Qualifications And Professional Affiliations

• LLB (Hons) Manchester University
• Called to the Bar by Inner Temple, November 1997.
• Member of Criminal Bar Association

Background

Alex joined Argent Chambers in 2009 after spending nearly ten years at 3 Temple Gardens.

Profile

Alex has a mainly criminal defence practice, but he is also a grade 3 prosecutor on the CPS London list.

Alex has substantial experience defending in cases involving drug dealing, robbery, serious violence, fraud, aggravated burglary, sexual offences, perverting the course of justice, money laundering and arson with intent to endanger life.

He has also prosecuted cases involving the supply of class A drugs, GBH with intent, serious sexual offences, robbery and money laundering.

Alex has been involved in complex Proceeds of Crime Act hearings representing both the prosecution and defence.

As well as criminal law, Alex has experience in dealing with licensing cases, in particular cases which related to the change in the licensing laws in 2005. He is also an external examiner for the Bar Vocational Course, appointed by the Bar Standards Board.


Interesting Cases

R v Rushworth (2010, Old Bailey) – Led by Rod Johnson QC for defence of a lady accused of perverting the course of justice by helping to smuggle a murder suspect out of the country. Defendant acquitted.

R v H (2010, Reading Crown Court) – Prosecuted a man accused of a variety of serious sexual offences, including buggery, against his nephews when they were children over 20 years ago.

R v Sales (2009, Kingston Crown Court) – Represented first defendant in five week trial involving class A drug dealing from Miss Sales’ home address. One of the co-defendants was a PCSO and all other defendants at trial ran cut-throat defences against Miss Sales, who was the only defendant acquitted of the main counts of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and received a suspended sentence for allowing her premises to be used for the supply of drugs.

R v Carvalho (2009, Croydon Crown Court) – Successful legal argument in respect of whether a blank firing gun capable of discharging CS gas was a firearm.

R v Baker (2009), Court of Appeal – Guidance from the Court of Appeal as to the scope of the offence of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

R v Singh (2009), Croydon Crown Court – Prosecution offered no evidence on mortgage fraud after a number of legal and disclosure arguments.

R v Bush (2008, Southwark Crown Court) – 18 handed football violence trial. Subsequently successfully represented one of co-defendants in Court of Appeal where his sentence was reduced.

R v Tribak (2008 Court of Appeal) - Sentencing in respect of laundering proceeds of low level drug dealing. Original sentence reduced.

R v George (2008 Snaresbrook Crown Court) – Successful defence of self defence in case where defendant admitted stabbing complainant several times in the back.

R v Farah (2007, Birmingham Crown Court) – Junior counsel for first defendant who was acquitted of attempted murder despite “cut throat” defence by all three co-defendants.

R v James (2007 Court of Appeal) – Cited in Archbold, sentencing powers of Crown Court in respect of summary only offences.

R v Panwar (2007, Kingston Crown Court) – Represented a defendant accused of GBH, issue of causation when elderly victim suffered stroke shortly after a minor assault. Prosecution accepted less serious plea after defence expert reports were obtained.

R v Jackson, (2007, Croydon Crown Court) – Defendant acquitted of a serious aggravated burglary despite DNA evidence.

R v F (2006), Kingston Crown Court – Successfully defended in historic sexual assault trial.

R v Bayode (2006, Croydon Crown Court) – Represented principle defendant in large scale conspiracy to evade immigration controls by arranging bogus marriages.

R v C (2005, Guildford Crown Court) – Represented a mother accused of tampering with hospital equipment in order to harm her young child who was being treated. Not guilty verdict directed by judge after submission of no case to answer.

R v Edwards (2004, Birmingham Crown Court) – Junior counsel in trial involving conspiracy to supply 190kg of heroin.