Charles Thomas > Chambers of Anna Vigars KC > Bristol, England > Barrister Profile

Charles Thomas

Work Department

Crime; professional discipline.

Position

Charles is an experienced specialist criminal barrister. His practice encompasses the entire range of criminal work including murder, manslaughter, rape, serious fraud, drugs cases and slavery cases. He also has extensive experience of professional disciplinary work, which includes sitting as a Legally Qualified Chair at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service and for Sport Resolutions UK. He is a Crown Court Recorder.

Career

Called 1990, Middle Temple. CPS approved list of counsel: grade four; General Medical Council Legal Assessor.

Charles is a specialist criminal practitioner on the Western Circuit. His practice encompasses the entire range of criminal work including murder, manslaughter, rape and serious fraud and drugs cases. He has extensive experience of cases involving internet crime and child pornography. He maintains an even balance in his practice between prosecution and defence work. He is pro-active in giving advice on areas of further evidence to be explored, whether for the prosecution or defence, and what possibilities for forensic and expert evidence are available in any given situation.

He is a grade 4 prosecutor, handling the most serious kinds of cases either alone or as a leading junior. He regularly prosecutes cases with silks defending on the other side. He has a proven track record of success for dealing with cases involving complex financial transactions and large volumes of paperwork. He is widely recognised for the meticulous preparation and attention to detail he brings to such cases which is the cornerstone to his effective presentation of often complicated questions of fact or law in court.

He has considerable experience of prosecuting the most serious types of sex cases and is highly regarded for the quality of his witness care, and the effectiveness of his cross-examination be it of complainants or defendants.

He is also regularly instructed as a leading junior for the defence. He has particular expertise in multi-handed drugs cases, frauds and sex cases. He is highly rated for the tactical acumen and judgment he brings to bear in these longer types of cases. He is particularly interested in cases where there has been a background of police covert surveillance and issues of sensitive material and proper disclosure need to be raised before trial.

An area of particular expertise that he has developed in recent years concerns the Slavery and Trafficking Offences under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and the Modern Slavery Act 2015. He was instructed prosecute in 3 of the first cases to come before the courts under these Acts. Recent cases have involved the trafficking of women to Bristol from the Czech Republic for prostitution and the use of vulnerable individuals as domestic slaves. He is very familiar in particular with the witness care and evidential issues that arise in these cases.

An area of particular expertise that he has developed in recent years concerns the new slavery offences under s71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. He has been instructed prosecute in 3 of the first cases to come before the courts in the last 2 years and is very familiar in particular with the witness care and evidential issues that arise in these cases.

His client care is of very high quality. He is often specifically instructed to represent particularly demanding clients, especially those with mental health difficulties. He has conducted many hearings relating to issues of fitness to plead. He has built a reputation of being a sensitive but effective cross-examiner of complainants in sex cases, whether adults or children via the video-link.

He also defends in Court Martial cases, both in England and in Germany.

Languages

English, German

Memberships

Criminal Bar Association, Western Circuit.

Education

• Diploma in Law, Westminster University
• BA Hons, New College, Oxford University