January 2010

ENVIRONMENTAL PROSECUTION

John Wyn Williams defended Castle Cement in a high profile environmental prosecution on the 20th January 2010. the case has been sent to the Crown Court.

December 2009

MOTHER CONVICTED OF KILLING SON

Julie Travis was jailed for life on the 21st December 2009 for the murder of her 23 year old son. Owen Edwards led by Ian Murphy QC prosecuted the 46 year old , who was convicted after trial of attacking her son with a golf club.

October 2009

CHAMBERS DEFEND IN MASSIVE CANNABIS CONSPIRACY

Several members of chambers defended in what was described by the Prosecution as the largest cannabis factory case in the UK. Rhys Pryce Rowlands, Owen Edwards, John Wyn Williams, Jonathan Austin, Sion ap Mihangel and Dafydd Roberts represented the Defendants who were sentenced on the 16th October 2009 at Caernarfon Crown Court. The conspiracy which was centred in North Wales involved a number of drugs factories in Wales and England. Amongst the premises converted into cannabis production was a former High Street DIY store. The potential annual yield of drugs was estimated as having a volume of £15 million.


July 2009

MURDER TRIAL ENDS WITH 2 LIFE SENTENCES

Robin Spencer QC and Jonathan Austin have completed the prosecution of two Runcorn men for the killing of a vulnerable adult. David Argent was attacked by the father and the boyfriend of his ex-partner in a planned assault, and died some months later of his injuries without ever recovering consciousness. At the end of the three week trial at Chester Crown Court the two men were convicted and given Life sentences by Mr Justice Clarke.


July 2009

SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION FOR THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE

Some of Britain's leading construction firms subscribed to a secret blacklist of workers which prevented them from getting jobs. More than 40 firms including Balfour Beatty, Amec Construction and Morgan Est, used the database of workers to vet employees. John Wyn Williams prosecuting for the ICO told the court that 'the body was funded by construction companies across the UK '. The database included names, dates of birth, national insurance numbers and 'conduct which may impact on an individual's chances for further employemnt'. It would collate and provide information to construction companies. Individuals on the database were not aware of it and could not challenge the accuracy of the information'. Ian Kerr, businessman from Stoke Heath, Worcestershire who ran the database was fined £5000.


June 2009

CONMAN JAILED AFTER DUPING ALCOHOLIC LOTTERY WINNER OUT OF £700,000

Fraudster James Prince was jailed recently after befriending lottery winner in rehab, plying him with drink then fleecing him of £700,000. Peter Moss, prosecuting told Chester Crown Court that the case was based upon an incredible set of facts involving lottery winners, beautiful cars and fast women. Whilst extracting £700,000 from him, Peter Moss said 'Prince kept Mr Gough holed up and boozed up for six nights at Broxton for the purpose of extracting as much money as possible'. see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1191135/Conman-jailed-befriending-lottery-winner-rehab--fleecing-700-000.html


March 2009

RUTH HENKE QC JOINS CHAMBERS

In line with our continued policy of expansion, we are delighted to announce that Ruth Henke QC has joined Chambers. Ruth specialises in Child Care, Family Law, Public & Administrative Law and Education Law.

She is 'held in high regard for her expertise in children matters' and described as 'bright and hard-working, and valued for her straight-talking style: you know where you stand with her'. Chambers & Partners 2009


25th February 2009

PRESS APOLOGISE TO DEFENCE BARRISTER JOHN WYN WILLIAMS

The Chester Evening Leader has published a front page apology to John Wyn Williams after mistakenly printing his photgraph in Tuesdays edition instead of the defendant he was representing. Rather than take legal proceedings Mr John Wyn Williams suggested that they donate £500 to Chester Homeless.

February 2009

JOHN WYN WILLIAMS DEFENDS BANGOR MAN CLEARED OF KILLING HIS DAD

John Wyn Williams defended Kenneth Jones who was accused of the manslaughter of his father aged 88 after he pushed him aside when he opened the front door of the home they shared. His father suffered a massive brain bleed at his home in Bangor and died later in Hospital. The jury heard expert evidence that althought the death was caused by 'blunt force trauma' there was no evidence Mr Jones snr had suffered a fall. John Wyn Williams commented 'this was a tragic case involving the death of his own father and Mr Jones was relieved that the jury returned the proper and just verdict'.


October 2008

WELL DONE 'BRIEF ENCOUNTER'

Only a few weeks after first stepping into a boat, Chambers team 'Brief Encounter' took part in Grosvenor's corporate rowing challenge, held over a sprint course from the Bandstand to Grosvenor Rowing Club.

Team 'Brief Encounter' (Sion ap Mihangel, Mair Mihangel, Caroline Harris, Michael Whitty and Gavin Reeves) representing 1 Stanley Place Chambers, were the overall winners on the water after only a few weeks to go from raw recruits to a day of hard fought racing in fours on regatta day. London 2012 here we come!

Sammy Lee, Liverpool FC assistant manager and ex-England international, awarded the winners trophy.

3rd September 2008

NEW TENANT JOINS CHAMBERS


Anna Pope has accepted an invitation to join chambers having successfully completed her pupillage with Andrew Thomas QC & Gaynor Lloyd. Anna graduated from Cambridge University and was awarded the Benefactors' Scholarship from Middle Temple to complete the BVC at Nottingham. She practices in general common law including crime, civil and family work and has an interest in Asylum and Immigration Law.


5th August 2008

PRIDE OF FLINTSHIRE AWARDS

The Pride of Flintshire Awards 2008 took place on the 5th August at St. David's Park Hotel, North Wales.

Chambers are delighted to have made a donation to this worthy cause which recognises and celebrates the many achievements and successes of the young people of Flintshire.


22nd July 2008

LISTING CRISIS IN NORTH WALES FAMILY COURTS


Members of 1 Stanley Place have been closely involved in attempting to resolve the listing crisis in the family courts in North Wales. The prolonged illness of one of the judges has left the court system struggling to cover family cases. Elfyn Llwyd MP has already met with The Honourable Jack Straw, Minister for Justice and Jeannie France-Hayhurst has been in touch with Baroness Scotland, Attorney General and The Honourable Mr Justice Leveson who has responsibility for all courts in England & Wales. Lords Carlile and Thomas have also been asked to support our initiative. His Honour Judge Farmer QC is doing his utmost to obtain judicial cover and we are offered help from the Northern Circuit. Mr Recorder Gareth Jones has stepped into the breach and his help has been much appreciated. We will continue to press for an additional judge to be appointed as even with a full complement of judges, the lists are packed. Watch this space!.....


11th July 2008

'HAWK' PROSECTION

Head of Chambers, Wyn Lloyd Jones successfully prosecuted former North Wales soccer boss Colin Hawkins, known as The Hawk, for defrauding the Welsh Development Agency, Anglesey County Council and Wales Council for Voluntary Action of £120,000.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/07/11/former-north-wales-football-manager-jailed-55578-21323263/


10th July 2008

SUCCESSFUL HEALTH & SAFETY PROSECUTION

A major limited company was successfully prosecuted in Denbigh Magistrates' Court recently for a serious breach of toy safety regulations. The company involved had imported 27,000 dressing up outfits for sale to young children. A test purchase disclosed that the outfits were dangerous and a prosecution followed, involving the importer and a well-known high street retailer. Jonathan Austin, a recent addition to 1 Stanley Place's complement of counsel who specialise in regulatory and criminal work, presented the case on behalf of the local authority concerned.

6th June 2008

SENTENCE REDUCED FOR 1960's POP STAR

Peter MacBeth, a founding member of the 1960's band The Foundations, was successfully represented by Maria Masselis in the Court of Appeal on the 6th June 2008. The sentence of 6 years was ruled as too long by the Appeal Court Judges who reduced it to a total of 4 years imprisonment for offences of indecency and downloading child pornographic images.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7440468.stm

19th May 2008

SENIOR BARRISTER JOINS CRIMINAL TEAM

We are delighted to welcome Jonathan Austin to 1 Stanley Place Chambers.

Jonathan, called in 1991, is a senior criminal practitioner and joins us from 30 Park Place, Cardiff. He is returning to his roots having been born and brought up in Anglesey, North Wales. Jonathan is a fluent Welsh speaker - click on his profile for further details of his practice.

25th January 2008

New Silk at 1 Stanley Place Chambers

Barrister Andrew Thomas has been appointed Queens Counsel following the announcements by the Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Jack Straw on Tuesday 22nd January 2008.

Andrew Thomas is only one of three barristers in the country who has been appointed QC on the basis of a mixed criminal and civil practice.

16th January 2008

MICHAEL CHAMBERS QC & ANDREW THOMAS have successfully completed the prosecution of 3 teenage boys responsible for the death of GARRY NEWLOVE, a 47 year old Warrington man.

Adam Swellings (19), Steven Sorton (17) and Jordan Cunliffe (16) were convicted after an 8 week trial at Chester Crown Court.

The case was investigated by Cheshire Police's Major Incident Team.
The start of the trial was expedited due to the defendants' ages. The trial started just 3 months after the original incident.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7176471.stm