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Archives

Jameel Malik

Nottingham criminal solicitor
Nottingham crime solicitor Jameel Malik

A Nottingham man born and bred, Jameel has been representing clients at the police station since 2012.  He qualified as a solicitor in the summer of 2016, following his successful training with VHS Fletchers solicitors.

During his time with this firm he has gained experience in dealing with the full range of offences from homicides, drug and sexual offences, immigration offences, frauds and driving offences.

Jameel has acted for a wide range of clients from actors, footballers, business men, students, foreign nationals, vulnerable adults, youths and all walks of life.

He has travelled all over the country to represent clients, including Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, London and Manchester. Jameel is diligent and hard-working, and will bring his best to the police station in and out of normal office hours.

Jameel is capable of building a good rapport with all clients. He is a good listener and always put the client’s needs first. He won’t be rushed by pressure from the police, and will battle with the police when necessary in his client’s best interests.

Duty Solicitor Qualification

Jameel has obtained his duty solicitor qualification which will entitle him to have a place on the Nottingham duty rota from January 2017.  This builds on his police station accreditation (PSQ) which has allowed him to represent clients at the police station for the full range of offences.  He can now advise all clients, whether they come to the firm due to a specific request for our advice or through the duty solicitor scheme.

Crime Solicitor Fluent in Punjabi and Urdu

Jameel is fluent in Punjabi and Urdu which gives him a clear advantage when dealing with those client’s where English is not their first language. He is able to give clear advice that is appropriate to particular the circumstances, tailoring the manner of that advice to a client’s particular vulnerabilities. He knows when a client’s interests are served by staying silent, and when by them answering questions.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: Jameel.malik@vhsfletchers.co.uk

A. Production of Cannabis. Client found with several cannabis plants in his address. Notwithstanding the sentencing guidelines, successful representations were made to allow the client to be given a police caution.

D. Murder. Police station advice given where the client was accused of being involved in a murder where an address had been targeted and fire-bombed.

A. City Centre Violence. The client, who was a vulnerable adult, had been accused of assaulting members of the public on a night out in the city centre.

S. Football Related Violence. The client had attended a football match where he had been accused of running on to the football pitch and assaulting a player.

M. Fraud. The client had been duped into providing her details to purchase prestige cars and secure large loans. This included detailed analysis of complex financial evidence combined with lengthy interviews with client.

Q. Knife Crime. The client was accused of being in possession of a knife in a public place. It was correctly identified that the client had a lawful defence that was put forward in interview.

Archives

Jim Buckley

Jim joined VHS Fletchers in 2001 having qualified as a solicitor in 1991. After gaining years of experience dealing with clients from the police station through to the conclusion of Crown Court cases, he now specialises in representing clients across the country in the police station and the Magistrates’ Court.

Since joining the firm, Jim has worked on a number of serious criminal cases which, of note, involve murder, manslaughter, rapes and serious sexual assaults.

Jim has concentrated his time predominantly on appearing on a daily basis in the Magistrates’ Court.

His substantial experience allows him to boast of an excellent reputation as an intelligent advocate, securing an impressive acquittal rate at trial as well as notable results when dealing with sentences and bail applications, which no doubt influences clients when they return to him for advice and representation or recommend him to friends and associates. A particular specialism is the forensic analysis of the legality of police behaviour in any given case, analysing whether there are opportunities to exclude evidence secured by unlawful means.

Jim is an expert on offences relating to football matches. He has considerable success in representing clients charged with offences alleged before, during or after matches. He is experienced in defending applications for Football Banning Orders.

He also has a reputation for being able to represent clients who can be considered challenging and with clients with mental health difficulties.

Jim is a Duty Solicitor and has held the Higher Rights Qualification permitting him to provide representation to his clients before the Crown Court.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: jim.buckley@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v B Murder. Client accused of murder by way of injecting a fellow drug user with heroin. An acquittal was secured.

R v C Murder. A case of a man with no prior criminal involvement who was accused of murder of his partner and whose first court appearance was therefore on a murder charge.

R v T. Successful Defence in Football Law case. Our client was charged with a public order offence for allegedly shouting a homophobic insult at a Nottingham Forest player. Successful representation at trial led to acquittal after expert cross-examination of police officer witnesses.

R v W. Sexual Offences. A multiple rape allegation involving alleged rapes from a number of counties and a series of trials.

R v C. Domestic Violence. A serving prison officer was accused of a domestic assault. An acquittal was secured after trial had been adjourned four times.

Archives

John Young

John has over 30 years’ experience working as a defence solicitor within the criminal justice system. Having qualified in 1983 he worked initially in general practice dealing with both contentious and non-contentious matters. He then moved to specialise in litigation and by 1992 was the partner in charge of the criminal department at Pinders solicitors.

John is a very experienced and trusted advocate. He defends clients from diverse backgrounds and across all ages who face a wide range of offences. He also has extensive experience of representing clients at the police station and in other types of investigations such as those by the DWP and local authorities.

He has been a Duty Solicitor at both the police station and Magistrates’ Court since the very early years of those schemes and was a member of the Derby Duty Solicitor Committee until it was disbanded.

Across the years John has developed many valuable contacts with other agencies within the criminal justice system, such as the Probation Service and Youth Offending Team. This, together with his wealth of knowledge and experience, has made John a respected advocate. He is approachable and candid in his dealings with clients, and robust when representing them.

Contact:

Derby Office:
8 St Mary’s Gate,
Derby,
DE1 3JF

Tel: 01332 546818
Email: john.young@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v T. Animal Cruelty. Represented and 80 year old woman and her daughter prosecuted for persistent mistreatment of a herd of ponies.

R v S. Murder. Litigator in a case involving a knife attack on several customers in a Derbyshire pub.

R v J. Murder. Litigator in a case of murder arising from a stabbing after a family dispute over pieces of frozen chicken.

R v A and others. Sexual offences. Litigator in relation to the first prosecution in the East Midlands of a sex-ring involving the grooming of vulnerable young females.

R v R. Local Authority Prosecution. The client was alleged to have deliberately introduced unfit meat into the human food chain.

R v B. Manslaughter. The client was alleged to have undertaken a revenge attack following and incident of road rage, throwing a brick through the deceased’s window leading to his death.

R v T. Burglary. An unusual case where the client was a security guard filmed committing a burglary on premises he was supposed to be guarding, being capture on the premises’ CCTV.

R v J. Breach Restraining Order. Immediate prison sentence avoided for client with a particularly poor record for similar offending, while on community orders for the same offences.    Read more here.

R v I. Early Guilty Plea. Suspended sentence order secured for client facing four assault charges including ABH.  Read more here.

Archives

Jon Hullis

Jon Hullis – Partner, Regulatory and Motoring Law Solicitor

Jon qualified as a solicitor in 1997 and was a Duty Solicitor from 1999. He is a Higher Courts Advocate who is qualified to represent his clients before the Crown Court and Court of Appeal.

As a result, Jon has substantial experience defending every type of criminal case, providing advice and representation in police stations, Magistrates’ and Crown Courts, and has appeared in several cases in the Court of Appeal and in the High Court.

In addition to his criminal defence cases, Jon has worked on Regulatory Law cases representing the Health and Safety Executive in prosecutions relating to breaches of all aspects of health and safety legislation throughout the country. He has represented the Health and Safety Executive at Coroner’s Inquests.

Jon represents healthcare professionals in matters of professional standards and disciplinary proceedings.

He also represents clients in cases relating to firearms law.

He has extensive experience of defending clients charged with driving offences, from speeding to causing death by dangerous driving. Jon has represented professional drivers and those whose livelihoods depend on having a driving licence. Jon is an expert in the technical defences in cases such as drink and drug driving, including post-driving consumption and spiked drinks. He regularly represents clients in putting forward evidence of “exceptional hardship” to avoid disqualification for having twelve or more penalty points. Jon has successfully made legal arguments for the court to use its discretion not to impose mandatory driving disqualifications on the basis of “Special Reasons” for cases involving drink/drug driving, dangerous driving of Large Goods Vehicles and drink driving on e-scooters.

Jon’s forensic approach to cases means that his skills have also been successfully brought to bear on the more technical kinds of proceedings before the Magistrates’ Court. He has considerable success in defending the more complex cases including prosecutions for Dangerous Dogs and applications for Criminal Behaviour Orders.

Jon has provided in-house training to businesses who operate fleets of vehicles, and given talks to motoring groups and clubs.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550

Email: jon.hullis@vhsfletchers.co.uk

Not guilty of failing to provide driver’s details. Business owner found not guilty of failing to provide driver’s details (section 172 Road Traffic Act 1988) after a single written demand from a police officer. Client gave evidence that he had returned the notice with the required information. Magistrates acquitted as they could not be sure that the reply had not been sent.

Representation of Estate Agent – 12 points but no driving ban. Busy and successful estate agent faced a penalty points ban for accumulating 12 penalty points within 3 years. Thorough preparation of evidence to successfully argue that no ban should be imposed due exceptional hardship based on the inevitable impact on the business and the consequent risk of staff redundancies.

Representation of nightclub Door Supervisor. Represented SIA-badged door supervisor charged with assaulting a customer who had been ejected from the nightclub. Video evidence showed that the doorman had not acted in self-defence and would have been convicted if he had a trial. Guilty plea entered and the case then turned on getting the best possible outcome for the client. Thankfully, the court agreed with the mitigation and character references and imposed a Conditional Discharge – the lowest sentence possible.

Possession of shotgun without certificate. Representation in the magistrates’ court of a young farmer whose shotgun certificate had been revoked. Due to an oversight, his change of address had not been notified, meaning the notification had been sent to his former address and he was unaware of the revocation and was therefore in possession of a shotgun without a certificate. Guilty plea and significant mitigation led to a small fine of £93 being imposed.

Representation of shotgun licence holder charged with transferring a shotgun to a non-licence holder and failing to notify the transfer. Successful representations to the prosecutor resulted in one charge being withdrawn. Powerful mitigation persuaded the Magistrates to impose a Conditional Discharge for the remaining offence.

Representation of a retired gunsmith following a police search warrant being executed at his home and the seizure of his collection of more than a hundred antique firearms. Represented at formal police interview under caution. Presentation of evidence and detailed expert submissions to the police led to the return of every seized firearm.

R v P. Court of Appeal. Appeal against sentence. Four year sentence reduced to two years on appeal.

R v W. Court of Appeal. Appeal against sentence. Sentence of 36 months for offence of unlawful wounding reduced to 28 months on appeal.

R v H. Court of Appeal. Appeal against sentence. Sentence of 4 years 8 months for drug trafficking reduced to 4 years on appeal.

R v E. Court of Appeal. Appeal against sentence. Successful appeal for offences of supplying Class A drugs. Sentence reduced from 3 years 4 months to 2 years 9 months.

R v J. Court of Appeal. Appeal against sentence. Successful appeal against prison sentence for historic sexual offence. Replaced with Community Order.

High Court Appeal by Case Stated. Appeal on a point of law against the conviction by Magistrates of client charged with domestic assault. Client was accused of a physical assault on his estranged wife. Following cross-examination of prosecution witnesses by Jon Hullis, Magistrates did not find the physical assault proved, but nevertheless went on to convict of a non-physical assault. Jon lodged an appeal and appeared at the High Court, resulting in the conviction being quashed.

Representation of e-scooter rider for “driving” with excess alcohol. Successful argument of Special Reasons with no driving ban imposed for a student who rode the council-hired e-scooter a short distance with no other vehicles around.

Representation of Large Goods Vehicle driver charged with dangerous driving after his vehicle overturned on an urban roundabout. Successful argument of Special Reasons with no driving ban imposed based on the unusual circumstances involving the operator not supplying appropriate load restraints and wrongly telling the driver that it was safe, with a threat of being sacked if he didn’t obey.

Successful representation of business owner to keep his driving licence. Representation of the owner of a chain of pharmacies who had accumulated 12 penalty points for speeding offences. Thorough preparation and gathering of evidence resulted in successful argument of “exceptional hardship” and the client being able to continue driving.

Speeding – Special Reasons found – No ban or points. Represented director of a security company who overtook an unmarked police car and was seen to drive at over 90 MPH in a 50 limit. Careful preparation of case and supporting evidence. Successful argument of Special Reasons as a result of client’s genuine fear for his safety from the occupants of another car after well documented threats to his life. Resulted in no ban, no penalty points, no fine and no prosecution costs.

VOSA Prosecution. Representing five clients who were HGV drivers accused of a conspiracy to falsify tachograph records resulting from alleged driving without tacho cards inserted.

Security Industry Authority prosecution. Clients were directors of a security company prosecuted by the SIA for using unlicensed security operatives.

Careless Driving. Client was a motorcyclist charged with careless driving after he was involved in a collision that left him with serious spinal injuries.

Dangerous Driving. Client was a type-1 diabetic driver charged with dangerous driving after he suffered a sudden hypoglycaemic episode while driving, resulting in numerous collisions on the M1 and adjoining roads and culminating in a serious collision with a building. A report was commissioned from the country’s leading expert on ‘hypoglycaemia unawareness’ resulting in the Crown Prosecution Service offering no evidence and the charge being dismissed.

Causing Death by Dangerous Driving. Client was a farmer investigated after a motorcyclist died following a collision with his vehicle as he made a right turn. Representation at investigation stage resulted in no charges being brought.

Represented off-duty police officer accused of using Disorderly Behaviour towards police officers. Trial involved cross-examination of police prosecution witnesses and detailed presentation of CCTV evidence that proved the client’s innocence. Client acquitted.

Representation of driver charged with causing the death of a motorcyclist by dangerous driving and whilst uninsured. Also, representation of her husband for permitting her to drive whilst uninsured.

Archives

Julia Haywood

Julia undertook her training with VHS solicitors, qualifying in 2000 and becoming a Duty Solicitor in 2001.

After building a reputation for diligent and methodical preparation in the police station and Magistrates’ Court, Julia has brought her attention to detail to bear on a significant number of serious, high profile cases, including some notable Very High Cost Cases. These include allegations of contract killings, international fraud and complex confiscation proceedings.

Julia is always in demand due to her sympathetic and understanding manner with her clients, who have sought her advice over the years and are always happy to recommend friends and associates to her.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: Julia.haywood@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v R. and others. Murder. High profile executions style double murder of an elderly couple said to have been retribution following a shooting in Nottingham the previous year.

R v H. Confiscation proceedings. Proceeds of Crime application following another high profile trial. Crown initially seeking £15M in benefit, but matter eventually compromised with an agreed assets of £283K.

R v M. Drugs Conspiracy. Client was a sales rep for a pharmaceutical company who was charged as part of a global conspiracy to import fake Viagra. Investigations in Sweden, the Caribbean and the Far East had generated a substantial amount of evidence. Following careful analysis the Crown was persuaded to offer no evidence at the start of the trial.

R v K and others. Drugs Conspiracy. Client was part of a multi-handed case involving 12 members of the same family. Client’s ultimate sentence reflected constructive dialogue with the Crown as to a realistic basis of plea.

R v S and others. Drugs Conspiracy. Complex confiscation proceedings where matters were dealt with by agreement to the satisfaction of all clients.

R v D Domestic Assault. Client was arrested for wounding with intent after she stabbed her violent ex-partner with scissors. She was living in a refuge at the time with her young son due to his violence. The case involved extremely careful handling due to the client’s distress, and the risk that she might lose care of her child. The client was not charged having satisfied the police in interview that she was acting in self-defence.

Archives

Lisa Sawyer

VHS Fletchers Lisa Sawyer crown court
Crown Court Litigator Lisa Sawyer

Lisa has been preparing and litigating Crown Court cases for over 25 years. She holds the PSQ permitting her to represent clients in the police station who have requested the Duty Solicitor.

She specialises in Crown Court casework, and has experience of dealing with the full range of cases involving fraud, murder, immigration offences, serious sexual offences many of an historic nature, drug conspiracies, money laundering and major public order incidents. Lisa also has significant experience of confiscation proceedings.

Lisa’s years of experience gives her an encyclopaedic knowledge of how best to progress Crown Court matters. She is calm and confident in her dealings with all cases, which clients no doubt benefit from, and she recognises that all cases of whatever type are serious to the client. Her thorough approach always means that clients know she has gone the extra mile in their case, whether that be locating witnesses or poring over complex telephone data schedules. Whether it is a case being prepared for an in-house advocate or independent counsel, they can be confident that Lisa will work independently and present them with the client’s best case.

Her personable manner means that she is patient and sympathetic, and it is perhaps for that reason that she is identified as the appropriate litigator for those suffering from mental health difficulties. She aims to treat all clients with dignity and respect.

Details of a recent unusual case that LIsa has dealt with can be found here.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: lisa.sawyer@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v B False Imprisonment. Client’s medication had been improperly supervised and as a result he had a recurrence of mental health issues. Despite doctors maintaining he was fit to stand trial, they were eventually persuaded that he was not due to Lisa’s knowledge of the client and he was transferred to hospital for treatment.

R v S Murder. Represented a client accused of involvement in contract killing due to money owed for a drug debt.

R v B Murder. Represented client at trial prosecuted for procuring a contract killing of partner’s ex-husband in a financial dispute.

R v R Explosives offence. Client was suffering from mental illness and had made an explosive device at home.

R v B Burglary. Client was charged with a string of burglaries, the bulk of the evidence coming from mobile phone data. A detailed analysis of the cell site material led to the defendant’s acquittal on the judge’s direction.

R v J Child neglect. Client faced allegations of joint neglect with the mother of his child who subsequently died.

R v F and others. Nottingham Riots. Represented one of 16 who took part in the riots in Nottingham in the summer of 2011, preparing the case for a complex trial lasting several weeks.

R v H. Firearms Offence. Client alleged to have produced a firearm in a bar in Nottingham following an earlier confrontation. He was aquitted after trial when the evidence of eye-witnesses was successfully challenged.

R v B.  Sexual offences.  Not guilty verdicts for this client before Nottingham Crown Court. Read more here.

Archives

Martin Hadley

nottingham criminal solicitor
Nottingham Regulatory Consultant Solicitor Martin Hadley

Martin Hadley specialised in criminal defence work from being admitted as a solicitor in 1988. He has over 30 years’ experience representing individuals at police stations or before criminal courts.

This knowledge and experience gained over many years has equipped him well, enabling him to review cases from a balanced and independent view point. His clients receive the benefit of this unbiased advice, always given in their best interests.

Since 1999, Martin has used these abilities to specialise in representing healthcare professionals, including staff of a major pharmaceutical company as well as those self-employed. He provides advice on investigations by the police, statutory and regulatory bodies. He has advised many professionals at the police station, court, Coroner’s Inquests and disciplinary proceedings. He has undertaken the advocacy and presentation of cases before the General Pharmaceutical Council and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

Martin has dealt with the full range of issues that will arise when representing professionals, including corporate manslaughter, fraud and regulatory breaches. As Martin undertakes his own advocacy before the tribunals, he brings continuity that cannot be achieved by the use of external counsel.

His abilities were recognised in 1997 by the Legal Services Commission (now the Legal Aid Agency) when he was appointed to the Funding Review Committee where he sat as both Chair and member.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: martin.hadley@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v M Fraud. Client was a pharmacist accused of a fraud valued in excess of £80K. Unfortunately the Crown Prosecution Service failed to understand the technical processes of the client’s business and his ability to make a legitimate claim for costs. The client was acquitted after trial.

L. Gross Negligence Manslaughter. The clients were a pharmacist and his colleagues interviewed by the police, overseen by the Special Cases Unit of the Crown Prosecution Service, during a period of 5 days. Ultimately, no action was taken as we helped demonstrate that the pharmacy had robust systems in place and these systems were routinely used.

P. Inquest. Representing a pharmacist and her colleagues who were ‘interested parties’ at an inquest lasting 5 days. The Coroner in his conclusion highlighted shortcomings in the practices of others while making no criticism was made of our client’s practice.

R. Investigation. The client was a pharmacist being investigated by the General Pharmaceutical Council for failing to dispense medication requested on a prescription. Written representations were submitted denying wrong doing. Thereafter the Council closed its investigation into our client and took no action, instead giving advice to our client’s employer.

J . Fitness to Practice. Advocacy undertaken before the Fitness to Practice Committee of the General Pharmaceutical Council on behalf of a client accused of making various dispensing errors. It was alleged that due to the number and frequency of these errors he was not fit to practice. It was demonstrated, however, that the error rate was below the national average and the Committee found that the client was fit to practice and that his performance was ‘nearer to excellent than poor’. Unsurprisingly, no action was taken.

General Pharmaceutical Council v PSuccessful representations made on behalf of a pharmacist technician who had failed to disclose a police caution.  Further information can be found here.

Archives

Nick Walsh

nottingham criminal defence lawyer Nick Walsh
Nottingham partner and crime solicitor Nick Walsh

Nick has been qualified as a solicitor for nearly 30 years and has specialised in criminal law since qualification. He has been qualified as a Duty Solicitor for much of that time, and has held the solicitors’ Higher Court Qualification since 2006 which allows him to provide continuity or representation in the police station, Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.

As a result, Nick has a wealth of experience and as such is a well-respected and trusted solicitor, not only by his clients but also by his peers and other professional court users.

Nick is known for paying great attention to the detail of the case, coupled with an ability to identify the real and important issues in a case, whether it be for trial or mitigation following plea. This calm and structured approach furthers his aim to make what is often a very daunting experience as easy as possible by taking time to explain what is to happen in a simple and easy to understand way.

Nick is a partner and the departmental supervisor for Nottingham police station and Magistrates’ Court work. He is also a member of the Nottinghamshire Law Society Criminal Business Sub-Committee.

Recent cases and feedback for Nick can be found here and here.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: nick.walsh@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v M Historic Appeal against Conviction. The client was convicted of a serious wounding of a police officer in the early ‘80’s. The appeal was allowed on the basis that the police conduct in obtaining confessions was, by modern standards, so poor that the confessions should not have been before the jury and therefore the conviction was unsafe.

R v L Sexual Assault. The client was a 13 year old boy of good character facing a charge of sexual assault on an 11 year old girl. The case involved cross-examination of two vulnerable witnesses via the video link, after which the client was acquitted.

R v B Potential Driving Disqualification. The client admitted 4 further speeding offences while already having 12 penalty points on his licence. It was successfully argued that the client would suffer exceptional hardship if the defendant was disqualified and the client kept his licence.

R v S Knife Point Robbery. Careful mitigation meant that an 18 year old of good character avoided what was apparently an inevitable custodial sentence by reference to the guidelines.

R v W Murder. The client faced an allegation of murder having thrown a metal pole at a neighbour during an argument. Thorough preparation, including liaising with the police and home office pathologist to recreate the level of force required to kill using a dead pig, persuaded the prosecution to accept a plea to manslaughter instead.

Archives

Andrew Broome

Andrew qualified in 1990, and became a partner at Frisby and Co in the same year. He retired from Frisby & Co as Chairman and Head of Regulatory Crime in 2012, and has been employed by VHS Fletchers as a Consultant since March 2013.

During his career, Andrew has undertaken all forms of Criminal work, ranging from Homicide, offences against the person, and fraud. He is a qualified supervisor for Very High Cost Case work.

Firearms law specialist

Andrew Broome, firearms law specialist solicitor
Andrew Broome, firearms law specialist solicitor

Andrew has participated in all forms of shooting for over 30 years. His interest initially began with clay target shooting, progressing to handguns (when UK legal) and long-range rifle competitions both here and abroad.

He  has a particular interest in large bore shotguns. This led to him becoming a passionate and accomplished hand loader of ammunition, both for Section 1 and Section 2 firearms.

Andrew’s involvement in the shooting sports naturally led to him developing a nationally recognised specialism in all aspects of firearms law. Initially this was principally acting for individual certificate holders, but it soon developed  to a point where he received instructions from shooting clubs, Registered Firearms Dealers and International Firearms Dealers as his reputation and expertise became recognised.

In more recent times Andrew has been able to combine his Health and Safety and Regulatory knowledge to the benefit of all those engaged in the shooting industry so as to provide a single point of contact for legal compliance. In this capacity he frequently is invited to attend the Shot Show Las Vegas on behalf of clients as well as the IWA Exhibition in Nuremberg.

Areas of work covered but not limited to:

  • Acting for certificate holders in relation to appeals against refusal to grant and/or revoke firearms and shotgun certificates.
  • Handling licensing appeals on behalf of Registered Firearms Dealers including those seeking Registration.
  • Acting for Home Office approved (and independent) shooting clubs/establishments on licensing matters.
  • Acting for shooting establishments in relation to defending actions for noise nuisance including bringing appeals against the service of Noise Abatement Notices served under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
  • Advising  Registered firearms dealers on legal compliance on matters such as firearm manufacture, transport, testing and overnight storage including Section 5 weapons.
  • Advising firearms and pyrotechnic manufacturers on Regulatory compliance and workshop safety.
  • Advising shooting establishments on safe range operation and on health and safety issues relating to employee and public safety.
  • Advising non-UK based firearms manufacturers/distributors on UK firearms law and regulatory compliance.
  • Providing Audit services to RFD’s and manufacturers on legislative compliance and workshop safety.
  • Defending anyone charged with Criminal offences arising from the use, possession or involvement of firearms.

Andrew currently enjoys life membership of a number of shooting clubs in recognition of his services to the sport and its members. He currently sits as the Independent Legal Member to the Audit Committee of the Royal Armouries and has a special advisory role to the National Firearm Centre.  Andrew has recently accepted a position as Honorary Health and Safety Adviser to ASPI. the Association of Professional Shooting Instructors.  He has advised a number of relevant specialist bodies including the Institute of Explosive Engineers.

In 2020 Andrew was made a Freeman of the City of London and in 2021 admitted as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers.

Health and Safety specialist

Andrew has conducted prosecution work for various government agencies and Local Authorities, stemming from his nationally recognised expertise in Health and Safety law. He has advised both the Police and Health and Safety Executive on a number of complex fatal accident investigations, many of which have gained considerable media attention. He has conducted joint HSE/Local Authority Prosecutions, and has also conducted similar joint prosecutions with the Environment Agency. He has represented the HSE on appeals to the Court of Appeal, and has a reputation for handling the most complex of cases.

Andrew regularly represents the Health and Safety Executive at Inquests, and at Notice appeals in the Employment Tribunal. His caseload has been vast and varied, having undertaken or overseen many hundreds of cases over a 24 year career.

He continues to undertake general and specialist criminal defence work for individuals and corporations against enforcing authorities for Regulatory criminal offences.

Contact:

Ilkeston Office:
68 South Street,
Ilkeston,
DE7 5QJ

Tel: 0115 9441233
Email: andrew.broome@vhsfletchers.co.uk

Midlands Electricity Board PLC. Death of worker at substation. Involved conducting the advocacy at a week long inquest cross-examining numerous technical experts and subsequently conducting the prosecution to final hearing.

Network Rail Infrastructure. Double rail fatality. Assisting the Railway Inspectorate involving devising a method of reconstruction requiring night time possession of the line and full cooperation with a number of duty-holders, ultimately drawing favourable judicial comment.

John Glen and Tremorfa Limited. Advised extensively within an investigation into the supplier and installer of an electric gate which sadly killed a child. Certain tests that were identified as appropriate limited possible defences available.

Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police. Prosecution arose from an injury sustained to a HGV examiner’s hand as a consequence of a failure to manage a training exercise properly. The case was one of the first of its kind following The Police (Health and Safety) Act 1997 and inevitably attracted significant media attention.

Telford Pressings Ltd. Health and Safety prosecution following traumatic amputation of limbs of worker in machinery Considerable media interest generated, primarily due to the injuries sustained, which formed a significant aspect of the case.

Archives

Andrew Wesley

Andrew has been qualified as a solicitor for over 20 years, specialising in criminal law since qualification.

He has been qualified as a Duty Solicitor for the majority of that time, and has held the solicitors’ Higher Court Qualification since 2006, specialising in Crown Court Advocacy since then, in combination with the advocacy that sometimes follows at the Court of Appeal.

solicitor advocate andrew wesley
Managing Partner and Solicitor Advocate Andrew Wesley

The decision to transfer his skills to the Crown Court followed years of gaining substantial experience as a trial lawyer before the Magistrates’ Court, where he represented clients at contested committal proceedings for the most serious offences including murder, and undertook the preparation and advocacy in complex trials of up to 2 weeks in length. At the same time, he was providing advice and representation in the police station and having responsibility for a significant Crown Court litigator caseload.

Since he began appearing exclusively before the Crown Court in 2008, Andrew has provided the advocacy for clients who have faced the full range of criminal offences – drugs conspiracies, sexual offences, road traffic fatalities, serious incidents of public disorder and violence and associated confiscation proceedings, and murder.

In relation to management roles, Andrew is currently the Managing Partner and Training Principal for VHS Fletchers, while continuing to manage the Crown Court department across the firm. He has a responsibility for training and recruitment, as well as business planning and other partnership issues. Locally, he was instrumental in challenging the proposals for new criminal legal aid contracting which would have restricted client access to justice, being latterly a member of steering group for the Fair Crime Contracts Alliance, the limited company that brought the judicial review proceedings.

Andrew is currently the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Nottingham Law Centre, and is a member of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association, Solicitors Association of Higher Courts Advocates, the local and national Law Society, and an occasional member of the Nottinghamshire Law Society Criminal Business Sub-Committee.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: andrew.wesley@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v W. (2025) Rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, strangulation.  Nottingham Crown Court. Represented client at trial where client found not guilty of all allegations alleging the allegations were fabricated.

R v R. (2025) Sexual Assault.  Nottingham Crown Court. Represented client at trial where client found not guilty of sexual assaults on step-daughter claiming they had been made up.

R v F. (2025) Rape and sexual assault.  Nottingham Crown Court sitting at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court.  Represent client at trial where client found not guilty, claiming that allegations made up to support an application for leave to remain in the UK.

R v F. Murder. Litigator where a client faced a re-trial following a court decision that she was responsible for the death of her two children. This was a complex case involving the now discredited Dr Meadows and Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy. Having secured bail for the client, the crown were persuaded that there was insufficient evidence to pursue a re-trial and proceedings were stayed.

R v J. and Others. Court of Appeal. Advocate at a successful appeal to overturn a 1986 conviction for wounding with intent. The court held that applying modern standards of fairness, a conviction from 1986 for grievous bodily harm with intent was unsafe where the appellant had been denied access to a solicitor and contemporaneous records of police interviews had not been made.

R v T. and another. Aggravated Burglary. Advocate where a client faced an allegation that he and a friend had forced entry with a weapon into the home of a man in his 60s. The starting point upon conviction would have been at least 10 years. Careful analysis of additional material and cross examination of the complainant discredited his account and the client was found not guilty.

R v P. Money Laundering. Advocate where the client was a woman of good character who faced allegations that she had sent money, knowing it to be the proceeds of crime, out of the country at the request of her husband. A careful examination in chief and speech meant that the jury was not long in finding her not guilty.

R v H. Death by Dangerous Driving. Advocate where client was said to have driven a van (new to him) at excessive speed in wet conditions on roads that were not known to him, whilst drinking vodka and sniffing cocaine. Following the collision, in which others were seriously injured, he fled the scene seeking to blame the deceased for the accident. Successful negotiation of a favourable basis of plea led to a sentence of 3 years.

R v K. Affray. Advocate representing the only client to seek a trial in relation to a serious public order incident involving a member of the public being assaulted and his car seriously damaged by a group of youths. The client was found not guilty after the identification procedures adopted by the officer in the case were discredited through cross-examination.

R v L. Threats to Kill. Advocate representing client at trial for a serious allegation in a domestic setting. Thorough preparation relating to phone and social media evidence combined with appropriate cross-examination discredited the account put forward by the complainant and the client was acquitted.

R v J. Exposure. Advocate representing repeat offender at trial for exposure to his probation officer.

R v S. Perverting the Course of Justice.  Advocate in case where client found not guilty of destroying evidence in ‘cash for crash’ conspiracy.  Read more here.

R v L. Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. Advocate in case where client found not guilty of assaulting a teenager by hitting them over the head with a length of wood.  Read more here.

R v M.  Confiscation. Successful opposition to review of available amount in POCA case.

R v S.  Rape and S18.  Advocate in case where Crown persuaded to offer no evidence resulting in not guilty verdicts.  Reliability of the witness challenged early in the case.

R v D. Paedophile hunter prosecution.  Advocate in case where prosecution stayed as an abuse of process owing to disclosure failures. More here.

R v M. Paedophile hunter prosecution. Advocate in case where early request for disclosure of technical evidence led to prosecution offering no evidence and not guilty verdicts.  More here.

R v F. Supply Class A drugs. Advocate securing a suspended sentence for adult client who pleaded guilty to allegations of supply of both Class A and Class B drugs.

R v R. Sexual Assault. Trial advocate where jury found client not guilty of two sexual assaults and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

R v N. Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs. Trial advocate for client accused of being part of a large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.  Not guilty following three days of jury deliberation.

R v M.  Murder.  Junior advocate during Covid lockdown at Peterborough Crown Court involving death of client’s husband at the hands of client and lodger.  Led by Chris Henley KC of Mountford Chambers.

R v J.  Supply Class A drugs and Fraud.  Client exploited by father to commit offences on the dark web, father taking advantage of our client’s mental frailties.  Reports obtained and Crown persuaded not to proceed as it was not in the public interest despite the serious nature of the offending.  Our client would have successfully availed himself of the Modern Slavery statutory defence.

R v P.  Conspiracy to Supply Class B drugs.  Not guilty verdicts in a multi-handed trial alleging supply of cannabis and money laundering offences.  Vacuum sealed bags of cannabis found in a cupboard in client’s flat.  Defence was lack of knowledge.

R v M.  Rape.  Not guilty verdict after trial of allegation of rape at a house party.  Evidence of 17 witnesses at the party agreed that tended to show that the evidence of the complainant could not be relied upon.  The client did not give evidence.

R v S. Murder. Junior Advocate for client accused of joint enterprise murder led by Vanessa Marshall KC of 7 Bedford Row. Not guilty verdict, re-trial ordered on manslaughter.

R v B.  Murder. Junior advocate in high profile case involving deaths of partner and three children.  Led by Vanessa Marshall KC of 7 Bedford Row.

R v B.  Murder.  Junior advocate in a case involving the deaths of a mother and her two young children.  Led by Chris Henley KC of Mountford Chambers.

R v W.  Sexual offences.  Client found not guilty after trial of sexually assaulting his stepson over a period of years.  Careful cross-examination demonstrated to the jury that the complainant was an untruthful witness.

R v N.  Production of  Cannabis.  Vietnamese national found not guilty after trial having accepted producing cannabis at a house in Nottingham but relying on the statutory Modern Slavery defence.

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