Gerwyn Wise

Overview

Gerwyn is a criminal defence barrister specialising in cases of serious violence, organised crime, sexual offences and fraud and confiscation. He has been instructed in a number of complex and high profile cases in recent years.

An extremely capable and personable advocate, Gerwyn has extensive experience representing young and vulnerable clients charged with grave crimes.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

Serious Violence

East London gang accused of the attempted murder of a rival gang member with the use of a firearm (Operation Cudfeet)
R v LB and others, Central Criminal Court (2025)
Instructed to represent a 21-year-old client jointly charged with four others for various offences including attempted murder and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life, arising out of an organised hit on an alleged rival gang member. The case is prosecuted by King’s Counsel, and the client is named first on the indictment.

Teenage boy prosecuted along with two others for separate allegations of murder and attempted murder (Operation Barcherry)
R v HKN, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2025)
Led by Kieran Vaughan KC, representing a 19-year-old boy jointly charged with two others over separate allegations of murder and attempted murder arising out of an organised knife fight. The case has been covered in the national media.

Teenage client acquitted of the murder of a teenage gang rival as jury rejects joint enterprise prosecution after four-month trial (Operation Wageplay)
R v KB and others, Central Criminal Court (2025)
Led by Kier Monteith KC in a prosecution case alleging joint enterprise murder and manslaughter. The client, aged 15 at the time of the incident, was jointly charged with six others for the murder of a fellow 15-year-old. After a four-month trial, the jury found the client not guilty in a significant rejection of the broad joint enterprise law. The case was covered in the national media.

Prosecution of five East London gang members for attempted murder following the shooting and stabbing of a rival gang member (Operation Zyrex)
R v JT and others, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2024)
Led by Patrick Roche in a prosecution case alleging that the 17-year-old client was one of five teenagers involved in an organised hit on a rival gang member at Hackney Central train station. Prosecuted by King’s Counsel, the client was first on the indictment and the alleged shooter. The five-month trial involved extensive gang / drill lyrics evidence and was the subject of several days of legal arguments. The case was covered in the national media.

Successful application to dismiss charges for 16-year-old client charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life (Operation Leifeet)
R v JS and others, Harrow Crown Court (2024)
The defence successfully applied to dismiss charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life on behalf of a 16-year-old client, jointly charged with three others.

15-year-old client accused of attempted murder for leading an Afghan gang attack on a teenage rival, who was stabbed 12 times in the chest, neck and back
R v HM, Thames Youth Court (2024)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a 15-year-old client accused of leading a gang attack and attempted murder of a teenage rival. The client, a refugee from Afghanistan, was said by the prosecution to have taken a leading role in an Afghan gang based in East London. The complainant sustained 12 stab wounds to his chest, neck and back during the incident.

Vulnerable client not guilty by reason of insanity of attempted murder of 9 police officers after holding his family hostage (Operation Hampshire)
R v NS, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2023)
The client was arrested following a lengthy standoff with police after he threatened to kill members of his family and held them hostage inside the family home. He attacked the attending police officers with several samurai swords and axes, causing serious injury to one of the police officers. The vulnerable client was immediately sectioned under the Mental Health Act and later found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Successful defence against one of the first prosecutions alleging non-fatal suffocation
R v TK, Isleworth Crown Court (2022)
The defence successfully challenged the credibility of the complainant having identified national reporting of four previous dishonesty convictions, including an occasion when she impersonated a police officer in order to blackmail an ex-partner. The case involved one of the first prosecutions alleging non-fatal suffocation following the passing of s.70 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Prosecution forced to offer no evidence against client charged with attempted murder following challenge to the identification evidence of a police officer (Operation Cardamine)
R v NF and others, Central Criminal Court (2022)
The client was accused of an unprovoked attack on a stranger during a night out in Camden. The attacker, identified as the client by a police officer, used a knife to cut the throat of the victim. The defence challenged the identification evidence, and the prosecution was subsequently forced to offer no evidence prior to the trial.

East London gang accused of attempting to assassinate a rival gang member with a firearm (Operation Julica)
R v JC and others, Southwark Crown Court (2022)
The client is jointly charged with four others with the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival and conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. The prosecution case is that one of the five defendants present discharged a firearm at the complainant while he was leaving an address in the Bethnal Green area of London.

Successful appeal against sentence for 17-year-old client convicted of killing a rival gang member
R v Alexander Sprules [2022] EWCA Crim 1556
Led by Chris Henley KC in an appeal against a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years imprisonment. After considering the written submissions, which were “attractively presented” by the leading counsel, the Court of Appeal reduced the minimum term to 17 years imprisonment on the basis that the sentencing judge failed to attach sufficient weight to the client’s youth and psychological immaturity.

Mother assists teenage son and his friends with murder of 17-year-old gang rival (Operation Tanunda)
R v AS and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
Led by Chris Henley KC in the trial of five defendants, one of whom was the mother of her co-defendant, charged with the murder of an alleged gang rival. The 17-year-old client, a well-known South London drill artist who had previously been stabbed by the victim’s gang, was alleged by the prosecution (and various co-defendants) to have been the individual responsible for the fatal stab wound. The case was covered in the BBC documentary ‘The Met’ in 2023 and in the national media.

17-year-old client found not guilty of attempted murder after three-week trial
R v KW and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
The client was jointly charged with two others with the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival. The case was prosecuted by King’s Counsel. The prosecution sought to adduce significant sections of the accounts of two reluctant witnesses, both under 16, as hearsay evidence. The defence successfully opposed the most significant parts of the application, heard over the course of five days, thereby limiting the scope of the evidence that was placed before the jury. The client was acquitted by the jury of attempted murder at the conclusion of the three-week trial.

16-year-old client originally arrested for the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival avoids youth detention after pleading guilty to a lesser offence
R v OF, Bromley Youth Court (2021)
The 16-year-old client was arrested for the attempted murder of a suspected 16-year-old gang rival. The client was caught on CCTV stabbing the complainant in the back with a large machete. After a series of written representations to the CPS, the client pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of unlawful wounding on a favourable basis of plea and received a Youth Rehabilitation Order.

Allegation of attempted murder following revenge attack on rival gang member (Operation Shale)
R v TT and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
The 17-year-old client was charged with four others of attempted murder following the stabbing of an alleged rival gang member. The stabbing was said by the prosecution to be revenge for an earlier attack on the client by a rival gang, the recording of which was circulated on social media. The admissibility and interpretation of drill music lyrics were central issues in the case. The case was covered in the national media.

Client acquitted of male model murder (Operation Panhandle)
R v JO, Central Criminal Court (2018)
Led by Kieran Vaughan KC in the trial of three defendants charged with the high-profile murder of male model Harry Uzoka. The client was the only defendant acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter. The case was covered extensively in the national media, including by the BBC.

Acid attack by gang seeking revenge on two music producers (Operation Silverfox)
R v WD and others, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2018)
The trial followed a police investigation and manhunt covered in the national media, including by the BBC. The client was one of four defendants charged with offences arising out of a gang-related acid attack on two music producers.

Acquittal following exclusion of gang affiliation evidence (Operation Diryu)
R v AC and another, Central Criminal Court (2017)
The client was accused, along with others, of being part of a gang responsible for attacking a 14-year-old rival gang member with Rambo-style knives. Following successful submissions to exclude YouTube ‘drill’ music videos, the client was acquitted by the jury of attempted murder. CCTV footage of the incident was covered in the national media, including The Daily Mail.

Prosecution arising out of the protests following the death of Rashan Charles (Operation Falmer)
R v AT and others, Wood Green Crown Court (2017)
The client was charged with others of violent disorder arising out of his involvement in the Hackney protests against the police following the death of Rashan Charles.

Prosecution offer no evidence rather than comply with disclosure obligations (Operation Horn)
R v RW and others, Canterbury Crown Court (2017)
The client was charged with others of conspiracy to kidnap and serious assault on the partner of a rival gang leader. The prosecution was forced to offer no evidence rather than disclose defence-requested sensitive material relating to the wider police investigation.

Acquittal despite the presence of unexplained DNA at the scene 
R v SK, Woolwich Crown Court (2017)
The client was acquitted of aggravated burglary despite his unexplained DNA having been found on the inside of the window used by a gang when breaking into the property.

Successful submission of no case in gang murder trial following Jogee (Operation Lebberston)
R v SK and others, Central Criminal Court (2016)
Led by Martin Heslop KC in the trial of six defendants charged with murdering a rival gang leader. The client was acquitted after a successful submission of no case to answer. This was the first murder trial to apply the Supreme Court decision in Jogee on joint enterprise. This case was covered by The Telegraph.

Favourable basis of plea negotiated on behalf of teenage girl charged with attempted murder
R v FP and another, Kingston Crown Court (2016)
The client was a teenage girl initially charged with attempted murder having deliberately driven into two police officers in an attempt to escape arrest. She subsequently pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of ABH with a favourable basis of plea and was given a suspended sentence.

Organised Crime

Former Arsenal football player charged with arranging for the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis
R v JET, Chelmsford Crown Court
The client is charged, along with two others, with conspiracy to import 60kg of cannabis into the United Kingdom. The client is a professional football player who began his career at Arsenal Football Club. The case has been reported internationally by the media.

Client found not guilty following prosecution for possession of firearms, ammunition, criminal property and the supply several kilos of Class A drugs (Operation Sotcore)
Leading Tommy Seagull in the trial of three defendants charged with conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, ammunition, criminal property and the supply of Class A drugs. The co-defendant was represented by Mark Gatley KC. Following the four-week trial, which necessitated the cross-examination of telephone and cell site experts, the client was acquitted of all charges.

Kidnapping allegations dropped after disclosure requests reveal the complainant’s history for blackmail and violence (Operation Sequin)
R v NB and others, Snaresbrook Crown Court
The 19-year-old client was one of three defendants accused of arranging the kidnap of a fellow teenager, threatening him at gunpoint and extorting money from his family over the course of 48 hours. Following repeated defence disclosure requests, the prosecution was forced to offer no evidence after discovering that the teenage boy had a history of blackmailing individuals and that there was evidence to suggest he had staged the kidnapping to extort money from his own family.

Flying Squad investigation into a series of commercial robberies of bookmakers in East London (Operation Hoptown)
R v RCF and others, Snaresbrook Crown Court
The 20-year-old client was one of five defendants accused of being a member of an Organised Criminal Gang (‘OCG’) involved in a series of commercial robberies of bookmakers across East London.

National Crime Agency investigation into the importation of 100 kilos of cocaine valued at £10 million (Operation Cangler)
R v TH and others, Lewes Crown Court (2024)
The client was one of five individuals charged with a conspiracy to import drugs into the UK from mainland Europe, disguised as a consignment of frozen fish. The investigation was linked to Operation Venetic and use of EncroChat devices. The case was reported in the national media.

Former West Ham youth player the only defendant of six acquitted of conspiracy to kidnap (Operation Tick)
R v KW and others, Portsmouth Crown Court (2023)
The client was accused, along with five others, of being part of a London gang responsible for kidnapping a prominent businessman in front of his two young children. Once kidnapped, the man was subjected to threats and repeated assaults by the gang as they demanded the transfer of 5 million bitcoin. The client was the only defendant found not guilty after two separate trials.

East London gang charged with county lines drug dealing and human trafficking following nationally coordinated police operation (Operation Harrier)
R v LJ and others, Northampton Crown Court (2023)
Led by Judy Khan KC in the five-week trial of alleged East London gang members charged with conspiracy to supply drugs and trafficking of vulnerable individuals and children. The prosecution’s case was that the client oversaw the national county lines operation and was directly involved in recruiting children as young as 13 via social media.

National Crime Agency investigation into the importation of 100 kilos of cocaine valued at £10 million (Operation Cangler)
R v TH and others, Lewes Crown Court (2022)
The client is one of five individuals charged with a conspiracy to import drugs into the UK from mainland Europe disguised as a consignment of frozen fish. The investigation was linked to Operation Venetic and the use of EncroChat devices. The case has been reported in the national media.

County lines drug gang involved in the trafficking of an autistic schoolboy (Operation Orochi)
R v HK and others, Kingston Crown Court (2021)
The 19-year-old client was jointly charged with six other defendants as part of a county lines operation being run between London and Swansea, the charges being conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, human trafficking and possession of firearms and ammunition. The case was reported in the national media.

Large-scale trafficking of drugs with the use of EncroChat (Operation Venetic)
R v LD and others (2021)
The client was arrested in possession of half a kilogram of cocaine and linked to a larger conspiracy to supply Class A drugs over a three-month period, estimated to have a street value of over £5 million. The alleged conspirators were identified through the infiltration of the EncroChat communication system. The client pleaded guilty on a limited basis of plea and received a 24-month suspended sentence.

Client with suspected links to the running of brothels is acquitted by the jury of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life (Operation Golspe)
R v MMA, Southwark Crown Court (2021)
The client, previously convicted of armed robbery with a firearm, was arrested for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life having been stopped driving a vehicle found to have a loaded handgun under the driver’s seat. After a series of successful defence legal arguments excluding unhelpful aspects of both the client’s previous convictions and the evidence, the client was unanimously acquitted by the jury in under an hour.

International conspiracy to steal £300,000 worth of high-value vehicles (Operation Roquefort)
R v KR and others, Wood Green Crown Court (2020)
The 21-year-old client was jointly charged with two others of conspiracy to steal £300,000 worth of high value vehicles, some of which were stolen in residential burglaries where machetes and CS gas were used to threaten owners. The three defendants, alleged to have been London gang members, were recruited by individuals involved in an international operation to steal vehicles and move them out of the country.

Husband and wife enslave foreign national as part of a conspiracy to supply drugs
R v MS and another, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2019)
The client was jointly charged with his wife of offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and conspiracy to supply drugs. They were alleged to have coerced a foreign national into living within their home before subsequently forcing him to both produce and supply drugs to others as part of an illegal business operation undertaken over a number of years.

Prosecution offer no evidence in slavery case following defence submissions (Operation Cadet)
R v DP and others, Bournemouth Crown Court (2018)
Led by Warwick Aleeson in a case representing one of three defendants accused of holding four vulnerable individuals in servitude for over a decade. The client was assessed as unfit to stand trial and following defence submissions the prosecution offered no evidence.

Conspiracy to blackmail a high-profile businessman (Operation Zonal)
R v NA and others, Caernarfon Crown Court (2018)
Instructed to represent an alleged London gang member charged with six others of conspiracy to blackmail a high-profile businessman in North Wales.

London gang involved in county lines operation in Essex (Operation Saturn)
R v SR and others, Chelmsford Crown Court (2017)
The client was one of seven members of the London-based ‘Jay Boys’ gang involved in a county lines conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Essex.

Conspiracy to smuggle drugs and mobiles into prisons (Operation Rabbit)
R v BC and others, Southampton Crown Court (2017)
While serving a life sentence for murder, the client was charged as the ringleader of an eight-handed conspiracy to convey both Class A drugs and mobiles into prison.

Prosecution of gangs involved in human trafficking (Operation Herschel)
R v KS and others, Southwark Crown Court (2015)
Led by Roderick Price in a seven-handed trial arising out of an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Kidnap and Trafficking Unit into people trafficking into the UK.

Sexual Offences

Client accused of deliberately infecting his partner with HIV in a case raising important questions about the leading authority of Dica
R v LJE, Wood Green Crown Court (2025)
The client was accused of deliberately infecting his partner with HIV through consensual, unprotected sexual intercourse during their relationship. He was prosecuted in accordance with the leading authority of Dica [2004] EWCA Crim 1103 for inflicting grievous bodily harm, which held that the consent of the complainant was irrelevant if that individual had not been informed of the risk of HIV infection.

Vulnerable client charged with historic child sex offences
R v AR, Central Criminal Court (2024)
The client, a vulnerable elderly man suffering with significant psychological issues, was charged with several historic allegations of rape and indecent assault of two girls, then aged 7 and 13. The client’s health issues necessitated ongoing psychiatric assessment of fitness, the assistance of an intermediary and his remote attendance throughout the four-week trial.

Client responsible for multiple stranger rapes in the Shoreditch area of London (Operation Visalia)
R v CO, Wood Greed Crown Court (2023)
Led by Anya Lewis KC in a case where the client was said by the prosecution to be a serial rapist targeting stranger women in the trendy Shoreditch area of London. The case was reported by the national media.

BBC documentary ‘The Met’ covers the prosecution of a client for a series of sexual assaults in North West London (Operation Burleson)
R v MH, Harrow Crown Court (2023)
The client, a young man who fled persecution from the Syrian government, was convicted of sexually assaulting three women in a series of violent incidents outside North West London underground stations in September 2021. The prosecution was covered by the BBC documentary ‘The Met’ in 2023.

Psychiatric nurse engaged in sexual activity with a teenage patient who subsequently committed suicide
R v EE, Harrow Crown Court (2023)
The client was an NHS psychiatric nurse who engaged in a sexual relationship with a teenage patient under his care. The relationship was discovered by the patient’s mother after she committed suicide. The client avoided an immediate custodial sentence.

Prosecution forced to offer no evidence against young client accused of being part of a London gang responsible for trafficking two vulnerable children for the purpose of sexual exploitation (Operation Mahama)
R v GK and others, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2023)
The 20-year-old client was one of five men accused of being part of an Organised Crime Group (‘OCG’) responsible for arranging and facilitating the sexual exploitation of two young teenage girls. The allegations spanned several years, and the OCG was said to have a presence in London, Surrey and Essex. The prosecution was forced to offer no evidence after the defence challenged the reliability of the accounts provided by each complainant.

Mother and boyfriend accused of serious physical and sexual assaults on her five-year-old son
R v JC and another, Harrow Crown Court (2022)
The client was jointly charged with her boyfriend with multiple counts of rape, GBH with intent and cruelty in relation to her five-year-old son. The investigation was initiated after the child was hospitalised with serious injuries all over his body, including injuries to his genitals and anus – the medical experts at the hospital stated that they had only just avoided “another Baby P” case.

Sexual assault of a sleeping passenger on a London bus
R v DOB, Wood Green Crown Court (2021)
The client was charged with two counts of assault by penetration having been accused of inserting his fingers inside both the anus and vagina of a sleeping passenger on a London bus. The case required extensive legal arguments in relation to the admissibility of the complainant’s account and resulted in the prosecution offering no evidence in relation to one of the two counts.

Client accused of subjecting two previous partners to years of physical and sexual torture
R v LC, Bristol Crown Court (2020)
The client was charged on the indictment with 16 counts which included rape, penetrative sexual activity with a child, witness intimidation and controlling and coercive behaviour in relation to two former partners. He was alleged to have both physically and sexually abused both women throughout the duration of both relationships. The client was found not guilty of the rape allegations following multiple days of cross-examination of both previous partners during the three-week trial.

Erectile dysfunction and the effects of cocaine in a case of attempted murder and rape of an elderly female (Operation Backpack)
R v ZE, Leicester Crown Court (2019)
Led by Jason Bartfeld KC in the trial of a young defendant charged with the attempted murder and rape of an elderly female left with life-changing injuries. The case raised novel points of law on the admissibility of expert evidence relating to erectile dysfunction caused by cocaine use. The case was covered extensively in the national media, including The Independent.

Prosecution offered no evidence after defence request for disclosure of the complainant’s mobile telephone 
R v PT, Inner London Crown Court (2018)
The client was charged with three allegations of rape. Following defence requests made in advance of trial in relation to the disclosure of the complainant’s mobile telephone, the prosecution offered no evidence.

Sexual assault of two nine-year-old girls by client suffering from paranoid schizophrenia 
R v SM, Croydon Magistrates’ Court (2018)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a client suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Having recently been convicted of sexually assaulting a 79-year-old woman, the client was charged with committing the same offence against two girls aged nine. Following cross-examination of the two complainants and three further witnesses aged 11, the client was found not guilty of the most serious allegation.

Determinate sentence for multiple grooming and sexual assault offences
R v SH, St Albans Crown Court (2017)
Determinate sentence imposed on a client convicted of multiple grooming and sexual assault offences on two children under the age of 13.

Favourable basis of plea limits length of inevitable prison sentence
R v JBH, St Albans Crown Court (2017)
The 18-year-old client was originally arrested for rape of his 14-year-old girlfriend. Despite evidence that the complainant had been threatened into having sexual intercourse by the client, a favourable basis of plea to the lesser charge of sexual activity with a child was accepted and the inevitable custodial sentence was limited to 12 months’ imprisonment.

Vulnerable client charged with historic child sex offences
R v LC, Chelmsford Crown Court (2016)
Led by Sasha Bailey in the trial of a client charged with 23 allegations of rape or attempted rape in relation to six teenage boys. The vulnerable client was assisted throughout the six-week trial by an intermediary.

Overview

Gerwyn has experience as junior alone and led junior defending clients charged with high value fraud offences, breach of consumer protection legislation, VAT evasion and other white-collar crime. This extends to representation of individuals in subsequent confiscation and enforcement proceedings. Gerwyn also has experience representing individuals accused of criminal contempt of court arising out of failures to comply with financial and employment contractual obligations.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

NHS employee, the only defendant of nine, acquitted of conspiring to defraud 19 pensioners as part of a courier fraud operation based in East London (Operation Rissole)
R v SK and others, St Albans Crown Court (2023)
The young client was accused, along with eight others, of being part of an East London gang involved in a courier fraud scheme targeting pensioners living in Hertfordshire. The 19 pensioners were encouraged by gang members, who often impersonated police officers and bank employees, into handing over their life savings. The client was the only defendant to be found not guilty.

Appeal against HMRC’s £30 million VAT and excise duty claim
Sintra Global Inc and Parul Malde v HMRC [2022] UKFTT 00365 (TC)
Led by both John McGuiness KC and Ben Hayhurst, this case involved a 3-month appeal hearing in the First Tier Tax Tribunal. The case centred around a claim by HMRC against both individual and corporate appellants for over £30 million of VAT and excise duty owed as a result of an extensive alcohol inward diversion fraud. The case involved multi-jurisdictional elements, with companies and trusts from numerous countries implicated.

International company pursues criminal contempt of court against the company’s former director
Centek Holdings Ltd v Tristram Giles [2020] EWHC 1682 (Ch)
The client breached a High Court injunction, which had previously been obtained by the internationally leading company that employed him as a director for 20 years, on 26 separate occasions by disclosing confidential business documents to foreign competitors. The High Court judge described the case as falling within the ‘most serious category of contempt possible’, although he was persuaded to impose a sentence far below the two-year maximum.

Conspiracy to launder the proceeds of stolen high-value agricultural machinery (Operation Merseyside)
R v CG and others, Isleworth Crown Court (2019)
Led by Avi Chaudhuri in a trial arising out of a multi-year investigation carried out by specialist police unit the Plant and Agricultural Intelligence Unit (PANIU). The client was one of five defendants charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds arising out of the sale of stolen agricultural machinery valued in excess of £ 1 million.

City worker given suspended sentence for £270,000 fraud
R v DH, Central Criminal Court (2018)
Instructed to represent a city worker responsible for defrauding his employer out of £270,000 of client funds. Having heard lengthy submissions on behalf of the vulnerable client, the judge agreed to suspend the inevitable custodial sentence. The client was also represented in the subsequent confiscation proceedings. The case was covered in the national media, including by The Daily Mail.

Director of building company given suspended sentence for £140,000 fraud
R v MD and others, Ipswich Crown Court (2017)
The client was the director of a building company prosecuted by Trading Standards for a £140,000 fraud and breach of consumer protection legislation involving vulnerable pensioners. The judge was persuaded to suspend the prison sentence given the client’s young age and previous good character.

Overview

Gerwyn has a particular interest and expertise in representing children accused of serious criminal offences in both the Crown Court and Youth Court. He is frequently instructed to advise and represent young individuals involved in gang activity in high profile cases of serious violence, organised crime and human trafficking. He also has extensive experience representing children accused of serious sexual offences.

Gerwyn has lectured internationally and advised various public bodies on the areas of youth justice, modern slavery and child trafficking. He continues to work closely with organisations such as the Criminal Bar Association, Bar Council and The Law Society on drafting reforms aimed at ensuring that children are able to effectively participate in criminal trials.

Notable Cases

Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.

15-year-old client jointly charged with six others of the murder of a teenage gang rival (Operation Wageplay)
R v KB and others, Central Criminal Court (2025)
Led by Kier Monteith KC in a prosecution case alleging joint enterprise murder. The client was 15 years old at the time of the incident and is jointly charged with six others for the murder of a fellow 15 year old. The case has been covered in the national media.

16-year-old girl accused of organising a targeted knife attack on a 15-year-old boy following a disagreement over Snapchat
R v KW and others, Harrow Crown Court (2025)
The 16-year-old client was charged with three others under s.18 (wounding with intent) following the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy outside school. The client had fallen out with the 15-year-old over social media and was accused of arranging for him to be stabbed by her three co-defendants.

Prosecution of five East London gang members for attempted murder following the shooting and stabbing of a rival gang member (Operation Zyrex)
R v JT and others, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2024)
Led by Patrick Roche in a prosecution case alleging that the 17-year-old client was one of five teenagers involved in an organised hit on a rival gang member at Hackney Central train station. The client was first on the indictment and the alleged shooter. The case involved extensive gang / drill lyrics evidence and was the subject of several days of legal arguments. The case was covered in the national media.

Successful application to dismiss charges for 16-year-old client charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life (Operation Leifeet)
R v JS and others, Harrow Crown Court (2024)
The defence successfully applied to dismiss charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life on behalf of a 16-year-old client, who was jointly charged with three others.

15-year-old client accused of attempted murder by leading an Afghan gang attack on a teenage rival, who was stabbed 12 times in the chest, neck and back
R v HM, Thames Youth Court (2024)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a 15-year-old client accused of leading a gang attack and attempted murder of a teenage rival. The client, a refugee from Afghanistan, was said by the prosecution to have taken a leading role in an Afghan gang based in East London. The complainant sustained 12 stab wounds to his chest, neck and back during the incident.

17-year-old client accused of running a county lines drug operation in East London (Operation Yamata)
R v AH, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2023)
The 17-year-old client was jointly charged with two younger teenage boys for conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and money laundering. The prosecution alleged that the client set up and ran a county lines drugs line and recruited younger individuals to undertake the packaging and delivery of the drugs, despite having previously been found by the Home Office to be a victim of modern slavery.

Successful appeal against sentence for 17-year-old client convicted of killing rival gang member
R v Alexander Sprules [2022] EWCA Crim 1556
Led by Chris Henley KC in an appeal against a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years’ imprisonment. After considering the written submissions, which were “attractively presented” by leading counsel, the Court of Appeal reduced the minimum term to 17 years’ imprisonment on the basis that the sentencing judge failed to attach sufficient weight to the client’s youth and psychological immaturity.

Mother assists teenage son and his friends with murder of 17-year-old gang rival (Operation Tanunda)
R v AS and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
Led by Chris Henley KC in the trial of five defendants, one of whom was the mother of her co-defendant, charged with the murder of an alleged gang rival. The 17-year-old client, a well-known south London drill artist who had previously been stabbed by the victim’s gang, was alleged by the prosecution (and various co-defendants) to have been the individual responsible for the fatal stab wound. The case was covered in the BBC documentary ‘The Met’ in 2023 and in the national media.

17-year-old client found not guilty of attempted murder after three-week trial
R v KW and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
The client was jointly charged with two others with the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival. The prosecution sought to adduce significant sections of the accounts of two reluctant witnesses, both under 16, as hearsay evidence. The defence successfully opposed the most significant parts of the applications, heard over the course of five days, thereby limiting the scope of the evidence that was placed before the jury. The client was acquitted by the jury of attempted murder at the conclusion of the three-week trial.

16-year-old client originally arrested for the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival avoids youth detention after pleading guilty to a lesser offence
R v OF, Bromley Youth Court (2021)
The 16-year-old client was arrested for the attempted murder of a suspected 16-year-old gang rival. The client was caught on CCTV stabbing the complainant in the back with a large machete. After a series of written representations to the CPS, the client pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of unlawful wounding on a favourable basis of plea and received a Youth Rehabilitation Order.

Allegation of attempted murder following revenge attack on rival gang member (Operation Shale)
R v TT and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
The 17-year-old client was charged with four others of attempted murder following the stabbing of an alleged rival gang member. The stabbing was said by the prosecution to be revenge for an earlier attack on the client by a rival gang, the recording of which was circulated on social media. The admissibility and interpretation of drill music lyrics were central issues in the case. The case was covered in the national media.

15-year-old alleged gang leader acquitted following half-time submission on all charges, including conspiracy to rob 
R v KW and others, St Albans Youth Court (2021)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent one of six defendants accused of committing multiple knife-point robberies. The 15-year-old client, alleged to be the leader of the gang, was one of only two defendants found not guilty on all charges following a successful half-time submission.

Drug dealer robbed, kidnapped and blackmailed by a group of youths
R v MS and others, Southampton Crown Court (2020)
The client and four other young individuals were charged with conspiracy to rob, blackmail and kidnap a drug dealer. The lengthy incident was recorded on various mobile phones and later circulated on social media. The defence raised issues of admissibility and relevance of Snapchat material relied upon by the prosecution to support an additional charge of witness intimidation.

16-year-old charged with conspiracy to steal high-value vehicles
R v LLR and others, St Albans Crown Court (2019)
The 16-year-old client was charged, along with others, with conspiracy to steal high-value vehicles on behalf of a London-based organised crime group. The case raised complex issues of child trafficking and modern slavery. The client ultimately avoided detention in a youth offending institution despite having a number of similar previous convictions.

13-year-old gang leader stabs junior school rival
R v SS and others, Luton Crown Court (2018)
The 13-year-old client was charged with five others for GBH with intent and violent disorder following the stabbing of a former junior school rival. The trial judge subsequently referred to the case in his nationally reported retirement speech, in support of his campaign for the introduction of blunt-edged knives. The case received national news coverage, including coverage by The Telegraph.

Prosecution offered no evidence following defence submissions on admissibility of gang affiliation evidence
R v TH, Camberwell Green Youth Court (2018)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a 16-year-old client alleged to be a high-ranking member of a South London gang involved in the trafficking of teenage boys. The prosecution offered no evidence following defence submissions on the admissibility of gang affiliation evidence.

Youth acquitted of sexual assault on a teenage girl
R v KP, Chelmsford Youth Court (2018)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a 16-year-old client accused of dragging a 13-year-old girl into an underpass and sexually assaulting her by placing his hands on her vagina. The case was dismissed at the end of the prosecution’s evidence after a number of fundamental inconsistencies were exposed during cross-examination of the complainant and her mother.