He has achieved successful outcomes for clients in four-fifths (78%) of his last 50 trials (as of June 2024), resulting in, either: not guilty verdicts; juries unable to come to a verdict and discharged; the court staying the prosecution as an abuse; or the Crown being compelled to offer no evidence. This is a high rate of success given that CPS statistics show the conviction rate is 82% (Q1 2023-24).
He has also appeared before the Court of Appeal on eight occasions, of which five have resulted in the appeal being allowed, one of which resulted in quashing of a conviction for grievous bodily harm and the Court ordering a retrial.
He is committed to pursuing a just outcome for his clients.
Criminal Defence
Overview
Meredoc is a criminal defence barrister, who appears in the Crown, Magistrates and Youth Courts, representing clients for all types of offences. He is experienced representing vulnerable clients and youth and is committed to obtaining the most just outcome for his clients.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
ASSAULTS and ROBBERY and AGGRAVATED BURGLARY
R v D, Crown Court at Snaresbrook [June 2024]
Crown offered no evidence to two counts of child cruelty, following legal argument and applications by the Defence to admit non-defendant bad character; there was an earlier plea to a lower-level ABH.
R v S, Crown Court at Wood Green [November 2023]
Jury came to a unanimous verdict of not guilty. The defendant was charged with causing grievous bodily harm by strangulation, and it was agreed there had been a physical confrontation.
R v G, Crown Court at Inner London [September 2023]
Client was charged with assaulting a police officer; the Crown were compelled to offer no evidence at trial following defence submissions to stay the case as an abuse of process.
R v B, Crown Court at Isleworth [August 2023]
Client was charged with racially aggravated assault and the Crown was compelled to offer no evidence after the complainants failed to attend three trial listings following Defence applications to admit non-defendant bad character.
R v M, Crown Court at Kingston [March 2023]
Unanimous verdict of not guilty for the client accused of being a member of a gang when he was a child that robbed a younger child.
R v H, Crown Court at Wood Green [March 2023]
Jury reached a unanimous verdict of not guilty; the defendant was charged with causing grievous bodily harm by smashing a bottle into face of complainant who sustained significant injuries.
R v A, Crown Court at Wood Green [February 2023]
Client acquitted by jury following trial for burglary and theft; and jury were hung regarding a charge of ABH.
R v P, Crown Court at Isleworth [December 2022]
Crown offered no evidence on day of trial against defendant charged with GBH against former partner, this was following the Defence obtaining a forensics report.
R v T, Crown Court at Snaresbrook [December 2022]
Unanimous not guilty following a three-week trial in which defendant was charged with robbery and ABH against ex-partner.
R v F, Crown Court at Harrow [November 2022]
Unanimous verdict of not guilty against a man who was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm against a visitor that he removed from his property.
R v HP, Crown Court at Southwark [October 2022]
Unanimous verdict of not guilty for client charged with causing grievous bodily harm of a family friend who was visiting the client’s address.
R v K, Crown Court at Inner London [May 2022]
Case was dismissed following half-time submission as there were crucial inconsistencies in the Crown case - defendant was charged with assaulting a police officer.
R v C, Crown Court at Harrow [May 2022]
Following extensive legal submissions on day of trial the Crown offered no evidence against client charged with assaulting police officers.
R v G, Crown Court at Southwark [March 2022]
Client was found not guilty following trial for assaulting a police officer after the defendant was ‘kettled’ at a BLM protest.
R v D, Crown Court at Isleworth [January 2022]
Following legal submissions, the Crown offered no evidence at trial against an ex-solider charged with assaulting a police officer.
R v J, Crown Court at Isleworth [July 2021]
Found not guilty by a jury following trial for assault and possession of a weapon in which there was incriminating CCTV, and two Crown independent witnesses provided a firsthand account.
R v L, Crown Court at Isleworth [January 2020]
Secured acquittal in a two-day appeal against conviction for assault on vulnerable neighbours and criminal damage of their property.
R v WC, Crown Court at Guildford [May 2019]
Jury could not reach verdicts and were discharged in trial of child charged with aggravated burglary.
R v L, Crown Court at Isleworth [January 2019]
Secured acquittal, by unanimous jury decision, following three-day trial for co-defendant charged with higher category offence of causing actual bodily harm, and involvement in the incident was not disputed.
R v L, Crown Court at Birmingham [July 2018]
Client had pleaded to charges of ABH and controlling and coercive behaviour involving ex-partner (children had been present) and, despite vigorous opposition from Crown prosecutor, was able to obtain for client a suspended sentence. To this end, I called a character witness who attested to client suffering PTSD as an ex-solider.
R v M, Crown Court at Woolwich [April 2017]
Secured an acquittal on appeal against conviction for assault by beating in which the client had allegedly pushed his ex-girlfriend out of a moving car and then attacked her at a bus stop, and the incident had been witnessed by two off-duty police officers.
DISHONESTY OFFENCES – FRAUD and THEFT and BURGLARY
R v P, Crown Court at Isleworth [March 2024]
Following detailed representations by Defence solicitors concerning the inadequacy of the evidence, the Crown were compelled to offer no evidence before trial to a charge of theft of a motor vehicle.
R v H, Crown Court at Ipswich [June 2023]
Successful application to dismiss a set of serious charges for fraudulent trading involving over a million pounds; subsequently the Crown offered no evidence on the remaining single charge.
R v W, Crown Court at Chelmsford [March 2020]
Following representations, the Crown offered no evidence in a theft case in which there was CCTV evidence and the defendant admitted taking a handbag.
R v D, Crown Court at Wood Green [August 2019]
Obtained Community Order for client who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of burglary, handling, and an assault on an emergency worker.
R v E, Crown Court at St Albans [June 2019]
Obtained Suspended Sentence order for client who pleaded guilty to a complicated matter of fraud by false representation that involved taking a vulnerable person from their guardians and obtaining money from the guardians under false pretences.
R v H, Crown Court at Oxford [January 2019]
Secured acquittal, by unanimous jury decision, following two-day trial for theft, in which former live-in care worker was accused of stealing money from disabled elderly charge.
R v W, Crown Court at Newcastle [April 2018]
Represented client in a confiscation hearing, at which it was determined that the benefit amount was in excess of a quarter million pounds and, although there had been questions regarding ownership of land, the available assets were put at less than a hundred pounds.
R v T, Crown Court at Oxford [April 2018]
Secured acquittal for client at trial on a charge of burglary of a dwelling. The Crown’s forensic expert report proving the client’s presence was accepted; and the client declined to give evidence. He was found not guilty by a unanimous verdict.
R v S, Crown Court at Chelmsford [January 2018]
Obtained a two-year suspended sentence after the Defendant pleaded guilty to fraud involving £87,000 taken from a small business while she was working as the bookkeeper, and which had threatened the viability of the business.
R v T, Crown Court at Inner London [August 2017]
Obtained a two-year suspended sentence after the Defendant pleaded guilty, after the beginning of trial, to Possessing Identity Documents with Improper Intent. At the time of the offence, he was driving another’s car, had no license or insurance, and was in possession of cannabis.
POSSESSION OF ILLEGAL MATERIAL – DRUGS and WEAPONS
R v S, Crown Court at Inner London [June 2023]
Jury found client not guilty of possession with intent to supply class A drugs despite police surveillance video and being in possession of drugs on arrest.
R v SS, Crown Court at Harrow [March 2022]
Jury were unable to reach a decision and were discharged following trial for possession of a firearm found in the defendant's property - the Crown subsequently offered no evidence in the case.
R v R, Crown Court at Inner London [July 2021]
Found not guilty following a trial in which it was agreed he had the knife in this possession and had previous convictions for the same.
R v R, Crown Court at Wood Green [December 2021]
Defendant was found not guilty by jury of possession of a weapon found in his car.
R v M, Crown Court at Inner London [November 2021]
Found not guilty by jury of possession of a weapon in central London.
R v P, Crown Court at Southwark [September 2021]
Jury found client not guilty of possession with intent to supply class A drugs despite him being identified at the scene seemingly selling class A drugs and having many convictions for possession.
R v O, Crown Court at Woolwich [February 2020]
Secured acquittal, by unanimous jury decision, following trial for possession of an offensive weapon, in which the client was involved in a fight using the weapon on the high street, which was caught on CCTV, and he had fled the scene.
R v R, Youth Court at Basingstoke [November 2019]
Crown offered no evidence in relation to charges of PWITS class A based on an NCA conclusive decision that the youth had been trafficked and exploited, per the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and this is despite previous charges for the same offence. Further to a sentencing note, obtained non-custodial sentence for second conviction for possession of a knife as youth was under the age for mandatory minimum sentencing.
R v S, Crown Court at Oxford [September 2019]
Obtained Suspended Sentence order for client who pleaded guilty on day of trial to two counts of Possession with Intent to Supply class A drugs - an exceptionally low sentence and outside Sentencing Council Guidelines for the offence.
R v F, Crown Court at Oxford [July 2019]
Obtained Suspended Sentence order for client who pleaded guilty to two charges of Possession with Intent to Supply class A drugs, an exceptionally low sentence and outside Sentencing Council Guidelines for the offence.
R v E, Crown Court at Lewes [March 2019]
Obtained Suspended Sentence order for client who pleaded guilty to production of cannabis, a class B drug, in a sizable quantity; and had previous related convictions.
R v A, Crown Court at Isleworth [January 2019]
Secured unanimous decision by jury in a fact-finding hearing that the defendant, who had been found unfit to plead, had not committed offence of possession of an imitation firearm with intent, despite admitting to presence and possession of imitation firearm, and having the imitation firearm produced in court.
R v H, Crown Court at Blackfriars [July 2018]
Client pleaded guilty to second offence of possession of a knife, for which there is a mandatory minimum sentence of six months, however, exceptionally, obtained for client a suspended sentence with requirement of a three-month curfew and limited mental health treatment.
R v A, Crown Court at Harrow [August 2017]
Obtain a two-year suspected sentence, with a period of curfew and unpaid work, after the Defendant pleaded guilty to two counts of PWITS class A drugs, and one of class B drugs; and he had accepted confiscation of £8000 found on arrest.
R v W, Crown Court at Snaresbrook [June 2017]
Obtained for the client a three-year community order, with an unpaid work requirement, after the client pleaded guilty to twelve counts of Possession with Intent to Supply drugs including class A, B and C. He had also been charged and pleaded guilty to an offence of possession of class A drugs that had occurred after being charged for the multiple PWITS offences.
R v R, Crown Court at Inner London [May 2017]
Defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of Dangerous Driving while she was drunk, which had resulted in injury, which may be permanent, to another driver who had got out of his car and tried to stop the defendant. Obtained a Suspended Sentence Order of eight months custody suspended for two years, mandatory alcohol treatment, driving disqualification of 3 years, and £2000 compensation to the victim.
HARASSMENT and COERCIVE and CONTROLLING OFFENCES
R v E, Crown Court at Wood Green [May 2024]
Jury were discharged as they were unable to reach a verdict in case of a defendant charged with disclosing sexual images of his ex-girlfriend without consent and intending to cause her distress.
R v P, Crown Court at Wood Green [June 2023]
Following a successful half-time submission, the Crown were compelled to offer no evidence against defendant accused of racially aggravated harassment against police officers despite having previous convictions for similar offences.
R v D, Crown Court at Reading [May 2021]
Defendant was found not guilty of harassing his former partner with whom he was in dispute for custody of their child.
R v B, Crown Court at Isleworth [December 2019]
Successful half-time submission to the Judge to dismiss case against client for serious charge of coercive and controlling behaviour against ex-partner. On remaining two counts of assault, the Jury unanimously acquitted on one, and acquitted by a majority on the other.
R v Q, Crown Court at Inner London [March 2018]
Secured acquittal for client at trial on a charge of witness intimidation, specifically of threatening to throw acid over an elderly woman. He had previously pleaded guilty to burgling the complainant’s house, which was admitted in trial. He also gave evidence that he had lied in his police interview.
SEX OFFENCES
R v F, Crown Court at Wood Green [September 2023]
Acquitted following trial of sexual assault allegedly committed when defendant was a youth against a carer.
R v E, Crown Court at Harrow [February 2023]
Jury were unable to come to a verdict and were discharged following a week-long trial in which defendant was accused of sexual assault against two women he knew.
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Criminal Appeals
Overview
Meredoc has appeared in the Court of Appeal on eight occasions, the first in 2018, and been successful in five of the appeals.
As of June 2024, he currently has two further appeals, in different stages, before the COA.
Notable Cases
R v H [May 2023]
Court allowed appeal against sentence for burglary, partly on the basis of disparity with co-defendants, and reduced the sentence by almost half
R v C [October 2022]
Successful appeal against part of a sentence for controlling and coercive behaviour that had excluded the appellant permanently from a UK town
R v W [March 2022]
Successful appeal of a sentence for robbery using a weapon committed by a teenager as part of a joint enterprise, resulting in the sentence being reduced below the threshold that meant he would now serve half and not two-thirds
R v B [February 2021]
Successful appeal against parts of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order, part of the conjoined appeal: R v Gould and other [2021] EWCA Crim 447
R v H [April 2020]
Court quashed conviction of a child for joint enterprise GBH against another child, as the Jury had not been properly directed on the law
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Protest Rights
Overview
Meredoc has a successful practice defending in protest cases. He is detail focused and tenacious in his approach. Having been involved in a number of protests himself, notably against the arms trade, he understands the position of his clients and the approach of the prosecution. He is available for instruction in any type of case.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
R v H at CC Luton in December 2023
Client received a suspended sentence following his plea to interfering with the safety equipment of police officers, and the Judge found putting their lives at risk, while protecting forest from the HS2 project.
R v G at CC Southwark in March 2022
Client was found not guilty following trial for assaulting a police officer after the defendant was ‘kettled’ at a BLM protest.
R v M&M at MC Hugh Wycombe in July 2021
Both defendants were found not guilty of blocking a building site while protesting construction of the HS2 rail project.
R v P at CC Southwark in April 2021
Following a successful application to dismiss, the Crown offered no evidence against the defendant charged with criminal damage to a public monument as part of an animal rights protest.
R v M at MC City of London in May 2021
Following a successful half-time submission, the Crown offered no evidence - the client had been charged with obstructing the highway at an environmental protest, but the police were found not to have conducted a proper, and therefore legal, arrest.
R v S at MC Hendon in October 2021
Client was found not guilty of obstruction during their protest at the HS2 building site at Euston station.
R v R at MC Brighton in September 2019
Client was found not guilty of obstructing a police officer during an animal rights protest in a fast-food restaurant.
R v L at CC Westminster in October 2018
Client pleaded not guilty to public order offences after protesting a march by a far-right group, and the Crown subsequently dropped the case.
R v B at MC Teesside in October 2018
Defended an environmental protester and, although unsuccessful, advised to appeal, and the case was subsequently dismissed at the Crown Court due to the prosecution’s failure to meet disclosure obligations which they had also failed to meet in the Magistrates Court (submission regarding lack of disclosure had been refused in Magistrates).
R v L at MC Medway in October 2018
Successfully defended a father who held a personal protest at government offices because he was denied access to his teenage son who was in care (and it was not denied the son wanted his father to have access).
R v E at MC Cardiff in July 2018
Successfully defended client in case in which he and co-defendants had been charged with failing to leave a protest (against an arms fair) after police had ordered them to do so.
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Youth Justice & Child Rights
Meredoc has over five years’ experience defending children and young people, both before the Youth Court and Crown Court. He has dealt with a range of cases, from: possession of offensive weapons; to drug dealing, including those exploited by Organised Crime Groups; to robberies and aggravated burglaries; to serious assault, including s18 offences. He is also experienced in dealing with children who have been exploited or trafficked for the purpose of criminal activity, using the s45 Modern Slavery Act 2015, and in following-up National Referral Mechanism (NRM) reasonable grounds decisions and conclusive decisions from the Single Competent Authority (SCA), and making representations to the CPS on these matters and submissions to the Court.
A vast number of child and young defendants are dealing with trauma from their childhoods due to abuse or neglect, and many have resulting mental health issues (both diagnosed and not). Meredoc ensures that consideration of the welfare of the children that he defends is central in managing their case. In doing so he works closely with the Youth Offending Team, and where applicable social workers and child psychiatrists and psychologists, to ensure the most just and effective outcome.
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Garden Court International
Meredoc worked for the United Nations for over twelve years in the Balkans and East Africa. He began as a field officer with the UN Refugee Agency [UNHCR] in North-East Bosnia (including Srebrenica) and when he left in 2013, headed the UN Mission in Sudan in Eastern Equatoria, one of South Sudan’s, then, ten states. He has extensive experience in the application of international law at the field level and, as a result, is especially able to advise and represent organisations in this area.
Before joining the United Nations, he worked for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE], from 2000 to 2001, preparing for Kosovo’s first national elections as an independent entity. In this role, he participated in drafting regulations for managing voter registration, subsequently adopted as administrative law. While working with UNHCR in Bosnia he was responsible for monitoring the internationally mandated Property Law Implementation Plan (PLIP) to enable returning refugees and IDPs to reclaim their real property, and so developed a detailed understanding of the rights of returnees in relation to property law. He also contributed to developing Municipal Return Commissions, which were mechanisms to support returning refugees and IDPs to exercise their rights, such as resurrecting religious establishments and accessing services, such as utilities and education.
In Sudan, he monitored competing ethnic groups (nomads and farmers) use of limited resources, especially water, and negotiated their shared access. He was involved in preparing for the implementation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s decision on the Abyei Administrative Area, including planning for the protection of civilians in the eventuality that conflict ensued. Following armed conflict in the area, he advocated with military officials for the protection of returning IDPs and thus directly applied International Humanitarian Lawat field level. In Eastern Equatoria, he supported international training of local police and human rights legal training for prosecutors. He was also involved in negotiations to end the low-level intra-ethnic conflict in the border area and to demobilise child soldiers among the ranks of the national forces.
