Robert Evans > 15NBS > London, England > Barrister Profile

Robert Evans

Position

Robert is a specialist criminal advocate. He is instructed as leading junior and in cases against silks. His cases often appear in the national press. His expertise and advice is sought on Police operations before charge.  He is experienced in dealing with complex cases, intelligence led Police investigations, RIPA regulated activity, and cases that depend entirely upon circumstantial evidence.

Career

When defending, Robert has represented people from all parts of society including politicians, blue chip companies, and the mentally ill. He has dealt with cases referred from the Criminal Cases Review Commission and been successful on appeal in such cases. 

Robert is a Grade 4 prosecutor for the CPS and a Rape Panel advocate.  He is experienced in cases that involve NCA, SO15, SO19, Trident, Flying Squad, Sapphire (and their complex case division), shootings and organized crime networks. He is on the Serious Crime Panel at Grade 3.

Robert is currently instructed in a number of Police Operations that have yet to conclude at trial.Robert has lectured forensic scientists and assisted with the assessments of forensic scientists at UCL and King’s College, London.

Robert’s notable cases include:

• Operation Wolf – acid attack car-jackings with multiple victims including the famous former boxer Michael Watson. The case featured on ITV’s 6 o’clock news on the day of sentence. Robert prosecuted through trial to convictions. For a press report see https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/micheal-watson-carjacking-exboxer-hopes-thugs-60year-sentence-sends-message-to-society-a3942416.html

Attempted murder

• Operation Ara – attempted murder of four young men. Several of the victims refused to co-operate with Police and remained unidentified on the indictment. Tried at the Central Criminal Court. Prosecuted to conviction. For press report see: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1414742/shocking-moment-range-rover-rams-into-crowd-during-ramadan-celebration-leaving-teen-fighting-for-his-life/
• R v Shinohara – attempted murder of a stranger at a tube station. This case received national media coverage. After the first day of trial it was the lead story on ITV’s 6 o clock news.  For a press report, see

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3681313/Japanese-pensioner-waited-45-minutes-trying-kill-stranger-pushing-Bakerloo-Line-train-sentenced-mental-hospital.html

• R v Hamsa Farah – attempted murder – knife attack following a street confrontation. Prosecuted to conviction. 19 year sentence.

Sexual offences

• Operation Valemount – stranger sex attack on 17 year old girl – prosecuted to conviction – 16 year sentence.
• Operation Fitzroy – Child sex exploitation – 5 defendants sexually exploited teenage girls brought to a flat in Picadilly.  For a press report see

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3621720/Sex-ring-couple-run-boyfriend-took-explicit-photos-teenage-girl-plied-booze-legal-highs-tied-lover-molest-her.html

• R v Vu – rape of a child under 13. Prosecuted through trial to conviction. 20 year sentence.
• R v W – rape of a 4 year old by a 12 year old. Prosecuted to conviction.
• R v Christodoulou – historic sexual abuse on vulnerable women in the 1970s and 1980s.  Robert prosecuted alone.  Defendant represented by QC and junior.  Prosecuted through trial to conviction. 18 year sentence.
• R v K – rape of a complainant with Down’s syndrome, by a mentally disordered defendant.  Robert prosecuted alone.  Defendant represented by QC
• R v Challis – historic sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priest.  Prosecuted to conviction. 19 year sentence.
• R v McDonald-Sims – prison rape. Prosecuted to conviction. 12 year sentence.
• R v Chandrabalan – End of relationship rape. Sensitive cultural issues.  Reluctant complainant (family pressure), summonsed.  Prosecuted through trial to conviction.
• R v Seals – end of relationship rape, where complainant was unaware she had been raped. She reported him to the police for fraud on another.  Prosecuted through trial to conviction.  Defence appealed as to use of fraud convictions in rape trial.  Robert appeared in Court of Appeal. Convictions upheld.
• R v F – incest by brain damaged defendant resulting in the birth of a baby with genetic defects.  Prosecuted to conviction.  13 year sentence.
• R v Hunt – series of sexual assaults by gas engineer on victims in their homes. Similar fact evidence used. Robert prosecuted through trial to conviction. See link

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1322270/Jail-sex-attacker-posed-yoga-expert.html

• R v Smith (aka Derber) – Rape (by a stranger). Robert defended in an allegation of rape by a lay client already subject to a hospital order.

Drugs

• Operation Ranok. Robert prosecuted to conviction a high ranking London gang nominal running a drug supply line.
• R v Gill & others – large scale supply of MDMA in powder form, two of the defendants were represented by QCs. Prosecuted to convictions on all counts. Sentences ranged from 7 to 13 years 6 months.
• R v Williams & Butler – Large scale drug supply.  London Serious Crime Squad case.  Williams represented by QC. Prosecuted to conviction. 15 year sentence. See

http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/11267221.Drug_dealers_from_Bromley__Bexley__and_Bexleyheath_jailed_after___26_million_cocaine_supply/

• Operation Fisheagle.  Robert defended one of 14 defendants accused of controlling and supervising significant dealers in the conspiracy.  Witness Anonymity order successfully opposed. Acquittal on two out of nine counts with clear covert footage.
• R v Ezekude & others – Large scale cocaine importations. Robert defended the principal defendant who was accused of organising and running ‘couriers’ bringing cocaine into the UK on a regular basis.

Serious violence

• Operation Wheelwright – Robert prosecuted a threats to kill case for SO15 (the Metropolitan Police’s Counter-Terrorism and Terrorism Command).
• R v Syla & others – gang related kidnap.  Victim was kidnapped in the mistaken belief he belonged to a rival gang. Victim refused to co-operate with the prosecution at trial.  Prosecuted through trial to conviction.
• R v Mohammed-Abdul & others – ‘Honour crime’ domestic violence Kidnap, false imprisonment and ABH – Robert defended the lead defendant who was acquitted of all ‘honour crime’ offences after trial.  For facts, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9052195/Muslim-teenager-attacked-by-brother-and-sisters-for-kissing-white-man.html
• R v Charles – s.18 GBH – Pre-planned ambush attack. Victim refused to co-operate with the prosecution at trial.  Robert prosecuted using circumstantial evidence.
• R v A & others – s.18 GBH – Four man machete and samurai sword attack.  Robert defended through trial to acquittal.
• R v Olkun & Ozdemir – Arson in context of ‘business dispute’.  Robert prosecuted to conviction.
• R v Gulwell & others – Kidnap & s. 18 GBH (amputation of a thumb in a drugs dispute).  Robert represented the lead defendant.
• R v Gurney – GBH – ‘Shaken’ baby twins.  Robert defended.

Firearms

• Operation Ataixo – The only successful prosecution from Newham’s ‘Summer of Shootings’ in 2017. Bail tag data used to locate and track those involved.  Robert prosecuted, a QC defended. 10 year 9 month sentence.
• Operation Clethra – Robert prosecuted through trial to conviction, firearms offences following a shooting in Lewisham. 13 year sentences.
• Operation Bubonic – Robert prosecuted a 7-handed firearms and drugs conspiracy through trial to convictions
• R v Bartley – possessing a firearm and ammunition.  Robert prosecuted through trial to conviction. 8 year sentence.
• R v A – possessing an imitation firearm with intent.  SO19 officers shot the defendant twice after he pointed the gun at them. Sensitive handling required.  Robert prosecuted.
• R v Abbas & Mnamata – Possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. Cocked, loaded (live ammunition) and ready to fire firearm, during police raid. Prosecuted through trial to conviction. 9 year sentence.

 

Fraud / Money laundering

• Operation Steric – Robert defended a manager in a Fraud by staff employed by A4e.  See link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-30821458

• R v Vilescu – counterfeit passport factory. Robert defended.
• R v Onilado & others – Money laundering monies from an Ebay fraud.  Robert defended to acquittal.
• R v Marunovas – Money laundering – Successful defence of man who received thousands of pounds in his bank account from an internet fraud.
• R v Egeonu & another – International money laundering.  Robert defended the lead defendant.

Robbery

• Operation Wolf – A series of ‘acid attack’ car-jackings including a celebrity victim. See http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5519089/Brain-damaged-boxer-Michael-Watson-beaten-robbed-carjacker.html
• Operation Tabari – A series of ‘cash in transit’ robberies in South London. Circumstantial evidence including cell site and CCTV. Prosecuted to conviction.
• R v Ahmed – Robbery with an imitation firearm.  Prosecuted through trial to conviction. 
• R v B & others – 18 counts plus related offences.  Robert prosecuted to conviction.
• R v Lamptey and another – £170,000 jewel heist. Robert represented main getaway driver (principals never caught).

Other cases of interest

• R v Ewins & Sesay – HSG – Robert prosecuted a case involving a memory stick containing intimate photographs of Prince William and Kate Middleton. See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/6061549/Prince-William-Kate-Middleton-Mustique-holiday-camera-stick.html, alternatively see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8212233.stm
• Operation Gemini – R v Al Tahabi & others.  Robert prosecuted conspiracies to burgle, convert criminal property, and handle stolen goods.
• R v Anderson & another – Illegal disposal of industrial waste.  Robert was junior in a case reported (in the press) as being the largest conspiracy of such a type in London.
• R v T – Burglary – Robert successfully defended through trial to acquittal a man who’s DNA was found inside burgled premises.
• R v Barrett – attempted s. 18 GBH (infection with Hepatitis C).  Robert prosecuted to conviction.
• R v A – Robbery. Successful defence of man who accepted in interview punching the victim in the face while demanding money.
• expert with no expert of his own.  Prosecuted through trial to conviction.
• R v B & another – a Criminal Cases Review Commission case concerning a corrupt senior police officer. Robert successfully appealed the conviction.