Crime
Mark has practised criminal law since being called to the Bar 27 years ago, principally defending.
As Senior Crown Advocate he prosecuted (as sole advocate or leading junior) multi-handed conspiracies (drugs, fraud, burglary) and many other serious crimes (murder, rape, historic sexual offences and people trafficking etc.).
He has defended as sole advocate in trials of the most serious offences, including terrorism at the Old Bailey, manslaughter, blackmail, kidnapping, people trafficking, conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to commit GBH.
He has been leading junior in large drugs cases and junior in several murders, as well as defending at court martials for desertion, fraud, indecent assault and driving offences.
Mark has almost 60 appearances in the Court of Appeal (sentence, conviction and renewed applications for leave, and three AG references for unduly lenient sentences, which he successfully defended).
He was junior in the House of Lords, arguing the case on racial aggravation as sole advocate in the Court of Appeal (R v Rogers).
He successfully challenged the imposition of a sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (R v Dalton).
Mark’s recent successes include;
R v CW sentence of 18 months imprisonment following guilty plea to theft reduced to 8 ½ months on appeal to the Court of Appeal
R v W door supervisor of good character acquitted of sexual assault of a guest in a night club at Bournemouth Crown Court
R v D – sentence of 5 ½ years imprisonment following guilty plea to causing death by dangerous driving referred to Court of Appeal as ‘unduly lenient’; referral denied
R v G single mother acquitted of supply of class A drugs at Winchester Crown Court
R v H – daughter acquitted of assault and burglary of her estranged mother at Bournemouth Crown Court
R v L defendant acquitted of coercive and controlling behaviour and assault on ex-partner at Winchester Crown Court
R v H defendant acquitted of witness intimidation at Winchester Crown Court
R v M defendant acquitted of inflicting grievous bodily harm at Southampton Crown Court
R v C – defendant acquitted of false imprisonment and assault on ex-partner at Southampton Crown Court
R v B – defendant who was instrumental in the arrest and prosecution of a paedophile acquitted following trial on false imprisonment and assault at Bournemouth Crown Court
R v M – Defendant acquitted of Section 18 inflicting grievous bodily harm at Portsmouth Crown Court
R v H – Defendant acquitted of Section 18 wounding and kidnap at Southampton Crown Court
R v B – Successful acquittal in false imprisonment and assault offences at Bournemouth Crown Court
R v R – Defendant acquitted after attempted kidnap charges at Southampton Crown Court
R v S – Successful acquittal for defendant charged with blackmail offence at Southampton Crown Court
R v M – Taxi driver acquitted at Portsmouth Crown Court of racially aggravated offences and saves his licence
R v E – ex British soldier acquitted at Southampton Crown Court of inflicting GBH – as a result able to return to family abroad
R v E – student acquitted at Southampton Crown Court of affray able to continue studies and career
R v S – following successful appeal the sentence was slashed by 60 % avoiding deportation allowing the client to stay with his family