Alex Rooke

Year of Call, 2001 (Lincoln's Inn)

Attorney-General's List of Prosecuting Advocates (C)

CPS Grade 3

Qualified to take Direct Access clients

B.A. (Hons) University of Keele 1991  2.1 (History and Politics)

M.Sc. Middle East Technical University, Ankara 1996  (International Relations)

Pg.Dip.L. College of Law 2000

Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law 2001

Alex has a reputation as a tenacious and resourceful advocate, adept with both law and fact.  His client care skills have been described as “second to none”, and he is regularly sought out by Instructing Solicitors to handle the more challenging lay clients.  This, combined with a clear and personable jury manner, have meant that his practice is currently 80% Defence oriented.  He is, however, regularly instructed by CPS Serious Crime units, Central Fraud Group (RCPO, as was), the Department of Work and Pensions, MHRA and other government prosecuting bodies.

Both Prosecution and Defence lawyers have commented favourably on his ability to deal with large amounts of information fast, and to provide clear and practical advice in a timely manner, be that in writing or conference.  He believes in providing a high level of service.

His work encompasses the whole run of crime, from sex, drugs and violence through smuggling and fraud to the more obscure regulatory offences.  He has a particular awareness and skill with the Proceeds of Crime Act and associated legislation; he was nominated in 2010 by the Registrar of Criminal Appeals to handle a batch of resurrected tobacco duty evasion cases in which confiscation  law had been misapplied.  He regularly accepts instructions in Cash Detention cases from both individuals and state bodies.

Alex Rooke has significant experience in smuggling cases, be that people, drugs, money or weapons.  He is briefed regularly by Defence firms in Kent and elsewhere to look after the interests of individuals facing enormous custodial terms if found guilty of drug smuggling.  He is also used by the Prosecution on occasion.  His knowledge of Disclosure issues and implications is, consequently, broad and respected.

Alex also handles private Road Traffic matters, and his expertise in this field led to his being asked to act as a practitioner reviewer of that section in the 2012 edition of Blackstone's.

Prior to coming to the Bar, Alex worked in Turkey for seven years as a university teacher.  His spoken Turkish is near fluent, and he also has a decent command of French. 

When not working, Alex enjoys swimming, music technology and reading history.

Cases include:

R v S, H and others: led junior in a nine-handed prosecution alleging the UK-wide supply of cutting agents to drug dealers.  An interlocutory appeal upheld the use of s.46 Serious Crime Act 2007 as ECHR compliant.

R v G: defence of father accused of rape of 5 year-old daughter.

R v A and B: defence of husband and wife accused of smuggling ten illegal immigrants into UK in a  campervan

R v M: prosecution of lorry driver accused of smuggling 6 million cigarettes into UK

R v M: defence of lorry driver accused of importing 9kg of cocaine as part of wider conspiracy to supply a variety of drugs.

R v A and others: led junior in five-handed prosecution of organised frauds on the benefits system (joint DWP and Inland Revenue Prosecution)

R v  T: defence of man accused of engaging in retail supply of 'skunk' cannabis from premises known as 'Hackney Music'.

R v B and others: six-handed prosecution alleging theft of benefits cheques from postal system and subsequent alteration and encashment

R v W: defence of lady accused of having penetrative intercourse with two dogs.

R v W: defence of man accused of robbing a Post Office

R v B: defence of man accused of importing 150kg opium in lorry

R v Q: defence of ex-soldier accused of passing on several kilos of explosives and several thousand rounds of ammunition stolen from the Army to Glasgow drug gangs