Jonathan was called to the Bar in 1993.
He now practises almost exclusively in criminal law, but has a background in civil law, particularly property litigation and professional negligence. He is a member of Criminal Bar Association.
Jonathan prosecutes and defends in cases involving a wide range of offences. He has been practising in the area for over eight years, working mainly in the Greater London and Thames Valley areas but has conducted cases throughout the jurisdiction.
Prosecuting, he receives instructions from a number of agencies including various Crown Prosecution areas, local authorities including London Boroughs and several central government departments.
Jonathan’s criminal practice may be divided into broad areas with brief examples of the work:-
Violent offences including kidnappings, child abductions, aggravated burglaries, armed robberies, firearms offences, grievous bodily harm with intent, arson and rape.
Drugs offences including importation and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs involving covert surveillance and undercover officers.
Dishonesty offences, in particular conspiracy to defraud clearing banks, organised identity fraud, immigration offences, thefts by employees and counterfeiting.
Regulatory offences including false descriptions under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, breaches of safety regulations enacted under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, breaches of medicines control regulations, failure to comply with planning enforcement, supply of counterfeit goods (including the prosecution of the proprietor a website supplying DVDs), “cattle passport” offences, food safety offences, offences of animal cruelty and neglect and Property Misdescription Act offences.
Ancillary matters including abuse of process applications, public interest immunity applications, arguments of lack of jurisdiction/authority, Proceeds of Crime Act applications, fitness to plead hearings and Mental Health Act disposals.
Appellate work including appearances in the Divisional Court on case stated and judicial review applications and in appeals before the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). Recent cases include R (Dawes) v Nottingham Crown Court [2005] relating to the extension of custody time limits where the delay was due to the VHCC dispute.