GT Stewart Limited

Criminal Defence

Partner & Head of Crown Court Advocacy

Ronnie is committed to ensuring that people have a voice in the justice system. He is a very experienced advocate with substantial experience of dealing with cases of sensitivity and complexity for over 15 years.

Ronnie specialises in Criminal Defence work (in the widest sense). His criminal work involves the range of serious offences, in particular homicide, serious sexual or violent offending, Drugs & Firearms, serious organised and/or complex crime and crimes which occur in the prison environment and ‘Baby Shaking’ cases.

His experience over the years has also given him a highly useful grounding in subjects relevant to conducting complex white collar fraud trials. His ability to explain complex matters clearly and simply are of particular value in this area.

His criminal defence work has become specialised with vulnerable individuals, usually in cases of complexity or sensitivity requiring experienced and precise advocacy and forensic skills.

He has particular expertise in cases involving vulnerable people, particularly clients (or complainants). He has substantial experience in cases which involved mentally disordered individuals, individuals with learning difficulty or individuals who need particularly sensitive care, for example very young clients or witnesses. He is an approved Pupil Supervisor who has attended the Vulnerable Witness Advocacy Course, which is a compulsory requirement for advocates who conduct cases involving children, for example, child abuse, sexual abuse involving children and young defendants.

Ronnie is engaged in many cases which require an understanding and testing of the evidence of experts, in particular pathologists, forensic experts, scientific or medical experts and psychiatrists. His experience in complex money laundering, fraud, drugs , firearms and murder conspiracies had enabled him to dissect forensic material with a fine toothed comb and summarise the real issues that require scrutiny.

Ronnie is an accomplished trial advocate. He is not afraid of hard work or challenging cases and is often instructed in large multi-handed cases, particular where emotions may run high. He has been involved in a number of high profile trials and, as such, is used to dealing with cases which attract a good deal of publicity. Recently, Ronnie featured in a ‘Baby Shaking’ Channel 5 documentary in one of his real life cases. He also appeared on BBC1 Panorama documentary on joint enterprise murder “guilt by association” involving a defendant he represented in a 9 week trial at the Old Bailey.
NOTABLE CASES:
The following cases, which are some of those undertaken by Ronnie, demonstrate the range of his practice:

Date
Offence
Length
Client
Leading/Led/Junior Alone
Court

December 2025
Fraud (multi-handed) – 9 defendants
4 weeks
SA
Junior Alone
Maidstone CC

October 2025
Murder, Attempted Murder x 2 – shooting (4 defendants)
6 weeks
TS
Led Junior
Central Criminal Court

September 2025
Death By Dangerous driving whilst unfit (drugs)
2 weeks
KT
Junior alone
Central Criminal Court

August 2025
S.18/Agg Burglary with firearm (3 defendants)
2 weeks
KC
Junior Alone
Inner London CC

June 2025
Attempted Murder (shooting) – (4 defendants)
6 weeks
ZW
Leading Junior
Kingston Crown Court

May 2025
Murder (single defendant – stabbing)
3 weeks
HR
Led Junior
Inner London CC

April 2025
Rape of Under 13yr old (multi-handed)
4 weeks
EG
Junior alone
Canterbury Crown Court

March 2025
Murder (re-trial) – stranger killing single defendant
4 weeks
HLVP
Led Junior
Canterbury Crown Court

February 2025
Conspiracy to Supply class A drugs 600 kilos of cocaine (8 defendants)
6-8 weeks
DK
Junior alone
Woolwich Crown Court

February 2025
Murder  – single defendant
3 weeks
EJ
Led Junior
Maidstone Crown Court

November 2024
Possession of a firearm & Drugs Supply (Encrochat)
3 weeks
RT
Junior alone
Snaresbrook CC

June 2024
Conspiracy to commit fraud and breach of immigration rules (facilitation of illegal migrants)
5 weeks
AO
Junior alone
Woolwich Crown Court

June 2024
Importation of class A drugs
3 day Newton hearing
RV
Junior alone
Canterbury CC

June 2024
Murder
4 weeks
HLVP
Led Junior
Canterbury Crown Court

May 2024
Attempted Murder (3 defendants)
2 weeks
ME
Junior Alone
Maidstone Crown Court

Jan 2024
Attempted Murder
4 weeks
TB-B
Led Junior (was leading initially)
Central Criminal Court

November 2023
Conspiracy to Murder (6 defendants)
12 weeks
SG
Led Junior
Central Criminal Court

October 2023
Importation of 300 kilos of class A drugs
1 week
GW
Junior Alone
Canterbury Crown Court

September 2023
s.18 GBH (stabbing) involving former Police Community Support Officer
1 week
KB
Junior Alone
Canterbury Crown Court

July 2023
Conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry (4 defendants)
5 weeks
AO
Junior Alone
Woolwich Crown Court

June 2023
Murder (3 defendants)
5 weeks
KK
Led Junior
Central Criminal Court

May 2023
Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (14 defendants)
3 weeks
TI
Junior Alone
Snaresbrook CC

March 2023
Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life/Conspiracy to Commit s.18 OAPA
4 weeks
DP
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

Jan 2023
Aggravated Burglary (6 defendants)
5 weeks
MB
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

Dec 2022
People Trafficking (facilitation) – violation of HRA & Article 31 Refugee Convention – “small boats” channel crossing  – preparatory hearing (2 defendants)
2 days
MA
Led junior
Canterbury CC

June 2022
Attempted Murder (2 defendants)
6 week
CN
Led junior
Maidstone CC

June 2022
Murder (single defendant)
2 weeks
OB
Led Junior
Central Criminal Court

April 2022
Corruption & Bribery (4 defendants)
12 weeks
TD
Led Junior
Southwark CC

March 2022
Conspiracy to Defraud (12 defendants)
4 weeks
PK
Leading Junior
Southwark CC

Feb/Mar 2022
Conspiracy to Murder (4 defendants)
4 weeks
CDR
Led Junior
Central Criminal Court

November 2021
Murder – Led junior (6 defendants)
12 weeks
DA
Led Junior
Central Criminal Court

October 2021
Importation of class A drugs 54 kilos (3 defendants)
7 weeks
AR
Leading Junior
Isleworth CC

August 2021
Attempted Murder (5 defendants)
8 weeks
TJF
Leading Junior
Central Criminal Court

May 2021
Facilitation offences (people trafficking)
7 days
SP
Junior alone
Canterbury CC

March 2021
Conspiracy to transfer firearms
6 weeks
NJ
Leading Junior
Woolwich Crown Court

February 2021
S.18 GBH & Robbery
5 week
GK
Junior Alone
Maidstone CC

January 2021
Transfer of firearms
2 weeks
BL
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

December 2021
Firearms with intent to cause fear of violence
1 week
JN
Junior Alone
Canterbury CC

November 2021
Murder – revenge killing  – single defendant
4 weeks
SO’R
Led Junior
Central Criminal Court

October 2020
Murder  – single defendant
2 weeks
NZ
Led Junior
Central Criminal Court

July 2020
Attempted Murder – insanity  – single defendant
2 weeks
JJ
Led Junior
Maidstone CC

February 2020
Conspiracy to supply class A drugs – 9 defendants
8 weeks
MU
Leading Junior
Woolwich CC

January 2020
Conspiracy to produce and supply class A drugs
2 weeks
AG
Leading Junior
Southwark CC

January 2020
Historical Rape – biological daughter)
2 weeks
LL
Led Junior
Inner London CC

November 2019
Murder – Diminished Res
3 weeks
WT
Led Junior
CCC

October 2019
Murder – Loss of control
3 weeks
RDW
Led Junior
Snaresbrook CC

September 2019
Firearms with intent
2 weeks
DJ
Junior alone
Inner London CC

August 2019
Murder x 2 of twin children
No trial/plea accepted
SF
Led Junior
CCC

April 2019
Murder – 9 defendants
9 weeks
KF
Led Junior
CCC

February 2019
GBH with intent
1 week
LH
Junior Alone
Maidstone CC

January 2019
Conspiracy to supply class A drugs & Conspiracy to commit GBH with intent
Cracked trial
SA
Leading Junior
Snaresbrook CC

October 2018
Attempted Murder
2 weeks
AA
Junior Alone
Snaresbrook CC

September 2018
Violent Disorder
2 weeks
CO
Junior Alone
Maidstone CC

May 2018
Conspiracy to Kidnap, blackmail and falsely imprison
5 weeks
NFH
Junior Alone
Southwark CC

March 2018
Conspiracy to import/supply class A drugs
6 weeks
MC
Leading Junior
Southwark CC

February 2018
Death by Careless Driving
2 weeks
TA
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

January 2018
Money laundering
3 weeks
SH
Junior Alone
Lewes CC

August 2017
Firearms
1 week
DRF
Junior Alone
Inner London CC

July 2017
Firearms with intent
1 week
SG
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

July 2017
Murder – single defendant
3 weeks
MI
Led Junior
Woolwich CC

June 2017
Conspiracy to defraud the CSSC sports council  – identity Fraud  -4 defendants
6 week trial

May 2017
Conspiracy to Kidnap, blackmail and falsely imprison – 6 defendants
6 weeks
CB
Junior Alone
Inner London CC

May 2017
Murder – single defendant (killed father-in-law)
2 weeks
DH
Led Junior
Maidstone CC

April 2017
Firearms & Drugs – single defendant
1 week
GH
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

February 2017
Harassment (archbishop harassing daughter & ex-wife (high profile – private)
1 week
JB
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

January 2017
Conspiracy to Acquire Criminal Property (Money laundering
8 weeks
CH
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

October 2016
Conspiracy to Steal
4 weeks
JG
Leading Junior
Inner London CC

September 2016
Kidnap/Blackmail/GBH
4 weeks
SD
Junior alone
Maidstone CC

July 2016
GBH with intent (baby shaking) – 2 defendants
4 weeks
KK
Led Junior
Blackfriars CC

May 2016
Conspiracy to supply and manufacture firearms (2 defendants)
3 weeks
BB
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

February 2016
Possession of Explosives (army soldier)
1 week
RB
Junior Alone
Croydon CC

February 2016
Murder (single defendant – strangulation)
2 weeks
TS
Led Junior
Canterbury CC

September 2015
Attempted Murder (shooting) – single defendant (16yr old)
3 weeks
OP
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

August 2015
Conspiracy to defraud the Secretary of State (ATW fraud) – 8 defendants
6 weeks
TJ
Junior Alone
Croydon CC

March 2015
Conspiracy to kidnap/blackmail/GBH (5 defendants)
6 weeks
NB
Junior Alone
CCC

January 2015
Firearms with Intent (6 defendants)
8 weeks
PO
Junior Alone
Croydon CC

October 2014
Murder (6 defendants stabbing)
6 weeks
AL
Led Junior
CCC

June 2014
Attempted Murder
1 week
CH
Junior Alone
Inner London CC

February 2014
Manslaughter (baby-shaking) – 2 defendants
Cracked trial
KK
Led Junior
CCC

November 2013 – January 2014
Conspiracy to defraud/Misconduct in Public Office (housing benefit fraud)
12 weeks
MB
Junior Alone
Woolwich CC

May 2013
Conspiracy to defraud (wine investment fraud)
8 weeks
PD
Led Junior
Southwark CC

October 2011
Murder (6 defendants)
6 weeks
QA
Led Junior
CCC

January 2011
Murder (9 defendants)
9 weeks
JA
Led Junior
CCC

English

Harrow High School - Bachelor of Law LLB Honours - 1994 to 1997