after trial and re-trial (7 weeks) before High Court Judges.
R v Weeks & Thorpe (2017 Leamington Spa)
Murder. Prosecuting two Defendants for bludgeoning to death a friend with a spanner and a hammer following a disagreement. Cut-throat defences. Both convicted after 6 week trial.
R v Wadforth (2016 Northampton)
Money Laundering. Defending (private) husband and wife (good character) accused of laundering proceeds of main Defendant’s drug trafficking by buying property in alleged ‘sham sale’. By commissioning expert examination of husband’s computer, able to prove that he had been - long prior to the offence - actively looking to legitimately buy a similar property. Persuading Crown to offer no evidence.
R v Russell (2016 Northampton)
Attempted Murder. Defending (at trial and re-trial) young autistic Defendant (Aspergers Syndrome) accused of kidnapping and attempting to murder American girlfriend. Couple had met online using false identities – she then travelled to the UK to visit the Defendant. He took her to a wood, blindfolded her and then slashed her throat. At trial, called world-renowned ASD experts including Prof. Simon Baron-Cohen.
R v Spearman (2016 Northampton)
Manslaughter. Prosecuting Defendant for ‘one-punch’ manslaughter of fellow alcoholic. Main issue was causation – Deceased had died some weeks after assault; Prosecution case based on expert evidence linking assault to death (subdural haemorrhage). Deceased’s lifestyle raised possibility that fatal haematoma caused by post-assault trauma.
R v Baljit Singh Rai & others (2016 Derby)
Prosecuting - East Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit. 7 week trial. Successfully prosecuting three family members (father and two sons) for their involvement in conspiracies to Assist Unlawful Immigration and Making Articles for use in Fraud. Case focused on the provision, through a series of family run businesses based in Derby, of illegal concreting workers to contractors working on major construction projects across the country between 2004 and 2014 (including Drax power station & Dubai Ports World, London Gateway). 65% of the workers provided had no entitlement to either work or be in the United Kingdom.
R v Goldsmith (2016 Stafford)
Murder. Prosecuting Northants Detective Constable for murdering his wife. After the killing, the Defendant had re-arranged the scene and then stabbed himself in order to convince the Police that his wife had attacked him first. 3 week trial. Convicted.
R v Butler (2016 Stafford)
Murder/Manslaughter. Prosecuting young female Defendant for stabbing to death her older, highly abusive boyfriend. After the killing, the Defendant had tampered with the evidence and stabbed herself, feigning self-defence. Complex history of domestic violence and abuse. Diminished responsibility – battered woman syndrome.
R v Jeffries (2016 Stafford)
Murder/Manslaughter. Prosecuting Defendant for beating his infirm father to death during the course of a domestic argument.
R v Moran (2015 Birmingham)
Murder. Prosecuting. In 2010 Defendant convicted after trial of s.18 and Perverting the Course of Justice. Victim suffered life-changing injuries and was transferred to a specialist care home. In 2014 he died as a direct result of the injuries that he had received in 2009. Defendant re-prosecuted successfully for Murder.
R v Riley & others (2015 Birmingham)
Drugs & money laundering. West Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit. Contemporaneous investigations by Humberside and West Mercia Police. Prosecuting 21 Defendants from three regional OCGs for their involvement in various conspiracies, including sourcing and supplying high purity cocaine (multi-kilo: Greater Manchester to Humberside; West Midlands to Humberside; and London to West Midlands); commercial cannabis cultivation at two factories (West Midlands); and money laundering. Complex hierarchy of involvement and interaction between the parties, some of whom were serving prisoners at the time.
R v Meakin (2014 Nottingham)
Murder/Manslaughter. Prosecuting Defendant for stabbing to death his girlfriend outside their flat following history of domestic abuse (verbal and physical, in private and in public) perpetrated by her against him. Deceased had armed herself with two knives, attacked and wounded the Defendant before he disarmed and then stabbed her with one of the knives.
R v Tarsoly (2014 Derby)
Murder. Prosecuting Hungarian Defendant who had planned and then carried out the premeditated murder of his wife’s lover outside the Deceased’s house in the early hours of the morning. Defendant unsuccessfully claiming ‘loss of control’.
R v Aitken, Aitken, Aitken & Doherty (2014 Leicester)
Murder. Defending Emma Aitken (aged 19 years). The Defendant, her father and her boyfriend were accused of beating to death and then burning the body of a member of the travelling community who had argued with the fourth Defendant (Defendant’s step-mother; charged with Assisting an Offender) at a Derbyshire miners’ welfare club. 7 week trial before Hon Mr Justice Haddon-Cave.
R v Cook & Shaw (2014 Lincoln)
Prosecuting (East Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit) husband and wife accused of Fraudulent Trading (multiple frauds committed in order to raise £3m) in relation to two companies (caravan & leisure park). Offending involved use of a variety of different methods to fraudulently obtain finance (e.g. disguising and re-identification of property; double selling; sham sales and misrepresentations). Substantial disclosure issues (including issuing of two Prosecution witness summonses against accountants and the instructing of Independent Counsel to assess legal professional privilege claimed). 3 day abuse of process argument (defeated). 7 week trial - first 4 weeks taken with further Defence disclosure applications; both Defendants then pleaded guilty after 3 weeks of evidence.