3PB

Crime, Health and Safety

Tom Horder is a Criminal and Regulatory law barrister.

Ranked by Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 as a leading junior, Tom is known for both his attention to detail and down to earth approach. Often instructed in complex and difficult cases, Tom works with a wide range of defence solicitors, local authorities, government agencies (including the HSE and Maritime and Coastguard Agency), companies and private individuals.

Tom’s criminal practice has seen him instructed in multi-handed murder trials, high value frauds, complex drug importations and cases involving modern slavery, trafficking and allegations of serious and historic sexual abuse. Tom is a Grade 4 CPS prosecutor.

Tom’s regulatory law practice includes inquests, cases involving fatal accidents (on both land and at sea) and prosecutions for environmental, health and safety, trading standards, food hygiene, planning and aviation law offences.

Tom sits as a fee paid (part-time) judge of Mental Health Tribunals.

Outside court, Tom supports Wimbledon AFC and flies aeroplanes.

Crime and Regulatory Crime

Tom’s criminal practice sees him instructed in an array of both heavy weight and complex criminal cases.  He is particularly noted for his experience in prosecuting and defending regulatory offences. Often praised for his hard-work and attention to detail he is recommended in both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners Guides.

Outside of court Tom supports Wimbledon AFC and flies aeroplanes.
Serious and Organised Crime
Operation Cowling
Instructed by the CPS Complex Casework Unit. Prosecution of an Organised Criminal Group following the seizure of 42 kilos of pure cocaine and nearly 1 million ecstasy tablets valued at approximately £12 million.

Operations Gharial and Saffron. Southwark Crown Court
Instructed by the Specialist Fraud division in linked cases prosecuting an international group responsible for the largest attack on HMRC’s online VAT and ITSA systems.

Operation Afterburn II
Multi-handed large scale drug conspiracy involving an Organised Criminal Group operating in Manchester and Portsmouth.

Operation Accord
Conspiracy to kidnap and supply of Class A drugs. Nationwide drugs supply network selling heroin and cocaine via ‘deal lines’.

R v N and others
Successful defence of gang member alleged to have kidnapped, imprisoned, robbed and tortured a university student. Case received widespread media coverage.
Other serious Crime
R v CA
Defending a CCTV operative who unlawfully accessed the footage of an autopsy featuring a footballer who tragically died in a well-publicised plane crash.

R v KB
Leading defence counsel for care home manger in respect of allegations of dishonesty and neglect arising from the death of an elderly dementia patient. The patient tragically died as a result of pressure sores that had not received proper care or treatment.

R v K
Defending mother who poisoned son to intentionally prolong stay in hospital. Case involved arguments as to extent of mitigation available where diagnosis is “factitious disorder”.

R v C
Successful defence of a carer for vulnerable adults accused of a campaign of abuse and humiliation against a number of residents.

R v AL
Led by Nigel Lickley QC. Non-accidental brain injuries sustained by a 6 month old child.

R v Spry
Defence junior in infamous case of extreme cruelty by mother against children over many years.

Health and Safety

Tom has significant experience representing clients in Health and Safety and Inquest cases. His work has included:

WDDC v G
Successful Health and Safety prosecution relating to an inflatable slide that came free from its tethers at the Swanage Regatta causing injury to a number of children.

CBC v Centre Parcs (Woburn) Ltd
Prosecution of Centre Parc involving an 8-year-old girl who fell from height during a tree climbing activity at Luton Crown Court. The case ended with the Defendant company being fined £250,000.

SBC v N+B
Defending a company with a multi-million-pound turnover in respect of alleged Health and Safety breaches involving lighting levels and the operation of fork-lift trucks.

WDDC v And So To Bed Ltd
Successful prosecution arising from a fall from height involving an unsafe elevated mobile working platform. Fine imposed of £110,000.

HSE v LHSC Ltd
Defence of Health and Safety Consultant in an unusual prosecution arising from the drafting of inadequate risk assessments and advice to a furniture manufacturer. The Prosecution arose following two serious accidents involving cutting equipment.

HSE v GC
Defence of agricultural college in respect of serious injuries caused to students observing tree-felling.

HSE v PG Ltd
Prosecution involving serious chemical burns caused by the incorrect use of an Intermediate Bulk Carrier as a reaction vessel to dispose of spent cleaning chemicals.

HSE v UF Ltd
De-gloving injury caused during the cleaning of an industrial dough maker.

HSE v BB Ltd
Collapse of basement excavation leading to prosecution of developer.

HSE v Apex
Defending a scaffolding gang leader following a collapse of scaffolding resulting in fatality.

HSE v G
Defence of contractor instructed to decommission a petrol station. The resulting explosion caused serious injury and extensive damage to neighbouring properties.

HSE v R.S Ltd
Proceedings relating to the alleged unsafe removal of asbestos.

Tom is appointed to the Specialist Regulatory Advocates in H&S and Environmental Law List.

Year of Call: 2004

BA (Hons) History, University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne PGDL and BVC, BPP Law School Attorney-General’s Unified List of Prosecuting Advocates (Panel A) Specialist Regulatory Advocates in H&S and Environmental Law List CPS Grade 4 Prosecutor Fee-Paid Judge of the Mental Health Tribunal

Outside of court Tom supports Wimbledon AFC and flies aeroplanes. Tom has a PPL having learnt to fly during an RAF Flying Scholarship and as a member of his University Air Squadron. He flies his Rollason Condor from Thruxton and has been lucky enough to fly a wide range of aircraft ranging from Bulldogs to an SF260.