23ES

am Trefgarne prosecutes and defends in some of the most complex and long-running cases in England and Wales.

He is a CPS grade 4 prosecutor and is often instructed in multi defendant, high value dishonesty cases, and cases involving serious violence and large quantities of drugs. Due to the nature of his practice, he is adept at handling vulnerable witnesses and defendants whether prosecuting or defending.

Sam is go-to counsel for National Trading Standards and has successfully prosecuted some of their largest fraud/fraudulent trading cases in recent years, including;

2019: nine defendants involved in a conspiracy to commit fraud relating to energy contracts, led by Cairns Nelson KC.

2023: seven defendants who targeted the elderly and vulnerable, selling them energy saving products at vastly inflated prices. Again, led by Cairns Nelson KC. Reported: R v Rowan & Ors [2023] EWCA Crim 205.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-66752344

He is currently prosecuting another long-running case involving allegations of fraud/fraudulent trading for National Trading Standards. This case involves over 150 alleged victims. Other, similar cases are at earlier stages and Sam is regularly called upon to advise in relation to investigations by NTS, HMRC and the police.

Other notable cases he has acted in are as follows:

• R v DCB: Represented a defendant charged with money laundering in the case of Barton & Ors. After a trial lasting a year Sam’s client was acquitted at the Crown Court, however, a convicted co-defendant appealed to the Court of Appeal, which confirmed the test for dishonesty in criminal cases: R v Barton & Booth [2020] EWCA Crim 575

• R v SH & Ors: Prosecuted, as led junior, twelve defendants for so-called “courier fraud”. The case involved the targeting of elderly people who were defrauded out of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

• R v DV: Successfully appealing a discretionary life sentence imposed for attempted rape, his client having previously been convicted of rape in Spain. The Court of Appeal commended Sam’s “excellent oral argument”: R v Varga [2022] EWCA Crim 1937

• R v JJ: Prosecuting, as led junior, a defendant charged with two conspiracies to murder committed in a gang context. This case was a so-called ‘victimless prosecution’ because despite being shot at and stabbed the victims were unwilling to provide statements to the police. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/jardel-jones-london-gilpin-square-hackney-gang-b1002036.html

• R v HB, HS, JT & MS: Prosecuting four defendants for conspiracy to import and supply £14m of cocaine and MDMA. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/drug-gang-jailed-essex-cocaine-ecstasy-b993795.html

Sam is often involved in complex cases investigated by specialist police units. He is currently instructed in attempted murder and firearms cases investigated by Trident and local gangs taskforces and international drugs supply cases investigated by proactive syndicates and prosecuted by CPS Complex Casework Units. He is also instructed by specialist fraud units to prosecute HMRC investigations into tax evasion and illegal importation of goods.

In addition to serious crime, Sam has undertaken professional disciplinary work and has a particular specialism in representing police officers in misconduct hearings.

Professional panel appointments

Appointed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) list of advocates: Level 4.

Called 2012; Gray’s Inn. Bedingfield Scholarship, Gray’s Inn 2011; Kalisher Scholarship Blackstones Award 2012; Ann Goddard Scholarship, Gray’s Inn 2014; Criminal Bar Association and Oxford University Press Award 2014.

Criminal Bar Association.

Newcastle University (2009 2(1) History and Archeology); College of Law (2011 GDL Commendation; 2012 BPTC Very Competent).