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Recent Cases and News

Special Reasons not to impose penalty points

Lack of formal notification by the DVLA of the date of revocation of a "new driver" driving licence was sufficient to establish special reasons not to impose penalty points. Our client, who was a "new driver" had incurred six...

Will Paynter and Catherine Mescall secure acquittal in £22m drug importation trial

Will Paynter and Catherine Mescall secure acquittal in 285kg – £22m importation of cocaine trial This prosecution resulted from a significant cross-border National Crime Agency investigation. YV was accused of being part of a plot to...

Successful Modern Slavery Act defence for an autistic youth

Our Mr Matthew Humphreys scored a notable victory in the Youth Court recently, successfully mounting a Modern Slavery Act defence for an autistic youth charged with being concerned in the supply of drugs. Introduced in 2015, section 45 of the Modern...

Four wins for the Extradition Team at Lansbury Worthington

Our team have been successful in securing the withdrawal of 4 European Arrest Warrants, and the discharge and immediate release from custody of four of our clients. Four of our clients were wanted on the European Arrest Warrants issued by the Polish...

Section 20 extradition success for Lansbury Worthington

Section 20 extradition success for Lansbury Worthington Our team have been successful in securing the discharge of a 33-year old man to Poland. He was discharged on two arrest warrants, conviction-type and accusation-type.   Background The Court...

It won't be easy this Christmas

It hasn't been easy for anyone this year but it's been noticeable that problems for some have got worse. We can't do much but this year we've tried to help a bit by making donations to four charities who deal with issues that we come across...

R v H

We have dealt with many murder cases over the years but this one was particularly unusual. Two people who knew each other well, who had partied and drank together over the years, and had fought before, fought in the privacy of their own home.  Not...

Another Extradition victory for LW - Article 3 and Assurances

On 30 October 2020, District Judge Hamilton discharged our client from a European arrest warrant issued by Romania, seeking his return to stand trial for two aggravated burglaries, carrying a maximum term of ten (10) years’ imprisonment. The...

A VICTORY FOR JUSTICE

Our team have been successful in resisting the extradition of a 40-year-old man to Poland. The EAW was accusatory in nature and sought surrender for offences concerning the allegations of fraud. On 24 September, District Judge Ezzat discharged our client, a...

COVID-19 and Settlement Agreements

During the COVID-19 pandemic we are still operating as usual and offering advice and assistance for employment issues. We are in a time where across the board businesses are in uncertainty, it is important to consider your position as an employer and/or an...

Making Representations to the DBS

Jo a health support worker had been accepted onto a University Course to train as a nurse. She had a conviction that was disclosed by her to the University before being accepted onto the course. DBS checks had been carried out at the time and the University...

Man faces extradition in case of mistaken identification

In March 2020, our client was discharged from a European arrest warrant issued by Germany, seeking his return for online fraud offences amounting to EUR 100,000. We submitted on our client’s behalf that it was in the interests of justice for the...

Article 8 extradition success for Lansbury Worthington

Our team have been successful in securing the discharge of a 73-year old woman to Poland. She was discharged under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.   Right to private and family life Article 8 provides that everyone has a right...

Wife's interests lead to rejection of Czech extradition request

Wife’s interests lead to rejection of Czech extradition request for £175,000 fraud On 21 February 2020, DJ Radway discharged our client from a European arrest warrant seeking his return for 24 instances of fraud or attempted fraud in the Czech...

Local Authority Prosecutions

The local authority has the power to prosecute in respect of a number of types of crime. This could be certain types of benefit fraud, fly-tipping, fraudulent use of a blue badge, health and safety offences, noise nuisance, irregular school attendance,...

Will Coronavirus Be a 'Get out of Jail' Card?

Before a prosecution is commenced, the Crown Prosecution Service must apply two distinct tests. The first is whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction; If not, the case does not proceed further. If there is sufficient...

Expert Evidence

Expert evidence is used to provide information to the court, which is likely to be outside of the knowledge of the magistrates, judge or jury. Opinion evidence can be given if the expert is qualified to provide such an opinion. Duty of an expert witness ...

Entry Visa for Medical Visitor

Obtaining a medical visa for an elderly migrant can be difficult. Without thorough representations it can seem as if the person may wish to stay in the UK after the medical facilities, and never return home. Our client needed to visit the UK...

Unlawful advertising - prosecution avoided

Are you having trouble marketing your business? From A-boards to shop-fronts and Hoardings, failing to comply with Planning Laws on advertising could end in a prosecution and a criminal record. It is best to have a dialogue with the local authority but...

Born outside the UK to Unmarried Parents

If you wish to apply for British citizenship, were born between the period of January 1983 and June 2006, to at least one British parent and your parents are not married, your potential route to British citizenship will differ to the normal application...

Criminal Law in 2020 - What Can We Expect

In legislative terms 2019 was a pretty quiet year with parliament being so heavily occupied with Brexit, there was little time for anything else. 2020 promises to be somewhat different, the government has a substantial parliamentary majority, and being...

Divided Loyalty Can Exact a High Price

A strange case at the Old Bailey resulted in a Metropolitan Police Officer, Robyn Williams, being sentenced to a community order with 200 hours of unpaid work, concerning the possession of an indecent video of a child. On the face of it, the sentence...

Extradition victory for Lansbury Worthington Solicitors - The paramount importance of a child's best interests

Our team have been successful in resisting the extradition of a 53-year-old man to Hungary. The EAW was accusatory in nature and sought surrender for offences concerning the allegations of fraud (approximately £85,000). Children’s right to...

Computer hacking

Hacking has been in the news a great deal in the last couple of years, for example, the 2016 US Presidential Elections, the extradition case of Lauri Love and the hacking of user accounts of various large companies in order to steal personal information. At...

Happy Birthday to the Human Rights Act

The Human Rights Act is 20 years old this year. Its name is often used in vain, “it’s against my human rights!” or blamed for something that probably isn’t to do with the Act at all. The Act sets out the fundamental rights and...

Stop and Search

The power of the police to stop and search is currently in the media due to the rise in murders and serious crimes of violence involving the use of knives, particularly in London. A particular area of concern is the disproportionate use of search powers in...

The "Gangs Matrix"

Earlier this year the Metropolitan Police was in the spotlight over their use of a ‘gang matrix’, and now they are back in the news again. What is the matrix? It is a list set up after the London riots in 2011, holding information on...

Fly-tipping - ensuring all polluters pay

We all know that fly-tipping is an offence, but did you know you commit an offence if you pass waste to someone who isn’t licensed? What do you mean by ‘waste’? This article is referring to household waste, for example, excess rubbish...

Acid Attacks - New Laws in Force

After a recent spate of assaults involving the use of acids and other corrosive substances, the government has acted to try and curb their use. At the present time around 15 offences per week involve the use of acid and other like substances. In January...

What Next for Coronation Street's Sally?

In a dramatic climax the jury returned guilty verdicts in the case of R v Sally Metcalfe, the hapless Coronation Street Councillor caught up in fraud, money laundering and bribery. As viewers will know, poor Sally appears to be a victim of Duncan's...

Price and Service Transparency

As of 6 December 2018, law firms are required to publish information about certain price, service and regulatory matters.   Who needs to publish information? An authorised firm or a sole practitioner must publish cost information on its website (or...

"Alexa" - Witness for the Prosecution?

On 29th January 2017, Christine Sullivan and her housemate were found murdered in Farmington, New Hampshire. Their bodies were discovered by the house owner, Dean Smoronk, who was Sullivan’s boyfriend. Timothy Verrill, an associate of Smornok, was...

Can I get a suspended prison sentence?

A suspended sentence is a term of imprisonment that is suspended so that you do not go into custody immediately and will not go into custody if you comply with the conditions attached. Who can get a suspended sentence? In the Magistrates’ Court,...

Restorative Justice

What is it? Restorative Justice, or RJ as it is sometimes known, is a way of holding offenders to account and can be used as an alternative to a caution or conviction, or alongside a sentence.   What happens? RJ gives a victim the opportunity to...

Offences Related to State Benefits

There are two main offences that are prosecuted in relation to benefit fraud, one involves dishonesty, the other does not. The dishonesty offence It is an offence to dishonestly make a representation in order to obtain benefit, and this includes a...

Acid Attacks - New Laws in Force

After a recent spate of assaults involving the use of acids and other corrosive substances, the government has acted to try and curb their use. At the present time around 15 offences per week involve the use of acid and other like substances. In January...

Grievous bodily harm/wounding

In legal shorthand we often refer to section 18 or 20 offences, these refer to specific offences under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. What is the difference between section 18 and section 20? The most serious form of assault (short of attempt...

Forced Marriage

Coercing someone into marrying another for some financial or societal benefit is illegal. In April of this year, three young women in Sheffield became subject to Forced Marriage Protection Orders. This case highlights the how embedded this type of offending...

Publishing, or having for publication for gain, an obscene article

Prosecuting those who publish obscene articles (an offence under section 2 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959) is hardly prudish, despite what certain commentators would argue. The maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment will frequently be...

Can I get a reduced sentence by helping the police?

You may have heard about ‘texts’ or a ‘Brown envelope to the Judge’, some of the names for the old system. If you helped the police a ‘text’ may be handed to the sentencing judge explaining that you had assisted and a...

Matthew Humphries Defends Glasgow Woman On Drugs Charges Before The Old Bailey In London

Matthew Humphries, a solicitor with higher rights of audience based at our Hammersmith office, has defended a Glaswegian woman accused of possessing Class A drugs with the intention to deal (supply). This was a difficult case, but Matthew skilfully and...

Solicitor - A Brand That You Can Trust

A solicitor is there to help advise you on the law, to guide you through difficult times, explain, advise and represent you. But who tells us what to do and ensures that you receive a proper service? The Solicitors Regulation Authority The SRA regulate...

Richard Gowthorpe has Won a Battle at Hastings Magistrates' Court

Richard Gowthorpe has secured an impressive not guilty verdict for a client charged with threatening a neighbour with knife violence. The alleged offence occurred following England's 2-1 defeat to Croatia during the World Cup in the summer....

Companies and Bribery

Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010 makes it an offence for a company to bribe another with the intent of obtaining or retaining business or to gain an advantage in business. The first conviction after trial for an offence under this section was that of...

Private Probation Providers Fail Offenders and Society

A few years ago, the National Probation Service was split into two. The existing service maintained its supervision of high-risk offenders, mainly those serving lengthy sentences or with complex rehabilitation needs, the remaining offenders, by far the vast...

Is being sexist or misogynist a crime?

The answer is sometimes, but not always. Two years ago, Nottinghamshire Police decided to label misogyny and offences targeting women as hate crime or hate incidents. Two local universities recently undertook a report entitled “The Misogyny Hate Crime...

Assaults on Emergency Workers

Is there a specific offence? Until now the only specific offence has been that of assaulting a police officer. This is a summary only offence which carries a maximum of 6 months imprisonment. There has always been an option to charge an offender with...

The cannibal drug that makes you smell of vinegar and prawns

What are you talking about? Monkey dust is a synthetic drug, a type of new psychoactive substance. It is similar to other cathinone drugs such as MDPV, methylone and magic crystals. In the USA it is known as “Zombie Dust” or Cannibal...

Can My Acquittal Be Disclosed On An Enhanced DBS Check?

An ordinary DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check reveals convictions and cautions. An enhanced check, required for many jobs, may reveal information held by the police such as intelligence, arrests, prosecutions and acquittals.   Surely an...

Police Powers to Test Driver's Eye Sight At The Roadside

There has been much ado in the press about police forces undertaking random checks on motorists and revoking licences at the roadside. So, what are their powers?   Can the police stop me? Under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 a police...

Supplying drugs or possessing with intent to supply

These are the more serious offences relating to drugs that can lead to lengthy custodial sentences.   What drugs are illegal to supply? It is an offence to supply a controlled drug. This includes the ones that immediately spring to mind such as...

What to expect as a witness in criminal proceedings

If you have provided a statement for the prosecution or for the defence you may be called to court to give evidence at the defendant’s trial.   Is there help available for me? The Witness Service can provide assistance for any witness who has...

Racially aggravated offences

In recent years legislation has been enacted to ensure that crimes demonstrating a hostility towards certain groups of people are treated more seriously than before. If an offence is said to be racially aggravated, then you should expect a heftier sentence....

Why was Ben Stokes found not guilty?

Who is Ben Stokes? He is the England cricketer who was charged with affray and acquitted by a jury.   But the video showed him hitting someone? It did, his defence was that he was acting in self-defence, you can hit someone and still be not...

Will I be granted bail?

This article refers to adults, the law for youths is different.   Do I have a right to bail? The starting point is that you have a “right” to be granted bail. This right can only be taken away in certain circumstances. These...

Entrapment

Agent provocateur is French for “inciting agent”, an entrapment situation where a person is enticed, incited or encouraged into committing an offence that he would not have otherwise committed.   How does it relate to criminal law? The...

Manslaughter - New Sentencing Guideline

The Sentencing Council, responsible for setting sentencing guidelines in England and Wales, has today issued a new guideline in relation to manslaughter offences.   Which offences are covered? The guideline covers: •   ...

Targeting Drink Drivers

The government has announced its intention to use new roadside breathalysers, in a move that could see a further 6,000 convictions per year for drink driving. At the moment, the breath test procedure is in 2 stages, a person who tests positive at the...

Cliff Richard, Privacy and the Data Protection Act

In July 2014 the BBC filmed a search of Sir Cliff Richard’s property by the South Yorkshire Police. He was not arrested for any offence. South Yorkshire Police provided the BBC with information that enabled them to be present at the scene. The...

When Consent Becomes An Issue

It should be easy enough, shouldn’t it? Yes or no? As always, life and the law are more complicated than that, and the issue of consent is not so simple.   What is consent? A person consents if she or he agrees by choice and has the freedom...

An Explosive Article

Rather than Guy Fawkes or his modern-day counterparts many of the recent cases involving explosives have been in relation to thefts from cash machines. The law is old but still very relevant today; it may not be appreciated that a separate, more serious...

Fire Starter

Arson is a confusing area of the law as there are a number of different offences to consider. What are the different offences? 1.    Simple arson 2.    Arson, being reckless as to whether life is endangered ...

Participating in Organised Crime

Section 45 of the Serious Crime Act 2015 makes it is an offence to participate in the activities of an organised crime group, this is a new offence created by the 2015 legislation. Why a new offence? The offence was created to work alongside the offence...

Weapons - Government to Get Tough

The government has published an Offensive Weapons Bill, which is designed to signal a more stringent approach to the possession of weapons and liquids that can be used to cause harm, such as corrosive substances. The Bill forms part of the...

"I'm Going To Kill You"

How many times have you said something similar? Is it an offence? If you make such a threat, intending that another would fear it would be carried out, you commit an offence of making threats to kill. The offence is under section 16 of the Offences...

Minimum Sentences

For certain offences, there are minimum terms of imprisonment that a court must impose, absent exceptional circumstances (or it being unjust), these sentences can be automatically imposed even for a first-time offender, or dependent on certain previous...

Getting Tough on Breach of Court Orders

Today (7 June 2018), the Sentencing Council has published new guidelines for judges and magistrates for when they are sentencing offenders who have breached court orders. The guidelines provide a clear approach which will mean a tightening up of the way...

Environment Agency Prosecutions And The Penalties For A Breach

Although some breaches of environmental law amount to criminal offences, not all do. There are a wide range of potential penalties that are quite different to those usually faced for standard criminal offences. Even where a criminal offence has been...

The Defence Of Duress - When You Had No Choice

There is a defence in law known as necessity or duress of circumstances. It can be very difficult to demonstrate and will only apply in unusual and extreme circumstances. It is used to describe a situation where someone is forced by the demands of the...

Getting Tough on Public Disorder

The Sentencing Council, which is the body responsible for setting sentencing guidelines in England and Wales, has today published proposed new guidelines with respect to public order offences. What offences are covered? The guidelines will...

Disabled Woman's Extradition To Poland Refused: Oppressive And Unjust

A wheelchair-bound woman represented by the Extradition Team at Lansbury Worthington successfully resisted her extradition to Poland, with the Westminster Magistrates’ Court’s finding that it would be oppressive, unjust and disproportionate...

Dowry Law 'Blackmail' Extradition Request Rejected: No Dual Criminality

A request by the Indian Government for the extradition of a man, represented by the Lansbury Worthington's Extradition Team led by Giovanna Fiorention , for an alleged offence of blackmail has been rejected. The conduct related to alleged dowry law...

Driving Offence - Do I Need To Say Who Was Driving?

It may be an offence to fail to provide information as the identity of a driver when you receive a written request to do so from (or on behalf of) the police. If convicted, you face a hefty fine and 6 penalty points.   How long do they have to make...

The Parole Board - A Period of Rapid Change

Following the Parole Board decision to release John Worboys, the taxi driver rapist, there has been a review of its functions, in particular a review of Rule 25 of the Parole Board Rules 2016 that prevented the Parole Board disclosing any information...

I'm Going to Court - Will My Name Appear in Newspapers?

If you are over 17 years of age, the easiest answer is that it could. These days, press reporting via social media can happen very quickly and it is often one of the things not thought about by those facing criminal proceedings. Youth Court Anyone aged...

When a fine is imposed in the Crown Court

In the crown court, while a fine is not the most common punishment meted out, when they are imposed they tend to be very large.   Do I have to pay the fine all at once? Sometimes a court will order full payment (and may give a period of time for...

Disqualification as a Director and Criminal Sentencing

When clients turn their mind to what punishment they might receive if they plead guilty to, or are convicted of, a criminal offence, in most cases the thought is whether it might be a prison sentence, a community penalty, or a hefty fine. While the...

Ant McPartlin's Sentence And What We Can Learn For Drink Drive cases

A lot has been written in recent days about the sentence passed following Ant McPartlin's (of 'And and Dec' fame) conviction for drink driving, in this article, we examine the case in a little more detail.   What offence was he charged...

The 'Right to Be Forgotten' and Erasing a Criminal History

The High Court has given judgment in the first of what are referred to as 'right to be forgotten' cases. Two applicants referred to in the judgment as NT1 and NT2 had been convicted in the past of a criminal offence. In both cases, the convictions...

Will The Barrister Strike Affect My Case?

You may have read in the press that barristers are on strike, it is inevitable therefore that you may be concerned as to how this will affect your case.   Why are barristers on strike? It is more or less agreed across the board now that the...

Do I Need a QC?

We are often asked questions about QCs, most probably because the image of leading barristers has been epitomised over the years in leading television dramas such as Silk and Kavanagh QC, it is therefore not surprising that you may want to discover more and...

When Driving Becomes Dangerous

There is a specific offence of dangerous driving, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 2 years. If that driving is a cause of someone's death, the maximum sentence rises to one of 14 years. In each case there are minimum disqualification periods,...

Tougher Sentences for Persons Convicted of Terrorism Offences

The Sentencing Council has today published new guidelines that courts must have regard to when sentencing for a range of terrorism offences.   Who will be affected by the new guidelines? The guidelines apply to all offenders over the age of 18 and...

New Sentencing Guidelines for Arson and Criminal Damage Proposed

The Sentencing Council has today (27 March 2017) published proposed new guidelines covering arson and criminal damage offences. The guidelines, for courts in England and Wales, will help ensure consistent and proportionate sentencing for these offences. ...

The Disclosure & Barring Service

The DBS is a government organisation responsible for the reporting of convictions and other information to employers and other relevant organisations.   What Data is Held? The DBS holds three classes of information: Class 1: Information from the...

Throwing articles into prisons

It can be a temptation to family members, and to others perhaps for financial gain, to seek to convey articles into prisons. The chance of being detected is high and possibly for that reason many who might otherwise be tempted to do so, resist. Section 40CB...

Searching For Answers

In Entick v Carrington (1765), a case concerning the entry to and searching of premises, the court ruled: “…if this is law it would be found in our books, but no such law ever existed in this country; our law holds the property of every man so...

New Domestic Abuse Protections Announced

In a major announcement, the government has signalled a busy year ahead with legislative changes affecting the criminal law. Following on from the recent announcement about the sentencing of domestic abuse offences, the government has announced further...

Shaken Baby Syndrome

The unlawful death of a child is always a deeply traumatic act and one that shakes any society to its core. For some parents, it represents not only a deeply personal and tragic loss but the beginning of a nightmare. The reality in most murder and...

Compensation for Victims of Crime

On 21 February 2018 the Supreme Court made a landmark decision in the case of John Worboys by handing down a judgment that the police had breached two womens' human rights by failing to properly investigate their allegations of rape. The judgment will...

Hillsborough Prosecutions

A former senior police officer, David Duckenfield, who was in charge on the day of the Hillsborough disaster, will this week find out whether prosecution proceedings against him can continue. Prosecutions against others allegedly involved in the...

New 'Domestic Abuse' Sentencing Guidelines

A new domestic abuse sentencing guideline has been published today (22 February), giving courts up to date guidance that emphasises the seriousness of this offending.   What is domestic abuse? There is no specific crime of domestic abuse - it can...

Criminal Convictions from Abroad

What Happens in Rome, May Not Stay in Rome Most people know that if you commit a criminal offence in the UK, the police will record details of that offence and any subsequent sentence so that it is revealed during any future PNC (Police National Computer)...

Government Snooping Ruled Unlawful

In a legal challenge brought by the MP Tom Watson, and supported by campaign group Liberty, the High Court ruled that a major plank of the government's surveillance strategy is unlawful (Secretary of State for the Home Department v Watson MP & Ors...

Doctors in the Dock

Many in the medical profession are up in arms following a recent High Court case involving Dr Bawa-Garba (General Medical Council v Bawa-Garba [2018] EWHC 76 (Admin). The case followed on from proceedings before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal which had...

Foreign Convictions and their Impact in the UK

Most people know that if you commit a criminal offence in the UK, the police will record details of that offence and any subsequent sentence so that it is revealed during any future PNC (Police National Computer) check.   But what about offending...

Unexplained Wealth Orders

On 31st January 2018, regulations bring into force sections of The Criminal Finances Act 2017 dealing with unexplained wealth orders (UWOs), along with various other related provisions.  The purpose of this new order is to allow for certain people who...

Revenge Porn Can Be an Expensive Business

"Revenge porn", the criminal act of posting online intimate sexual pictures/video of a person without their consent, carries a potential prison sentence of up to 2 years, so already there is every reason to think twice before exacting this type of...

The "Right to be Forgotten" in the modern age

Redemption has always been an important part of our justice system; you do the crime, you do time. Once your debt is paid, you should then be free to start again, without forever being haunted by ghosts of the past. We all recognise that there must be...

Pregnant mother of two spared extradition to Poland

Sir Ross Cranston has refused to uphold an order to extradite a pregnant single-mother of two young children to serve a 14-month prison sentence for low-level offences, committed over a decade ago. Represented by Kamila Kwincinska, the appellant challenged...

A Matter of Character

In criminal law, we talk a lot about character, but mainly in the context of 'bad character', or previous convictions that the prosecution will try to put before a jury to persuade them of the defendant's guilt. After all, if he's done it...

The Prosecutor in Your Pocket

We are all aware that we live in a surveillance society. CCTV cameras can record our movements around large towns and cities, and many homes now have them installed for protection. Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras take a snapshot of car number...

When People Talk Bitcoin, It's Time to Ask Questions

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are never far from the news, mainly when the value is rising considerably. This week the price of a single bitcoin rose to a little over £10,000. It is an odd 'currency', as it is not backed by any...

Is it Lawful to Hit a Child?

Laws that criminalise unlawful violence date back to 1861 and are used every day in criminal courts to support prosecutions. Despite what might appear to be an obvious legal position, the question is often asked as to whether, despite those laws, it is...

Defending Landlords as strict new laws are passed

Landlords to Face Additional Punishment The government has announced that it intends to bring into force a number of provisions contained in the Housing and Planning Act 2016. From 6 April 2018 the Act will allow local authorities to apply for a banning...

Disclosure - The Hidden Truth

When the Director of Public Prosecutions writes to a national newspaper and apologises for a prosecution failure in an individual case, you know that something significant went wrong. Before exploring that however, it might be thought a great pity that she...

The importance of legal advice at an early stage

Recreational Drug Use - The Hidden Costs As Christmas approaches and we begin to let our hair down a little and enjoy the festivities, some people are enticed into the world of so-called 'recreational drugs'. There are a great many substances...

Terrorism - A Case of Smoke Without Fire?

Newspapers this week reported the following story: 'The number of people arrested over terrorism-related offences in Britain has risen by 54% to 400 in one of the most intense periods for attacks in recent history. The Home Office said the increase in...

Extradition Proceedings

Extradition - An Introduction Extradition is the formal process where one country asks another to return a person to stand trial or to serve a sentence. Under multilateral conventions and bilateral extradition treaties, the UK has extradition relations...

The Jury - At The Heart Of Criminal Justice

Jury Trial - How Your Fate is Decided We talk a lot in this Country about the benefits of a jury trial, how leaving the decision in the hands of 12 people chosen at random, is the fairest way of securing justice, but how does a jury decide?   ...

Knife Crime Statistics and the Shocking Truth

Beyond the Blade: we finally know how many youths are killed by knives. Until now, we had no idea who the victims of knife crime in the UK actually were. Sadly, the facts make for very grim reading. Follow the link below for The Guardian analysis of...

Experience when defending financial crime is critical

Follow The Money ... 'Follow the money' is a rather clichéd line from the film 'All The President's Men' which charted the scandal that engulfed President Nixon in the 1970s. But even today, the money trail is very much the...

Lansbury Worthington challenge the lawfulness of Domestic Violence Protection Notices and Orders

Lansbury Worthington has recently brought a challenge to these Notices and Orders before the High Court. While the legislative framework remains unchanged, we at Lansbury Worthington nevertheless remain committed to ensuring these orders are only ever...

Drunk on an Aircraft

Being drunk on an aircraft will not be tolerated and will be met with an immediate custodial sentence, even for those of previous good character and with no previous convictions, the Court of Appeal has recently ruled. Being drunk on an aircraft is an...

Driving after Christmas Drinks

As we put Halloween and Bonfire Night behind us, easing into those dark wintry nights, it isn't long before Christmas is in our sights and party season gets underway. As night follows day, this time also coincides with a national police initiative...

Forensic Testing Scandal - Is Your Conviction Safe?

New details have emerged about forensic testing deficiencies at two of the country's leading laboratories. Police are currently investigating the circumstances, and a number of people have been arrested. Randox Testing Services (RTS) and Trimega...

Hotel Boss Spared Jail for Breach of Fire Safety Regulations

Lansbury Worthington's Crown Court Team have helped avoid an immediate custodial sentence for a hotel boss who has admitted breaching fire safety regulations. The case was made all the more difficult in light of the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in...

Lansbury Worthington helps put wind in the Law Society's sails

Ben Holden has joined a team from the Law Society Yacht Club to help secure 2nd place in a sailing regatta against the Bar Yacht Club, Lloyds Yacht Club and Seaview Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight. The event took place in the classic one design Seaview...

Court of Appeal Rules DBS Filtering Regime Unlawful

Court of Appeal ruling - Government loses appeal against Disclosure & Barring Service filtering regime. The Court of Appeal has rejected the Government’s appeal to a decision of the High Court in January last year, which ruled that the criminal...

Not Guilty Verdict in a six handed Attempted Murder trial

Catherine Mescall and Richard Gowthorpe have successfully secured a not guilty verdict for a Lansbury Worthington client during a six week trial before Isleworth Crown Court. Our client along with his five co-defendants faced charges of Attempted Murder,...

Not Guilty Verdict in Serious & Complex Fraud

Our Solicitor Becky Gay and Barrister William Paynter worked together to successfully secure a Not Guilty verdict for Mr M at Blackfriars Crown Court. He was accused of a complex and serious conspiracy charge relating to the fraudulent evasion of £1.3...

Rehabilitation of offenders and the problems a conviction can cause

The BBC has reported on a case in Tower Hamlets where a man convicted of manslaughter when he was 15 years old is facing criticism for his employment at a school over 15 years later. BBC News Story This case helps to highlight the difficulties...

Not Guilty in National Insurance Fraud Trial

Richard Gowthorpe has successfully defended a client charged with fraudulently obtaining two separate National Insurance Numbers with the intention of dishonestly obtaining benefit allowance. The client, who appeared before Hammersmith Magistrates'...

Not Guilty of Manslaughter before the Old Bailey

Giovanna Fiorentino successfully advised and represented Mr R, a 32 year old door supervisor charged, along with two others, with gross-negligence manslaughter. After a year of extensive police investigation into the death of a customer at the popular...

Extradition Successes before the High Court

The Extradition Team at Lansbury Worthington continues to have a number of high profile and precedent setting cases before the High Court. Recent examples include the following: Wawrzyczek v Poland High Court quashes district judge’s order for...

Lansbury Worthington Awarded Legal Aid Crime Contracts in Central and West London

Lansbury Worthington is one of only a handful of firms to be awarded five separate criminal legal aid contracts to provide advice, assistance and representation to clients in the Central & West London areas. This means that Lansbury...

Sucessful Bomb Hoax Sentencing

Ben Holden has managed to secure an exceedingly lenient sentence for a client who was accused of making a Bomb Hoax in King Street in Hammersmith. The client, who was a vulnerable person, had made the bomb hoax after failing to take his medication for...

Burglary Acquittal at Isleworth Crown Court

A client accused of residential burglary has been found not guilty before Isleworth Crown Court. The client, who was represented by William Paynter, was due to stand trial for a serious residential burglary, which if convicted would have been almost certain...

Client Acquitted of Racially Aggravated Public Order and Having an Offensive Weapon

Julie Stanhope has successfully represented a client charged with possessing an offensive weapon and racially aggravated public order offences before the City of London Magistrates’ Court. The client, who had no previous convictions, faced the...

Not Guilty of Rape & Child Cruelty at Harrow Crown Court

A client who faced two serious allegations of rape and child cruelty has been found not guilty before Harrow Crown Court. From the outset, Mr S strenuously denied these allegations which the prosecution alleged had been committed against a family...

May 2015

Lansbury Worthington have achieved a number of notable successes in May and below are a sample of some of those the successes. R v A This client was accused of male rape and was on trial before Woolwich Crown Court. The case has been prepared for...

Extradition update - Red Notice Alerts

Lansbury Worthington's Extradition Team are now able to offer advice, assistance and representation for anyone subject to a “Red Notice Alert” issued by Interpol. A “Red Notice Alert” is a notice issued by Interpol at...

Avoiding conviction

Throughout April Lansbury Worthington continued to have success in avoiding prosecution where the effects of a conviction would have been extremely damaging. R v S Mr S had been summoned to appear before Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court for an offence...

R v R - A Unanimous Acquittal in Just 10 Minutes

A Lansbury Worthington client has been unanimously acquitted in less than 10 minutes of jury deliberation of causing over £50,000 worth of criminal damage to protected trees and shrubs belonging Fulham Palace Gardens. This case involved Mr R, a client...

Sucessful Defence in the Cressida Dick Fraud

Lansbury Worthington has successfully defended the man who tried to defraud Cressida Dick, the most senior woman in the Metropolitan Police Force, of over £200,000. The conspiracy involved the theft of bank details of high net worth...

March Results

March was another successful month for clients of Lansbury Worthington. Below are a couple of examples of some excellent results secured by members of our experienced crime team. R v H William Paynter has represented a client of Lansbury Worthington who,...

Charges Dropped in Firearms Prosecution

A client of Lansbury Worthington has appeared before Isleworth Crown Court for a Plea & Case Management Hearing in a serious matter concerning threats to kill and firearms offences. However, Naomi Alcendor, the client’s higher court advocate, had...

Two Defendants Both Found Not Guilty

Lansbury Worthington has secured a double acquittal in the same proceedings. Two co-defendants, both represented by Lansbury Worthington, have been found not guilty of racially aggravated assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The clients, who were...

February Results

February has seen lots of successful results for many of our clients. These have included the following: PV – Mr V was summoned to appear before Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court by Transport for London (TfL) for an allegation of misusing a...

Not Guilty of GBH at Nottingham Crown Court

A client on trial for assault occasioning grievous bodily harm has been acquitted after just 45 minutes of jury deliberation before Nottingham Crown Court. Mr K was a young man celebrating at an Urban Hype event at a nightclub in Nottingham. Over 2,000...

A Snapshot of Our Private Client Successes in January

Our Private Client and Criminal Records Team have secured a number of notable successes in January. Below is a sample of those results which shows the various ways in which Lansbury Worthington can help to protect you when faced with criminal...

A Difficult Case With A Good Result

Richard Gowthorpe has secured the acquittal of a client charged with a serious assault before the Crown Court. This was an extremely sensitive case that required delicate handling and careful preparation. The complainant was a vulnerable six year old child...

Two Not Guilty Verdicts to Welcome in the New Year

December at Lansbury Worthington is always a busy time, but we nevertheless achieved some notable successes in difficult cases to welcome in Christmas and New Year. R v SV Becky Gay has successfully ensured the acquittal of a...

Client Acquitted of Rape & Sexual Assault

A client of Lansbury Worthington has been found unanimously not guilty of a serious allegation of rape and sexual assault by a jury before Isleworth Crown Court. The client, who was represented by Ben Holden and Nick Wells from 1 Grays Inn Square, was...

Not Guilty of Sexual Assault at Blackfriars Crown Court

Naomi Alcendor and Caitriona McLaughlin have secured the unanimous acquittal of a client charged with serious sexual offending before Blackfriars Crown Court in London. The client was accused of a series of historic sexual offending against his ex-partner...

Two Not Guilty Verdicts in a Week

R v D William Paynter has successfully argued that a prosecution case against a client should be thrown out by the judge halfway through a trial before Inner London Crown Court following his submission that there was ‘no case to answer’. The...

A Great Result In The Road Traffic Court

A client convicted of a series of driving offences has received a very lenient sentence following his appearance before Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court. The client, who was represented by Ziba Akarcay, was charged with driving without a licence and...

Sucessful Cross-Examination Secures Not Guilty Verdicts

In October, solicitors from Lansbury Worthington were, on two occasions, asked by magistrates’ courts to step in and assist unrepresented defendants with the cross-examination of vulnerable and distressed witnesses. This is a power the...

Disclosure & Barring Service - September Update

September saw us achieve several successful results for clients we have been representing regarding the disclosure of criminal antecedents for employment and other purposes. Examples where we have had particular success include representations to the...

Three Not Guilty Verdicts In A Single Day

  R v K Catherine Mescall and William Paynter have successfully represented a client who acted in self-defence when he was attacked by another male wielding a knife. The client was tried before Isleworth Crown Court for an allegation that he had...

Conviction Overturned On Appeal

Caitriona McLaughlin has won an appeal against conviction for a client charged with an offence of domestic common assault after he had been found guilty by the magistrates’ court. The trial before the magistrates’ court raised serious concerns...

Not Guilty at Bromley Magistrates' Court

Nick Leamy, representing this client before Bromley Magistrates’ Court, has secured a not guilty verdict ensuring the client could leave the court without a stain on his record. The client had been arrested and later charged with the offence of...

Extradition of GS halted

The Extradition Team at Lansbury Worthington have successfully argued that a client's extradition to Poland to face an accusation warrant of fraud was disproportionate. On 27 August 2014, District Judge Snow ruled that the extradition of GS to Poland to...

Five not guilty verdicts in one day!

Lansbury Worthington secures five not guilty verdicts in five separate cases before five different courts within five hours of each other! We will provide fuller details in due course, but for the time being here is a flavour of a very successful day indeed...

Murder acquittal before the Old Bailey

Lansbury Worthington represented this client who was acquitted of murder and attempted murder before the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) in London. The client was represented in court by Bernard Richmond QC (Head of Chambers, Lamb Building) and William...

No evidence offered in two separate Crown Court cases

In two separate cases before the Crown Court Lansbury Worthington have managed to secure the acquittal of two defendants facing serious charges. R v B In this case the client faced a charge of attempted burglary before Isleworth Crown Court. Had he been...

Acquitted by Jury at Harrow Crown Court

This was a difficult case where our client, a Latvian female, was accused of committing a burglary in which jewellery and personal belongings were taken from the property of a family who employed her as a child minder. The allegation, had it been proven,...

Magistrates' Court success in July

July saw success in many cases before the magistrates’ court. Here is a sample of some of the cases where Lansbury Worthington secured victory. R v G Ben Holden represented this client at trial before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court. It was...

Proceeds of Crime - Not Guilty at Isleworth Crown Court

This client was accused of handling stolen goods and a Proceeds of Crime Act Offence under s.328 – being concerned in an arrangement which you know or suspect facilitates (by whatever means) the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal...

Client Acquitted of Violent Robbery

Richard Gowthorpe has secured a unanimous not guilty verdict for a client charged with a violent robbery offence before Kingston Crown Court. Richard successfully convinced the jury that the allegation against the client was a case of mistaken identity,...

Sucessful Appeal Against Conviction

This case was an appeal against conviction before Isleworth Crown Court for a client who had been convicted in the magistrates’ court of assaulting a police officer. The client’s defence was that he had not committed the offence because the...

Extradition Success in the High Court

In a legal first, Lansbury Worthington’s Extradition Team has successfully challenged the decision of a District Judge to impose costs in an extradition case. Following a lengthy hearing at the High Court on the 15 th May before King J, who dismissed...

Not Guilty of Rape before Southampton Crown Court

Richard Gowthorpe has secured a not guilty verdict for a client charged with a serious allegation of rape before Southampton Crown Court. This was an extremely difficult case that required significant attention to detail and careful case preparation. The...

Nick Leamy in successive victories in trials before the magistrates' court

  R v P – March 2014 Nick Leamy successfully represented a client on trial before Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court charged with joint enterprise theft and criminal damage during the Notting Hill Carnival. The allegation was that our client...

Extradition Success

The Extradition Department has secured several successful results this month when European Arrest Warrants for separate clients were discharged before Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Case 1 Mr K had been convicted of possession of class A drugs and...

Extradition success in the High Court

Giovanna Fiorentino and the Extradition Team have secured success before the High Court in London for a client facing extradition to Lithuania to serve a prison sentence of 1 year 2 months and 26 days. After an application to re-open an appeal,Mr Justice...

Client Acquitted on Appeal before the Old Bailey

Charlotte Precious secured a victory for a client who appealed a conviction before the Old Bailey in Central London. The client, who had been convicted of theft before the City of London Magistrates’ Court asked Lansbury Worthington to prepare an...

News: Changes to the Disclosure of Previous Convictions

The Government has announced significant changes to the ‘rehabilitation periods’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act which determine for how long a criminal conviction needs to be disclosed until it becomes spent. These changes will...

Road Traffic Update

Ziba Akarcay secures a successful result for a client during a ‘special reasons’ argument, and avoids the client suffering either disqualification or even points on his licence after he admits to three separate driving offences. Mr O appeared...

Not Guilty of Robbery at Southwark Crown Court

Mr B was on trial before Southwark Crown Court for Robbery and Common Assault. Had he been convicted of Robbery he would have been looking at a starting point of 4 years in prison. However, at trial he was skilfully represented by William Paynter who...

100% success rate in an undercover police operation

Over the last twelve months we have had three separate clients all accused of indecently assaulting female passengers on London’s underground. This came as the result of a police operation where undercover police officers travelled on the London...

Kingston Crown Court - Not Guilty

Naomi Alcendor secured an excellent result for the client in difficult circumstances. The client faced three charges of sexual assault against a vulnerable female. After sensitive and effective cross-examination the jury at Kingston Crown Court unanimously...

Not Guilty and "Exceptionally Well Defended"

This client was represented by Richard Gowthorpe and was charged with several counts of sexual assault, including the most serious which was alleged to have taken place over 10 years ago when he was babysitting for a family. The client was under 16 at the...