Hugh was called to the Bar in 1998 and has practised almost exclusively in Criminal Law. He has extensive experience of all areas of crime having worked as a barrister firstly at Chambers led by Lord Campbell of Alloway and subsequently at Chambers led by Lord Thomas of Gresford. Over the years he has built up an impressive defence practice with notable success, and now specialises in serious crime covering all areas, including murder, manslaughter, serious assaults, robbery, sexual assaults, drug importation, kidnapping, money laundering and serious fraud, including confiscation hearings. As well as conducting cases alone, he has acted as Leading Junior Counsel in cases involving passport, credit card and cheque fraud and he has been Junior Counsel in cases involving murder, child pornography and armed robbery. He is also experienced in private motoring cases.
He is currently instructed as Junior Counsel led by Oliver Blunt QC in a manslaughter / burglary allegation which is a test case involving the admissibility of minute quantities of DNA.
Recent Crown Court cases of note include:
R -v- Y [2011] Defendant accused of sexual assault on children. Under cross-examination the complainants were shown to be lying. The Defendant was acquitted on all counts.
R v H [2011] Defendant acquitted of charges of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply and money laundering after the judge found insufficient evidence at the end of the prosecution case.
R v W [2010] Two counts of arson with intent to endanger life. The Crown alleged that the defendant was a hit man who had twice targeted and set fire to the same property while the occupants were inside. Acquitted after trial.
R v S&P [2010] Death by dangerous driving involving two separate drivers in the same incident.
R v C [2010] Youth charged with attempted murder. After much negotiation the Crown accepted a plea to the lesser offence of GBH.
Hugh also has built up an impressive track record in the Court of Appeal and Divisional Court:
R v Mafe [2009] EWCA Crim 2752
R v Thomas [2009] EWCA Crim 107
R v Rusu [2008] EWCA Crim 2661
R v Olajide [2008] EWCA Crim 1655
R v Araoye [2007] EWCA Crim 1922
R v Shepherd [2006] EWCA Crim 2089. All Successful appeals against sentence.
DPP v Bow St Mags [2007] 1 Cr.App.R.18 Landmark case dealing with the implementation of the Identity Cards Act 2006.
B v Barking Y.C. [2006] EWHC 2121
DPP v SJ [2002] EWHC 291 (admin) Guideline cases dealing with robbery and grave crimes
R v Ford [2006] EWCA Crim 1555
R v Robinson [2005] EWCA Crim 3613 Successful appeals against conviction.
Education and Qualifications:
Kings College London: BA (Hons) French.
City University and Inns of Court School of Law
Professional Memberships:
Criminal Bar Association Middle Temple
He is fluent in French
