Notable Cases

Terrorism

R v Abukar and others (Central Criminal Court)

The “Bank of terror” case. For the first of twelve defendants. An OCN’s (Organised Criminal Network’s) industrial scale Vishing fraud netting £1 million. From this funds were allegedly used to facilitate the travel of extremists to join ISIS.

 

R v Asiedu and others (Leeds Crown Court)

Convicted terrorists alleged to have attacked Jeremy Green (convicted murderer and disgraced former soldier) in prison because he had served in the military and “killed Taliban”.

 

Operation Pilling (Leeds Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of the alleged attempted murder of war criminal Radislav Krstić (found guilty of aiding and abetting genocide in Srebrenica at the International Criminal Court) in HMP Wakefield by prisoners serving life sentences.

 

Operation Norbury (Central Criminal Court)

The defendant was accused of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism, conspiracy to cause an explosion and possession of a document of a kind likely to be of assistance to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism as part of a plot to launch a bombing campaign on the UK mainland during Christmas 2010. Targets included the London Stock Exchange.

 

Operation Kneel (Oxford Crown Court)

Bomb hoax which involved the sending of in excess of 70 letters to companies, shopping centres and embassies purporting to identify members of active Al Qaeda cells and targets for imminent attacks. Letters to aviation companies alone resulted in additional security costing hundreds of thousands of pounds.

 

Operation Saby (Snaresbrook Crown Court)

Alleged stockpiling of explosive substances and bomb making information by a chemist said to have been contemplating a “revenge attack” for the 7/7 bombings. Argued that the legal burden placed upon the defendant by section 4 of The Explosive Substances Act 1883 offended the presumption of innocence and was therefore incompatible with the defendant’s right to a fair trial under Article 6 of The European Convention on Human Rights. The Court agreed that s.4 should be read down (by virtue of section 3 of The Human Rights Act 1998) so as only to place an evidential burden upon the defendant.

 

WD VE & UF v Secretary of State for the Home Dept. SIAC(Special Immigration Appeal Commission)

Naz represented a number of Pakistani nationals detained after Operation Pathway; the much publicised anti-terror raids after which all men were released without charge. The Home Secretary subsequently sought to have them deported.

 

Operation Overamp (Woolwich Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of the encouragement of terrorism, possessing a document of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and organising of terrorist training camps on the UK mainland.

 

Operation Vivace (Woolwich Crown Court) Trial 1

Conspiracy to murder: Naz represented the “fifth bomber” from the 21/7 attempted suicide bomb attacks targeting the London Underground system. There was a hung jury following the first trial. The defendant pleaded guilty to a lesser offence before retrial.

 

Operation Vivace Trial 3

The defendant was accused of two counts of failing to disclose information which could have assisted in the apprehension of a person involved in an act of terrorism. The client failed to contact the authorities in relation to two of the convicted 21/7 bombers and positively assisted the cell leader to evade capture.

 

Murder & serious violence

Operation Sandal (Sheffield Crown Court)

Alleged gangland murder by drug dealer

 

Operation Freed (Sheffield Crown Court)

The torture and murder of a drug addict believed to have stolen valuable jewellery.

 

Operation Japan (Sheffield Crown Court)

The frenzied stabbing and murder of a Massage Parlour owner during a burglary. This was reported by the BBC.

 

Operation Pawnstoke (Leeds Crown Court)

Defendant with serious mental health issues accused of murdering a male with whom he was living in a half-way-house. Horrific injuries inflicted without a weapon.

 

Operation Cholrine (Sheffield Crown Court)

Murder of a drug addict who had “bad mouthed” his dealer.

 

Operation Kalon (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of s.18 grievous bodily harm (GBH) (trial 1) and attempted murder (trial 2) as part of alleged revenge attacks between members of two opposing Sheffield gangs. The case involved legal argument as to the admissibility of “gang injunctions.”

 

Operation Helium (Warwick Crown Court)

Gang Land abduction of alleged opposing gang member held for ransom. Systematic torture including severing a finger which was sent to the victim’s family when the ransom wasn’t paid in full.

 

Operation Kite (Sheffield Crown Court)

Following escalating inter-communal violence, an alleged murder where the defendants’ vehicle drove at a pedestrian. The driver and occupants were jointly charged.

 

Operation Fayville (Central Criminal Crown Court)

Alleged murder within a secure mental ward. The defendant believed the deceased to be “Satan”.

 

Operation Cooling (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of the murder of Laura Wilson, the young mother whose body was recovered from a canal with multiple stab wounds.

 

Operation Kremlin (Sheffield Crown Court)

Conspiracy to murder: alleged contract killing organised by local business men. Indictment stayed part way through defence case following an abuse of process submission arising from serious and fundamental disclosure failures by officers and the CPS. Mr Justice Sweeney described the case as “a disaster for the criminal justice system” and said the prosecution had been responsible for “failures on a disturbing scale”.

 

R v H and others (Manchester Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of murder, attempted murder, s.18 GBH, possession of a firearm with intent, possession of ammunition and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The case involved a serious organised crime agency (SOCA) investigation and the trial of a “hit man” linked to North West drug gangs.

 

Operation Yardelle (Central Criminal Court)

The defendant was accused of two counts of attempted murder, as well as possession of a firearm with intent, possession of ammunition and attempting to pervert the course of justice. This involved the attempted murder of a prosecution witness to an armed robbery and attempts to pervert the course of justice by the defendant and his solicitor whilst the former was on remand in HMP Belmarsh.

 

Operation Hobby (Sheffield Crown Court)

Murder: wife hired members of a ‘gangsta’ rap group to kill her estranged husband. Naz acted for one of the rappers.

 

Operation Cooling (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of the murder of Laura Wilson, the young mother whose body was recovered from a canal with multiple stab wounds.

 

Operation Kremlin (Sheffield Crown Court)

Conspiracy to murder: alleged contract killing organised by local business men. Indictment stayed part way through defence case following an abuse of process submission arising from serious and fundamental disclosure failures by officers and the CPS.

 

Operation Griffin (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of perverting the course of justice by the organisation of false alibi evidence for a defendant charged with murder. Naz’s client stood trial with the nine defendants charged with a murder committed in a close knit community. The prosecution sought (unsuccessfully) to rely upon eye witnesses who had complete anonymity.

 

R v Duffy 1 & 2 (Bradford Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of s.18 GBH. Naz represented a serving soldier in two separate allegations arising from serious incidents of violence in nightclubs.

 

Operation Murcia (Peterborough Crown Court)

Conspiracy to rob involving multiple organised cash-in-transit robberies.

 

R v Lee (Sheffield Crown Court)

Alleged armed robberies of post offices in Yorkshire.

 

Operation Lucas (Manchester Crown Court)

Violent disorder: large-scale disturbance in Manchester city center following the England versus Wales World Cup qualifying match at Old Trafford.

 

Sexual Offences

R v Farok Twafiq (Sheffield Crown Court)

Defendant, charged with rape, fled the country and was tried in his absence. Naz had no instructions, no Defence Statement and his solicitors left court as they felt a conviction was inevitable. The defence case rested solely upon Naz’s cross examination of the complainant and his closing speech. Not guilty.

 

R v AG (Derby Crown Court)

Defendant faced a ten count indictment alleging attempted rape, sexual assault and exposure in relation to his step daughter. Not guilty.

 

R v Hafeez (Sheffield Crown Court & COACD)

Alleged rape by a taxi driver of a passenger. Conviction quashed, no retrial. Serious investigatory and disclosure failings established The defence discovered “fresh evidence” that they had been told by the Crown no longer existed. The evidence wholly supported the defendant’s account in interview. Conviction quashed, no retrial.

 

R v Ali (Sheffield Crown Court & COACD)

Alleged sexual activity with a child. The defence secured the “fresh evidence” of a child witness, ignored by the Prosecution, via the novel process of conducting their own ABE interview. The COA was persuaded by submissions that it could receive evidence in this way. Conviction quashed, no retrial.

 

R v Lockey (Sheffield Crown Court)

Alleged multiple rapes by D with learning difficulties. D and complainant required intermediaries. Serious investigatory and disclosure failings established. OIC fell ill. Prosecution would not drop the case and a replacement with no knowledge of the case was proffered. Naz made clear he intended to invite the Court to (or the defence would) call the reviewing lawyer. The hitherto bullish Prosecution offered no evidence prior to him making the application. Not guilty.

 

R v Hussain (Sheffield Crown Court)

Alleged matrimonial rape. Defence called the son as a witness. Not guilty.

 

R v Godbehere (Sheffield Crown Court)

Alleged rape at a party where the complainant said she was too drunk to consent. Not guilty.

 

R v Alghanami (Sheffield Crown Court)

Alleged rape by former partner where he was alleged to have confessed at the scene to witnesses. Not guilty.

 

R v Ward (Sheffield Crown Court)

Alleged historic sexual abuse by D of his granddaughter. Police investigatory failings discovered. Not guilty.

 

R v Skill (Sheffield Crown Court)

Alleged historic sexual abuse by D when he was 14 (43 at trial) of the then 6 year old sister of his friend. Highly emotional and complex case, described by the judge as “more difficult than a murder trial”. Not guilty.

 

R v Sharma (Manchester Crown Court)

Alleged sexual abuse of sedated patients by a doctor whilst they were undergoing abortions. Work place bullying and racism established. Not guilty.

 

Kidnapping & blackmail

Operation Helium (Warwick Crown Court)

Gang Land abduction of alleged opposing gang member held for ransom. Systematic torture including severing a finger which was sent to the victim’s family when the ransom wasn’t paid in full.

 

R v Patel & others (Snaresbrook Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of kidnap, false imprisonment, s.47 assault and blackmail. The case involved the alleged kidnapping of two women in relation to an unsettled debt, significant special measures were granted. This was a four-handed trial which took 40 days. The principal witness’s evidence and cross examination took nine days.

 

Operation Hullabaloo (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of kidnap, false imprisonment and s.47 assault. This involved the kidnapping of a youth who was systematically beaten and forced to drive over 100 miles by “drug dealers and gangsters”.

 

Operation Madonna (Sheffield Crown Court)

Kidnap, child abduction and blackmail: the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl who was held until a debt was settled.

 

R v Lanera (Sheffield Crown Court)

Kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail: a school teacher allegedly held captive in Sheffield’s red light district by a defendant described as a “gangster”.

 

Fraud

Operation Lever (Central Criminal Court)

The defendant was accused of being a conspirator in an international telecommunication fraud involving the hijacking of SIMs belonging to Vodaphone customers. The fraud generated in excess of £2.8 million.

 

Operation Talmice (Bradford Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of conspiracy to defraud in an allegation of election fraud during the 2005 general election. This was the first case before the courts to involve such an allegation. Indicted defendants included the then Conservative parliamentary candidate, serving and former Conservative councillors.

 

Operation Thatcham (Leeds Crown Court)

A complex 42 defendant “cash for crash” conspiracy involving fake claimants, accident management companies and other related businesses and professions.

 

Operation Galton (Leeds Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of attempting to handle stolen goods. Numerous multi-defendant trials involving the large-scale purchasing of BT and Railtrack cables from undercover officers. The case involved extensive use of covert audio and video surveillance.

 

Operation Obtain (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of attempting to handle stolen goods, possessing criminal property and converting criminal property. Numerous multi-defendant trials involving the large scale purchasing of BT and Railtrack cables from undercover officers. The case involved extensive use of covert audio and video surveillance.

 

Operation Spenser (Croydon Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of conspiracy to commit fraud: alleged large-scale conspiracy creating multiple false identities which were in turn used to claim citizenship and benefits.

 

Operation Abyss (Inner London Crown Court)

Conspiracy to commit £1.5 million benefit fraud involving the creation of multiple false identities.

 

Operation Yankee (Leeds Crown Court)

Conspiracy to burgle. The case involved 17 defendants carrying out alleged Hanoi burglaries across Yorkshire and Lancashire, which targeted high-value vehicles with a total value of £4 million.

 

R v Francis(Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of conspiracy to defraud, acquiring criminal property and converting criminal property. Alleged large-scale fraud upon a private bank involving an “inside man”. A City of London Police investigation originally listed at the Central Criminal Court.

 

Operation Melody (Sheffield Crown Court)

Conspiracy to transfer the proceeds of crime: sums in excess of £4.5 million were transferred from the UK to Jamaica via money transfers.

 

R v Ali & others (Bradford Crown Court)

Conspiracy defraud: fraudulent obtaining of high-power bespoke vehicles from “Project Kahn”.

 

R v Mahboob (Sheffield Crown Court)

Forgery and conspiracy to defraud: international conspiracy to defraud House of Fraser by producing fake gift vouchers.

 

Operation Cognac (Sheffield Crown Court)

Conspiracy to defraud: ten-handed mortgage fraud involving an accountant and mortgage adviser.

 

Drugs

Operation Mosaic (Sheffield Crown Court)

The ‘Full Metal Jacket’ organised crime gang case.

The defendant was a conspirator in a large drug importation and supply operation. The OCG used codenames from the Kubrick film and also the US TV drama “The Wire”. The case involved the extensive use of surveillance, covert eavesdropping and multinational intelligence sources.

 

Operation Monochrome (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs as part of an alleged large-scale conspiracy covering the north of England. The case involved the extensive use of surveillance.

 

R v Kristoff (Newcastle Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of the importation of Crystal Meth via The Gambia.

 

Operation Cisco (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of conspiracy to supply heroin across South Yorkshire.

 

R v Rahim & Khan (Bradford Crown Court)

Large-scale importation of high-purity heroin from Pakistan.

 

Operation Core (Nottingham Crown Court)

Conspiracy to supply cocaine and various firearms offences. The case was a 10-defendant conspiracy supplying drugs and firearms across the Midlands and northern England.

 

Operation Minx (Sheffield Crown Court)

The defendant was accused of conspiracy to supply cocaine. Naz represented the alleged head of an extensive criminal organisation with international links.

 

R v Hull & Spence (Teesside Crown Court)

Large-scale supply of cocaine from London to Middlesbrough via Leeds.

 

R v Pham (Sheffield Crown Court)

Sophisticated, large-scale cultivation of cannabis within domestic