Practice Summary
Stephen has experience in prosecuting and defending in a variety of different areas and regularly appears in the Crown Court.
Defence Work
Stephen has experience in defending a number of offences and a range of defendants of different ages.
Stephen had defended cases ranging from Burglary to larger scale conspiracies involving the Supply of Class A Drugs. He has experience in defending sexual allegations including Rape and offences against children.
Clients value Stephen’s down to earth approach and practical attitude to cases. Stephen regularly deals with clients who suffer from mental health difficulties and drug addiction issues and is able to speak to them on their level.
Prosecution work
Stephen is a Grade 3 Prosecutor and a RASSO panel member. Stephen has experience in prosecuting a range of offences in the Crown Court.
He has particular experience in dealing with Young and Vulnerable witnesses. He also has extensive experience as a Disclosure Junior in complex cases.
Notable Cases
R v Parkinson [2021]
Rape, Coercive and Controlling Behaviour, Child Neglect – Stephen secured the acquittal of a man accused of various offences against his partner and children.
R v Carvath [2020]
Harassment – Stephen successfully prosecuted a man accused of Harassing a sitting Crown Court Judge over the internet.
R v Ahmed and 17 others [2019]
Conspiracy to Pervert the Course of Justice – Stephen alone dealt with a prosecution conspiracy involving 17 defendants in the Newcastle area involving “fixing” Notices of Intended Prosecution.
R v Thaxter [2016] (led by Ian Mullarkey and Dafyd Enoch QC)
Murder – prosecution where the main prosecution witness was unavailable due to illness and no body was ever found. This case was linked to the case of Buttle (see below).
R v Smith, Smith, Pierre and McFarlane [2016] (led by David Brooke and Adrian Waterman QC)
Murder, Supply of Class A Drugs – involved a gang shooting in Sheffield. The case relied heavily upon cell site evidence and covert recordings. Two defendants were convicted of Murder and one of Manslaughter. Four defendants pleaded guilty to various firearms and drug supply charges bringing down the lead organisation of an important criminal gang.
R v Buttle [2015] (led by Adrian Waterman QC and Ian Mullarkey)
Murder - Involved the killing of a man who had been missing for two years before any persons were charged. Buttle pleaded to Manslaughter shortly before trial, admitting that she was present at the killing.