A Top Criminal Appeals Barrister

With experience spanning over 25 years, Jim has developed a reputation for being a leading criminal appeals barrister and he is often asked to represent defendants (and advise their families) in appeals against conviction and sentence. He is often instructed to provide a second opinion after trial counsel have given a negative advice.

Invaluable in his support and assistance, and has an exceptional grasp of the cases he is involved in. His advocacy is first-rate and he has good emotional intelligence.
Chambers & Partners

Jim has appeared in some of the most significant miscarriage of justice appeals, including R v Dallagher where a conviction for murder was quashed after Jim was asked to give a “second opinion”, original counsel having advised that there were no grounds for appeal. The case featured in a BBC documentary “Earmarked” which was the first case where a television crew were allowed to film inside a prison and to follow the progress of the appeal. At the retrial Mr Dallagher was acquitted.

Jim also acted for Charles Dixon in his successful appeal against conviction (Jim did not act at trial and was instructed to give a second opinion) for drugs offences in the “Operation Cinema” case where the conviction was quashed on the basis of serious failures to disclose by HMRC investigators. Jim also acted for V in the first of the successful London City Bond appeals based on non disclosure by HMRC (the case was featured in a “Panorama” documentary). Jim also acted at the retrial where the proceedings were stayed for an abuse of the process of the Court. Jim acted in a series of successful linked appeals for a number of defendants thereafter.

Jim has advised in numerous other successful appeals, based on misdirections of law, fresh evidence (e.g. R v I, fresh evidence called on the issue of diminished responsibility after trial counsel did not raise the issue), false confession, failure to disclose the involvement of a participating informant (R v R and R v V), entrapment and nearly all conceivable grounds of appeal. Jim has a particular interest and expertise in challenges to novel “expert” evidence, such as “ear print identification”, “psychological profiling” and mental health defences. As a result of Jim’s vast experience he is regarded as one of the top appeal barristers by many fellow professionals.”

Jim has also acted in many appeals against sentence, including R v DG where a sentence for “one punch manslaughter” was reduced to 18 months imprisonment, as well as in appeals from the magistrates Court to the Crown Court.

Featured Cases

Suspended sentence for possession of stun gun

R v X (June 2016): Jim acted for a 61 year old businessman of good character who had been imprisoned for two years for possession of a stun gun. X’s original lawyers advised that there were no grounds to appeal but at the hearing of the appeal the sentence was varied to a suspended sentence [...]

Reduced sentence for conspiracy to supply class A drugs

R v J (April 2016): Jim acted for J (but not at trial) who’s application for leave to appeal had been turned down by the single Judge. Jim was instructed to give a second opinion and at the renewed application for leave to appeal the sentence (for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs) was reduced [...]

R. v. IR

Successful appeal against conviction for a young boy convicted of Terrorism Act offences who had run away from home after announcing he intended to travel abroad for Jihad.

R. v. VK

Successful appeal against conviction for false imprisonment and kidnapping that allegedly related to a dispute over a debt owed to VK by the alleged victim. Conviction quashed on the basis of fresh evidence, did not act at original trial.

R. v. KS

Conviction for causing death by dangerous driving quashed for the improper admission of inadmissible evidence and misdirection in law.

R. v. TW

Conviction for causing death by dangerous driving quashed as a result of misdirection by trial Judge.

R. v. MR

Conviction quashed and 18 year sentence for drugs importation quashed as a result of non disclosure of the involvement of a participating informant.

R. v. DD

Conviction for g.b.h quashed on the basis of non-disclosure and an erroneous direction as regards identification. Did not act at trial.

R. v. JS

Conviction for murder quashed on the basis of misdirection by the trial Judge and pressure being placed on the jury, acquitted at retrial.

R v. SL

Jim did not act at the trial. SL’s conviction for murder of her partner quashed and no evidence offered at the retrial on the basis that when analysed the evidence did not in fact disclose a case to answer, the original conviction in the case has frequently been described as a miscarriage of justice.

R v DG and other

Jim acted for a young man charged with murder and manslaughter after a brawl outside a night club where the deceased was killed as a result of a single punch to the side of the neck. Convicted of manslaughter and acquitted of murder.

R. v. V

Appeared for Defence. £60,000,000 money laundering charges arising out of L.C.B. diversion fraud. Conviction quashed as a result of the non-disclosure by HMRC of a participating informant.

R. v. Charles Dixon (Operation Cinema)

Conviction for drugs importation quashed because of non-disclosure by Customs and Excise. Jim did not act in the original trial.

R. v. Dallagher

Appeared for Appellant. The conviction was quashed on the basis of fresh evidence casting doubt on the reliability of the “ear-print” identification evidence.” Also appeared at retrial when DNA recovered from the plate of glass was proved NOT to be that of Mr Dallagher. He was acquitted and the case has featured in a series [...]