Bar Call/Inn
1990

Gray’s Inn 

Education
LLB (Hons)

Areas of Practice
After being called to the Bar in 1990 David has developed and maintained an extremely busy criminal practice which is a balance of both Prosecution and Defence work. He has accumulated considerable experience of being involved in cases of the utmost seriousness including Murder, Rape and other serious sexual offences, multi-handed Conspiracies and the like. He has regularly been instructed as junior counsel in significant cases and, amongst others, has been led by Anthony Russell QC (now HHJ Russell QC Recorder of Preston) and Anthony Morris QC (now HHJ Anthony Morris QC sitting in the Central Criminal Court). In addition to being led he has also been instructed in cases as a leading junior. He is on the specialist list of approved counsel able to be instructed to prosecute serious sexual offences in Greater Manchester.

Significant Cases

R ~v~ Ashurst – the “Louise Sellars” case. The Defendant was charged with the murder of 15 year old Wigan schoolgirl Louise Sellars. The case attracted national publicity as the defendant was re-arrested five years after her death (and his original arrest) when advanced DNA techniques on a cigarette found near to her body linked the Defendant to the murder.

R ~v~ Pitt and Others – represented a member of the Manchester gang; the “Pit Bull Crew”. The gang members were charged with being involved in murder, possessing and using firearms and drug dealing.

R ~v~ Rajkuma – the Defendant was charged with Soliciting to Murder his wife. The case revolved around his dealings with an undercover Police Officer masquerading as a hit-man.

R ~v~ Bates and Others – better known as “Operation Lambeth”. A Conspiracy involving very large scale and long term dealing in stolen cars and their parts. This case was particularly complex as there were issues and allegations regarding the complicity of Police Officers from the Stolen Vehicle Squad. The case was monitored throughout by the Police in order to ascertain whether any criminal charges or disciplinary measures were appropriate for individual Officers.

R ~v~ Choudhry – the Defendant was charged with Rape. The victim was a young boy with learning difficulties whom the Defendant had met on the street and enticed back to his flat.

R ~v~ Asam – the Defendant was charged with the Sexual Assault of a patient whilst he was employed as a male nurse at a hospital. Given the nature of the case it attracted a great deal of publicity and was carefully monitored by the medical authorities.

R ~ Holland and Others – better known as “Operation Piranha”. Instructed as a leading junior to prosecute 19 Defendants charged following large-scale football violence.

R ~v~ Joy – represented the Defendant who was charged with Murder. A very complex case involving neuropathological evidence to determine whether the brain injury that led to death was caused by trauma or ecstasy use.

R ~v~ Dempsey and Others – represented the principal defendant who was charged with Murder. The case involved the stabbing to death of the deceased by a gang of youths and attracted widespread publicity.

Professional Memberships

The Northern Circuit
Criminal Bar Association