Criminal Defence Blog

Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt gives a guide to the offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Barrister Quentin Hunt looks at issues relating to Breach of Condition Notices.

Criminal defence Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the perverting the course of justice sentencing guidelines.

Barrister Quentin Hunt examines how to remove adverse entries in police records.

Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt examines how applications can be made for the return of property seized by the Police.

Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the imposition of Banning orders under the Football Spectators Act 1989

Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the offence of Wasting Police Time.

Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the offence of possession of a bladed article and relevant defences.

Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt analyses the offence of Fraud by Abuse of Position.

Criminal Barrister presents a guide to appeals from the Magistrates' Court to the Crown Court.

Criminal defence Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the offence of Perjury.

Barrister Quentin Hunt examines criminal liability relating to false and misleading statements made by Company Directors.

Leading Barrister Quentin Hunt explores defences available to charges of possession of controlled drugs and possession with intent to supply.

Leading Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the law surrounding the possession of controlled drugs.

Leading Criminal Defence Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the available defences to charges relating to extreme and indecent images.

Leading Criminal Defence Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the law relating to extreme and indecent images.

Leading Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt explains how to obtain section 82 Environmental Protection Act court orders against noisy or nuisance neighbours.

Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt examines recent changes to the DBS filtering regime and disclosure of convictions and cautions to employers.

Leading Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt looks at the 'elements' of the offence of Fraud by False representation under the Fraud Act 2006.

The victim’s right to review scheme can be complicated and daunting; in this article leading Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt examines the VRR scheme and answers questions associated with it.

Barrister Quentin Hunt examines s179 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and answers questions that are commonly asked in Planning Enforcement Notice cases.

Quentin Hunt, a criminal defence Barrister who specialises in defending trading standards prosecutions, answers commonly asked questions about Trading Standards prosecutions.

This week marks the six-month anniversary since the General Data Protection Regulations took effect. Quentin takes a look back over this time to see whats changed.

Quentin explains the complex and often confusing interrelationship of planning enforcement law and criminal law and how it can impact upon any criminal prosecution by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs).

What do you do if I have been served with a planning enforcement notice? What are the consequences of non compliance with a planning enforcement notice? Quentin reveals all.

Defendants who are otherwise law abiding people get caught out telling stupid lies to the Police and Courts without realising the dire consequences of getting caught.

In the New Test of Dishonesty the defendant can no longer use his own standards or what he understands the standards of society to be as a defence.

GDPR comes into effect on 25 May 2018. Test your understanding of your GDPR and Data Protection responsibilities

As the black cab rapist John Worboys case continues to navigate the legal system, Quentin takes a look at the way in which significant changes in police and Crown Prosecution Service guidance have had a dramatic impact on the number of recorded cases.

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been increasingly used to penalise defendants in all manner of cases in which many people would be surprised to find that POCA orders can be made

This article examines the elements of the offence of Rape, possible rape defences and the current state of the law; it cannot hope to be definitive but should serve as a good layman’s guide to the law.

This article will consider the legal definition of sexual assault, what must be proven for there to be a conviction, and what you should do if you have been accused of sexual assault.

Quentin Hunt, barrister at 2 Bedford Row and a member of the Attorney General's 'A List' of approved advocates for health and safety and regulatory work, explains what changes will mean in practice.

Changing a Guilty plea is not an easy exercise. The Court of Appeal has stated on a number of occasions that ‘the cases must be comparatively rare where it would be proper to allow a change of plea’. This case study discusses the issues.

In this second article, we examine the tests to be applied by the police in more detail. Read further to find out more..

For many, a shotgun licence is very important to both their livelihood and their leisure. However, given the fact that the decision in respect of shotgun and firearms licences rests entirely in hands of the various chief constables around the country, read further to find out more..

According to Home Office Statistics the offence of Criminal Damage is one of the top ten most prosecuted crimes in the United Kingdom. It is also one of the most frequently abused by way of prosecutions being brought against individuals in circumstances where no offence has been committed. Read further to find out more..

In many driving cases people commit offences in circumstances that are really not their fault. This stems from the fact that the vast majority of driving offences are what lawyers call ‘strict liability’ offences. This means that you are guilty whether or not you actually meant to commit the offence. Read further to find out more..

Local authorities are becoming increasingly trigger-happy in respect of landlord and tenant prosecutions. Such prosecutions can occur when there is a dispute with a tenant over the circumstances of their leaving a property. Often such disputes can be the word of one party against the word of another. As such it is essential that a landlord or other party accused of such an offence gain specialist legal advice if being either investigated or prosecuted. Read further to find out more..

Blackmail is an offence under section 21 Theft Act 1968. It is a serious offence and is tried only in the Crown Court before a judge and a jury. The maximum penalty on conviction is 14 years’ imprisonment. Read further to find out more..

Changes to the criminal justice system of late have been very much focussed on encouraging defendants to plead guilty. ‘Early guilty plea’ schemes have been rolled out across the country and a full discount for pleading guilty is only available if the plea is entered at the first opportunity, often before the evidence has been served by the prosecution in proper and full form. Read further to find out more ..

The Police and HMRC are increasingly using their powers under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 to require information from innocent parties who are not accused of a criminal offence but who can be compelled by law to provide information whether they like it or not. Read further to find out more ..

If you are being investigated or have been charged with an offence of VAT fraud it is essential that you seek specialist legal representation at an early stage. How the matter is conducted from the outset will shape the course of the case against you. Read further to find out more ..

If you are being investigated or have been charged with an offence of VAT fraud it is essential that you seek specialist legal representation at an early stage. How the matter is conducted from the outset will shape the course of the case against you. Careful consideration of the evidence is essential as well as an excellent working knowledge of this sort of case and experience in dealing with HMRC and the CPS. Read further to find out more ..

What to do if I am summonsed for driving without insurance? It is a criminal offence for a person to “use” a motor vehicle on a road or “cause” or “permit” any other person to use it on a road while uninsured. These offences can only be dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court and are typically punishable with a fine and the imposition of between 6 and 8 penalty points on your licence or a disqualification from driving. Despite the fact that these are “summary only” offences that can only be dealt with in the Magistrates’ Court, they are treated seriously.. Read further to find out more..

Causing death by dangerous driving is the most serious driving offence that you can be prosecuted for. If you are being investigated for this offence, have been charged or are under suspicion it is essential that you get legal representation. The representation you will require will need to be not just a ‘criminal’ lawyer but a lawyer with specialism in Road Traffic Offences.

Disqualification is generally compulsory. However, if you are able to persuade the court that there would be exceptional hardship amounting if you lose your licence they may allow you to keep your licence despite the fact that you have 12 penalty points or more..

CTLs shall not be extended unless the Prosecution can show good and sufficient cause and that they have acted with all due expedition. Read this FAQ to find out more..

When a driver receives penalty point supon his licence he may continue to drive when the number of points remains below 12..Read this FAQ to find out more..

The offence of using a handheld mobile telephone while driving is punishable with a fine of £60 on a fixed penalty notice or up to £2500 on conviction as well as 3 penalty points endorsed upon your licence. Read this FAQ to find out more..

Careless driving is defined as driving which falls below that of a prudent motorist. This is a relatively wide and woolly definition and allows for a large interpretation of what a prudent motorist would do.. Read this FAQ to find out more..

Dangerous driving has been defined as driving in a manner which falls far below that of a competent and careful driver in circumstances Read this FAQ to find out more..

This will depend upon a number of factors, chiefly the level that you were above the speed limit. Penalties range from a three point licence endorsement to an immediate disqualification as well as a financial penalty. Read this FAQ to find out more..

Special reasons allow you either reduce the level of your driving ban or to keep driving avoiding a ban altogether even after you have admitted or been convicted of an offence of drink driving. Read this FAQ to find out more..

This will depend upon the level of alcohol in your breath or blood. The minimum is a 12 month driving ban with accompanying fine for a first offence up to a maximum of a sentence of imprisonment starting at 12 weeks and a 3 year ban as a maximum. Read this FAQ to find out more..

NO!! This is a serious criminal offence- perverting the course of justice. Read this FAQ to find out more..

If you receive a NIP you are legally obliged to disclose the identity of the driver of your vehicle at the time specified within 28 days. Read this FAQ to find out more..

Yes. Read this FAQ to find out more..

Getting a legal second opinion is easy and quick and can provide you with the reassurance that you need if you suspect that the advice you have been given is either incomplete or incorrect. Read this FAQ to find out more..

Many people are under the mistaken view that once they have chosen their lawyers then they are tied to them for the rest of their case or until their case finishes. Read this FAQ to find out more..

You are entitled to make a claim against the police or any other detaining body if their actions are oppressive arbitrary or unconstitutional. Read this FAQ to find out more..

If you are suspected of a criminal offence or suspected of being a witness to a criminal offence and the police are looking to question you there is rarely any benefit in trying to avoid them or going into hiding. Read this FAQ to find out more..

What are Custody Time Limits? Custody time limits are the period of time in which a person may be remanded in custody awaiting trial. If a person is kept in custody their trial must be held within the custody time limit period. Read this FAQ to find out more..

Under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act the police must caution anyone they reasonably suspect of having committed a criminal offence before questioning them. Read this FAQ to find out more..

What should I do if the police want to interview me? Firstly you need to establish whether you are being interviewed as a witness to an offence or as a suspect. This will determine whether a ‘section 9 CJA’ witness statement will be taken from you whether the interview will be under caution and taped under the terms of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. Read this FAQ to find out more..

Should I plead guilty or not guilty to a criminal offence? The question of guilt is not always as straightforward as it first seems. Read this FAQ to find out more..

What is Abuse of Process? The defence may at any stage in proceedings before a court make an application to the Court that the proceedings are an abuse of the process of the court. Read this FAQ to find out more..

What are offences that are triable either way? What is plea before venue? Either way offences are offences that can be heard in either the Magistrates Court or the Crown Court. Read this FAQ to find out more..