Tom Parker

R v M [2025] – Instructed as junior alone for the first defendant in a large, multi-handed drugs and fraud conspiracy, prosecuted by CPS Complex Casework Unit. The first defendant was alleged to have been the co-leader of an OCG in Milton Keynes sourcing wholesale quantities of cocaine and heroin from Nigerian importers based in London. The 6-week trial included undercover surveillance evidence, cell site and financial analysis.

R v VT and others (Operation Celtic) [2024] –  led junior (led by Elizabeth Muir) in the prosecution of a conspiracy to supply 64kg of high-purity cocaine, worth over £1.9 million, involving organised crime groups from Mexico, Peru, Israel and the UK. The cocaine was imported from Peru to the UK concealed inside a vintage Cadillac car. Following a trial at Luton Crown Court, all defendants were convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment totalling almost 100 years. Read the press coverage here.

R v G [2024] – instructed by East of England Complex Casework Unit in a 4-day trial of issue concerning a series of cryptocurrency frauds worth over £1.2 million. The largest of the frauds, initially investigated by the FBI, involved the defendant and another US-based individual hacking into the cryptocurrency exchange EtherDelta and stealing large sums of cryptocurrency. Read the press coverage here.

R v J [2024] – Privately instructed to defend a founder and CEO of several medical recruitment firms, accused of fraud and money laundering offences. The Crown alleged that the defendant had defrauded an investor of almost £70,000. Following detailed cross-examination of the Crown’s witnesses, the Crown reviewed the case and concluded there was no longer a reasonable prospect of conviction. The case was stopped and the defendant was acquitted.

R v H [2023] – Represented a defendant charged with supply of Class A drugs. The evidence against the defendant consisted of covert recordings by undercover officers. Tom successfully argued at the close of the Crown’s case that the video identification evidence was too weak. The case was withdrawn from the jury and the defendant acquitted.

R v T and T [2023] – Successful prosecution of two defendants for fraud by abuse of position. The defendants were alleged to have defrauded Suffolk County Council of over £200,000, money intended for the care of their disabled son. The 5-week trial involved extensive examination of banking material and social care records. At the conclusion of the trial the judge remarked that Tom’s presentation of the case had been “exemplary”. Read the press coverage here.

R v M and others (Operation Carter) [2023] – Led junior for the Prosecution (led by John Hallissey), instructed by East Midlands Complex Casework Unit. An ‘EncroChat’ case, investigated by East Midlands Special Operations Unit, concerning the multi-kilo supply of Class A supply by groups across the Midlands and North of England. The investigation produced a vast amount of evidence, with over 35 defendants named on the Indictment. Read the press coverage here.

R v DG and others (Operation Limousine) [2023] – Led junior for the Prosecution (led by Wayne Cleaver), instructed by East of England Complex Casework Unit, in a six-week, five-defendant trial, concerning the sale and transfer of 10 firearms and over 100 rounds of ammunition, in addition to the multi-kilo supply of Class A and Class B drugs. The trial included several days of detailed forensic evidence on the issue of secondary transfer of DNA, and lengthy legal arguments regarding the disclosure of police intelligence material. Subsequently instructed as junior alone in the contested POCA proceedings, which included benefit figures of over £2.5 million and hidden assets in Bangladesh. Read the press coverage here.

R v P [2023] – Led junior for the defence (led by Dean Armstrong KC), instructed on a private, direct access basis. A complex corporate blackmail case in which the Chairman and Head of Compliance on the board of a ‘green’ investment firm were accused of using the threat of whistleblowing to the Financial Conduct Authority to leverage a more advantageous severance package. The evidence involved complex issues of corporate governance, FCA regulation and company law. Tom drafted written representations on public interest, conducted disclosure arguments, and reviewed thousands of company emails to extract and compile relevant correspondence for use at trial.

R v L [2023]

Led junior for the Prosecution (led by Wayne Cleaver), instructed by East of England Complex Casework Unit, in a four-week trial involving multiple allegations of controlling/coercive behaviour and child cruelty by a mother towards her husband and children. The case included legal arguments on the issues of jurisdiction, abuse of process, bad character, and admissibility of Family Court material. Tom reviewed thousands of pages of phone downloads to extract relevant messages for use at trial.

R v M [2022]

Represented a defendant charged with dwelling burglary at Leicester Crown Court. Tom provided detailed written submissions to the Crown which highlighted evidential and legal flaws in the case, particularly with regards to the DNA evidence. The Crown consequently agreed to review the case and offered no evidence on the first day of trial.

R v G [2021] – Led junior for the defence (led by Alesdair King) in a seven-week case concerning historic sexual abuse and child rape. There were 10 complainants and over 40 counts on the Indictment. It has been described as the largest case of its type in the history of Bedfordshire Police, and was featured on Channel 4’s 24 Hours in Police Custody. Read the coverage here.

DPP v Ahmed [2021] – Tom acted for the Respondent (against treasury counsel instructed for the Appellant) in an appeal by way of case stated in which the High Court considered the meaning of “functions” of an emergency worker and, in particular, the limits of police powers. The judgment provided important guidance on the interpretation of the word “functions”, and the relevant test to be applied. The judgment can be found here.

Tom is an outstanding young barrister. He is clever without feeling the need to show his intelligence off. He is calm and performs well under pressure. He is also a thoroughly decent individual and this shines through in his engagement with others making him both persuasive and very effective. He is destined for great things.Legal 500, 2025

Tom is a talented junior. He has exceptional knowledge of financial crime and associated quasi-criminal proceedings.Legal 500 2024

Tom is an exceptional advocate and a real asset to Chambers. I cannot commend him enough for his dealings with the matter: his meticulous preparation, his engagement with the client, his manner in Court, his fluency in advocacy combining his tactical thinking and an exceptional cross examination style. His abilities far exceed his year of call, and I have no doubt that they were integral in securing the result. Solicitor at Johnson Astills

The way that Mr Parker prosecuted this case was really exemplary. Judge, at the conclusion of a 4-week fraud trial