Dere Street Barristers

Angus is a Criminal Law specialist and accepts instructions from both the Prosecution or Defence. He has gained extensive experience from previous roles having served as a soldier in the Royal Marines, a Police Officer in Northumbria Police and as in-house counsel within two North-Eastern Local Authorities.

Criminal Law

Appearing in both the Crown and Magistrates Court, Angus deals with a range of Criminal and Regulatory offences. He is a Grade 2 Prosecutor and conducts Jury Trials, Appeals against Conviction or Sentence and handles cases involving POCA. Due to his background he is well placed to represent service personnel of all ranks and departments coming before the criminal courts. Angus has acted for numerous organisations including the DWP, DVLA, HMRC and the RSPCA.  His practice covers:

Offences of violence

Offences of dishonesty

Drug related offences

Regulatory Law

Whilst working within Local Government Angus gained first hand experience when dealing with numerous client departments including:

Trading Standards

Acted in numerous matters, including cases involving Trade Mark / counterfeit goods, underage alcohol sales and enforcement action taken under the Enterprise Act 2000. He has particular experience when dealing with illegal tobacco cases.

Environmental Health

Prosecution experience under the Food Safety Act, including contravention of Food Hygiene Notices and offences as a result of test purchases.

Environmental Protection cases such as large scale Fly-Tipping, contraventions of “Duty of Care” documentation requirements and offences committed by third parties, such as Landlords and Scrap Metal Dealers.

Licensing

Taxi Licence Appeals in both the Magistrates and Crown Court. Applications for and enforcement of licenses granted to Public House, Pet Shops and Circuses.

Angus’s experience also includes applications for Injunctions, defending Judicial Review proceedings, disclosure under PII and all aspects of Anti-Social Behaviour. He has also appeared before the County Court in rent possession hearings and on appeals from the same to the Crown Court

Education Law

Angus is a fully trained Clerk to the Independent Admissions Appeal Panel regarding the refusal of school places.

He also clerks and advises Independent Review Panels dealing with children who have been permanently excluded from school.

As a result, Angus is able to provide clerking services and training to both Local Authorities and Academy Trusts where required.

Angus also has experience of appearing before the First Tier Tribunal in Special Educational Needs matters regarding EHC plans.

Notable Cases

R-v-Abdul (Hull Crown Court) suspended sentence secured for client accused of twice providing false details to avoid speed camera penalty points.

R-v- Clay (Grimsby Crown Court) successfully defended client accused of knifepoint robbery and witness intimidation. Acquitted on all counts after trial.

R -v- Ramshaw & Ramshaw (Newcastle Crown Court) instructing solicitor during a violent murder case. Represented both defendant brothers from arrest until sentence and assisted both QC’s in instructing experts and handling disclosure.

R -v- Jeavons (Durham Crown Court) instructing solicitor representing a defendant accused of importing £1 million pounds’ worth of cannabis resin.

South Tyneside Council -v- Fowles (Newcastle Crown Court) prosecution of a defendant in possession of 40,000 counterfeit cigarettes.

South Tyneside Council -v- N’Cube (Newcastle Crown Court) prosecution of a defendant for high value benefits fraud. £47,000 recovered under POCA.

Reported Cases

DP -v- South Tyneside NHS Trust & South Tyneside Council (2011) Admin Court 14/7/11.  Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus refused in circumstances where it was not practicable to contact a nearest relative under the Mental Health Act 1983

Criminal Bar Association

Association of Regulatory Lawyers

North Eastern Circuit

Lincolns Inn

LL. B (Hon’s) 2:1 Northumbria University

LPC (commendation) Northumbria University

Admitted Solicitor (2007)

Accredited Police Station Representative

BSB Authorised to Conduct Litigation