23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

Profile

Tom defends mainly in London and the South East and is instructed by

leading firms of solicitors. He is ranked within the legal directories and

described as “hard working and committed to the case” [Legal 500:

Crime 2015], “very approachable and has excellent advocacy skills”

[Legal 500: Crime 2016] and “an exceptional barrister” [Legal 500:

fraud crime 2016].

Most recently, The Legal 500. Crime 2017 comment that ‘His record of

acquittals is superb and he has a good manner with clients’. He is also

“a superb advocate” according to the Legal 500: Fraud: Crime 2017.

Tom’s practice is wide-ranging and diverse, with particular focus on

fraud, homicide and serious, organised crime. He is regularly instructed

in high profile matters and increasingly is instructed on a private basis.

FRAUD AND FINANCIAL CRIME

Selected cases include

R v MA and another [2018] Southwark Crown Court (defence)

Conspiracy to cheat

Junior alone defending company director in multi-million-pound VAT

fraud.

R v PA and another (2018) Swansea Crown Court (defence)

Money laundering

Junior alone defending in £9m pension liberation fraud involving over

800 complainants.

R v LS and others (2016-8) Southwark Crown Court (defence)

Operation Hornet

Conspiracy to corrupt, fraudulent trading and money laundering.

Junior to Simon Russell Flint QC defending in the very high profile

prosecution connected to the HBoS Impaired Assets division (whose

losses are alleged to be in excess of £250m). Confiscation proceedings

ongoing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38842723

Tomgodfrey@23es.com

Tomgodfrey@23es.com.cjsm.net

Counsel’s Clerk

Clerks@23es.com

Primary Areas of Practice

General Crime

Homicide

Sexual Offences

Fraud & Financial Crime

Regulatory & Disciplinary

Proceedings

Professional Memberships

South Eastern Circuit

Criminal Bar Association

Fraud Lawyers Association

Public Access

Thomas Godfrey is permitted by

the Bar Council to accept

instructions directly under the

Public Access scheme.

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4183510/HBOS-banker-

jailed-11-years-1bn-fraud.html

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/02/hbos-manager-

and-other-city-financiers-jailed-over-245m-loans-scam

R v RS (2016) Bristol Crown Court (defence)

Section 207 Insolvency Act offences

Junior alone defending company director in allegations of making

transactions in fraud of creditors

R v MS and others (2015-8) Southwark Crown Court [defence]

Operation Cannon

Conspiracy to defraud.

Junior to Mark Trafford QC defending in SFO prosecution of £40m

Ponzi fraud. Confiscation proceedings ongoing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-

order/11870238/Gang-accused-of-40m-Olympic-Ponzi-fraud.html

http://metro.co.uk/2016/05/03/three-ponzi-fraudsters-fleeced-

investors-out-of-79-5million-5856561/

R v AA and RB (2014) Reading Crown Court (prosecution)

Conspiracy to defraud.

Junior alone prosecuting employees of a major steel dealership for

abuse of position.

R v IH and others (2014) Snaresbrook Crown Court [defence]

Conspiracy to defraud.

Junior alone defending in an Oyster card fraud in which the defendant

was alleged to be at the centre of a sophisticated operation.

R v PO and others (2014) Woolwich Crown Court [defence]

Conspiracy to defraud.

Junior alone defending in a long running fraud involving employees of

the local authority.

R v TM and others (2013) Southwark Crown Court [defence]

Conspiracy to Cheat the Revenue.

Junior to Rupert Pardoe defending a solicitor in allegations of large-

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

scale fraud connected to the film industry.

Telegraph News Report

Daily Mail News Report

R v SW (2013) Croydon Crown Court [defence]

Fraud and money laundering.

Representing a taxidermist charged with fraud and money laundering

as well as various offences contrary to the Control in the Trade in

Endangered Species (CITES) Regulations. Further issues to do with

restraint.

BBC News Report

R v PW (2012) Southwark Crown Court [prosecution]

Fraudulent trading.

Junior to Paul Ozin prosecuting the defendant who, it was alleged,

dishonestly ran a company as a vehicle for his own personal benefit

and by diverse methods misappropriated company funds and

defrauded customers.

HOMICIDE

Selected Cases Include:

R v AW [2018] Reading Crown Court [defence]

Murder

Junior to Cairns Nelson QC defending in allegation of murder following

protracted disputes between two families. Issues as to loss of control,

diminished responsibility, toxicology and pathology.

R v AS and IF [2018] Reading Crown Court [prosecution]

Manslaughter

Prosecuting two defendants for unlawful act manslaughter. Following a

vicious street robbery, the victim met his death in most unusual

circumstances having sought to flee from his robbers. The causation of

death was the main focus at trial.

R v GS and others [2016] Nottingham Crown Court [defence]

Murder

Junior to Paul Bogan QC defending in allegation of joint enterprise

murder following an altercation outside a pub in Leicester.

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

Complicated issues re: blood spatter, DNA and pathological evidence.

R v PB [2015] Court of Appeal [defence]

Murder

Junior alone instructed to advise on an appeal against conviction on

behalf of a defendant convicted of a contract killing.

R v DJB and others [2015] Central Criminal Court [defence]

Murder/s18

Junior alone defending in allegations of wounding with intent linked to

a multi-handed murder trial.

R v FI (2014) Court of Appeal [defence]

Murder

Junior alone instructed to advise on an appeal against conviction on

behalf of a defendant convicted of a brutal murder on the streets of

north London.

R v AW (2014) Central Criminal Court [defence]

Murder.

Junior to John Price QC defending a man indicted with the murder of

his wife by setting fire to her. Children aged 4 and 5 were the youngest

ever to have given evidence at a murder trial.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2604320/Guilty-Jealous-

father-twelve-49-killed-24-year-old-lover-turning-human-fireball-tried-

leave-teenage-son.html

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/boy-4-is-youngest-witness-

ever-at-the-old-bailey-at-murder-trial-of-mother-who-died-from-

burns-9238184.html

R v GJ (2014) Central Criminal Court [defence]

Murder.

Junior to Richard Carey-Hughes QC representing a 76-year-old man

indicted with the murder of his own son.

R v CL (2013) Reading Crown Court [defence]

Murder.

Junior to John Price QC. The Defendant was alleged to have murdered

the deceased in a fight in the streets of Reading. Issues re: causation,

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

intoxication and intent.

News Report

R v PS and others (2013) Snaresbrook Crown Court [defence]

Attempted murder.

Junior alone representing a young man who was indicted with the

attempted murder of a gang rival, in the course of which the

complainant was stabbed multiple times on the streets of East London.

News Report

R v JA and others [2013] Reading Crown Court [prosecution]

Attempted murder and firearms offences.

Sole counsel prosecuting a gangland shooting.

News Report

CPS Report

R v JC (2012) Reading Crown Court [prosecution]

Murder.

Junior counsel to Andrew Edis QC.

Prosecuting this familial murder. Issues re: loss of control and

diminished responsibility.

BBC News Report

R v Aarron Smith (2011) Maidstone Crown Court [defence]

Attempted murder.

Junior alone representing the defendant in allegations of multiple

attempts to kill. Whilst in drink, the defendant used a bread knife to

saw at the necks of two others. Issues re: mental health, intoxication

and intention.

BBC News Report

R v JS & Others (2011) Reading Crown Court [prosecution]

Conspiracy to murder.

Junior led by Ian Acheson prosecuting a number of defendants alleged

to have launched a vigilante revenge attack following a serious assault

on one of their number.

News Report

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

GENERAL CRIME

Selected Cases Include

R v AL and others [2018] Oxford Crown Court [defence]

Armed robbery

Junior alone defending one of three alleged armed robbers. Issues as

to identification, DNA and joint enterprise.

R v CFS and others [2018] Winchester Crown Court (defence)

Kidnap and robbery

Junior alone defending in kidnap case whereby an individual was taken

from the streets at knifepoint and forced to empty his bank accounts

over a period of several hours.

R v SC and others [2017] Kingston Crown Court (defence)

Conspiracy to commit immigration offences and pervert the course of

justice

Junior alone defending in large scale counterfeit passport case.

R v DM and others (2016) Maidstone Crown Court (defence)

Conspiracy to rob

Junior alone defending in allegation of armed robbery committed

against the travelling community. The defendant is alleged, with up to

20 others, to have co-ordinated an extremely violent robbery in the

course of which the complainants were tied up, threated with sawn off

shot guns and ordered to hand over their possessions.

R v SH (2016) Maidstone Crown Court (defence)

Causing death by careless driving

Junior alone defending. The sole issue in the case was causation of

death, the defendant having accepted careless driving.

R v SMB and others [2015] Reading Crown Court and Court of Appeal

[defence]

Conspiracy to rob

Defending alone the lead defendant in allegation of a brutal house

robbery in the course of which a woman and her young family were

beaten and terrorised with weapons. Successful appeal against

sentence in the Court of Appeal.

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

R v IY and others [2015] Snaresbrook Crown Court [prosecution]

Conspiracy to burgle

Junior to Kate Lumsdon prosecuting a gang of burglars indicted with

running an organised campaign of burglaries on schools in Essex and

London.

R v AA (2014) Woolwich Crown Court [defence]

Human trafficking and controlling prostitution

Junior alone representing the first defendant in allegations of

trafficking young girls from Nigeria to the UK for the purposes of

prostitution.

R v SN (2014) Blackfriars Crown Court [defence]

Human trafficking

Junior alone defending in trafficking case involving the young daughter

of the defendant

R v NM (2014) Central Criminal Court [defence]

Forgery and impersonating a solicitor

Junior alone defending a man indicted with forging a court judgement

and impersonating a solicitor.

R v DJ (2014) Central Criminal Court [defence]

Misconduct in a public office. Junior alone representing a serving

police officer indicted as part of Operation Elveden, the cash for stories

scandal.

BBC News Report

R v XX and others (2013) Woolwich Crown Court [defence]

Aggravated burglary.

Junior alone. The defendant, with others, was alleged to have broken

into the house of the complainant armed with crowbars and gaffer

tape. After they had tied the complainant up and subjected him to a

beating, various items of value were then stolen.

R v KM and others (2013) Southwark Crown Court [defence]

Conspiracy to supply firearms.

Sole counsel defending in long running conspiracy to supply firearms in

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

central London.

News Report

R v BC and others (2012) Kingston Crown Court [defence]

S18 GBH

Junior alone defending a young university student who became

embroiled in a street fight, in which very serious injuries were caused.

R v XX & others (2012) Reading Crown Court [prosecution]

False imprisonment and assault.

Instructed as sole counsel to prosecute four members of the same

family indicted with the false imprisonment and assault of the

daughter following an arranged marriage. Issues re: hearsay and

special measures.

News Report

R v RT & others (2011) Guildford Crown Court [prosecution]

Misconduct in a public office.

Junior to Ian Acheson, prosecuting a prison governor and two officers

for abusing their position within HMP Downview. The allegations

spanned a period of four years in which it was alleged a culture of

sexual activity developed between officers and inmates.

Daily Mail News Report

BBC News Report

R v SH (2010) Guildford Crown Court [defence]

Dangerous driving.

Junior alone defending a serving police officer alleged to have driven

dangerously in the course of his duty.

News Report

R v LG & another (2010) Maidstone Crown Court [defence]

S18 wounding and false imprisonment.

Junior alone representing the defendant who, along with another,

falsely imprisoned and tortured their friend following a disagreement

over a boy. Attracted widespread national press coverage.

Telegraph News Report

Sky News Report

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

R v RD & another (2009) Inner London Crown Court [defence] Junior alone defending in what is believed to be the first ever prosecution under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Wilful mistreatment of a 91-year-old woman who lacked capacity whilst resident in a care home. Police News Report

DRUGS

Selected Cases Include

R v JP and others (2017) Leicester Crown Court (defence)

Conspiracy to supply class A drugs

Junior alone defending in 15 handed multi-million-pound drug

conspiracy spanning over a year. Evidence consisting of cell-site

analysis, call data and ANPR relied upon.

http://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/fifteen-

convicted-of-drugs-offences-12776579

R v TM and others (2014) Maidstone Crown Court [defence]

Conspiracy to supply class A drugs

Junior alone defending one of the principal defendants in a long

running conspiracy to supply cocaine, in the course of which the police

conducted surveillance over an 18-month period.

R v MM and others (2013) Maidstone Crown Court [defence]

Conspiracy to supply cannabis.

Junior alone defending in massive cannabis conspiracy.

BBC News Report

R v MM and others (2012) Central Criminal Court [prosecution]

Conspiracy to supply class A.

Instructed as sole counsel to prosecute a conspiracy to supply class A

drugs arising out of a major test purchase operation in east London.

R v SO (2012) Southwark Crown Court [defence]

Supplying Class A drugs.

Junior alone defending in large scale TPO drugs operation throughout

Central London.

R v JC and other (2012) Reading Crown Court [defence]

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

Conspiracy to supply class A

Junior alone defending in covert drug sting in which surveillance had

been carried out over a number of months.

R v TA & others (2012) Reading Crown Court [prosecution]

Conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

Junior to Gareth Branston prosecuting seven defendants in cross-

border conspiracy to supply heroin.

Police News Report

R v PYW & Others (2011) Reading Crown Court [defence]

Conspiracy to produce cannabis and offences contrary to sections 44

and 45 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.

Junior led by Graham Smith defending in what the Crown describe as a

large and commercial supply of equipment used in the production of

cannabis.

SEXUAL OFFENCES

Selected Cases include

R v FT (2017) Shrewsbury Crown Court (defence)

Indecent assault

Defending as junior alone a former teacher indicted with historic sex

offences.

R v KB [2014] Maidstone Crown Court [defence]

Indecent assault and indecency with a child

Junior alone defending in historic sexual allegations in which the

defendant is alleged to have groomed and abused an 8-year-old boy.

R v AD [2014] Maidstone Crown Court [defence]

Indecent assault

Junior alone defending in historic sexual allegations. Issues re: USI and

an alternative charge of indecent assault.

R v XX & Others (2012) Reading Crown Court [defence]

Aiding and abetting rape.

Instructed as junior counsel to Robin Sellers representing a woman

charged with aiding and abetting in the rape of an 8 year old girl.

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

Highly sensitive case involving novel law re: aiding and abetting.

Daily Mail News Report

R v Jordan Janssen (2011) Southwark Crown Court [defence]

Distributing and producing indecent images.

Junior alone defending a serving police officer who was found to have

distributed images levels 1-4 and had produced images of level 1-5.

News Report

R v Thorn & Another (2011) Southampton Crown Court [defence]

Incest and sexual assault.

Junior alone in historic sex case in which three grandchildren were

alleging sexual assault and other offences against their grandfather,

the defendant, and grandmother. Issues re: fitness to plead and

severance. Following an abuse of process argument, the judge stayed

the entire indictment on the grounds of delay.

TAXIDERMY AND COTES OFFENCES

Tom has developed a niche practice representing those accused under

the Control in the Trade of Endangered Species Regulations. He is

available to advise and represent those who find themselves accused

of such offences and is well versed in COTES and the European Council

Regulations. He brings an unparalleled knowledge of this unique and

difficult area of the law.

Selected cases include:

R v GK (2018) Advisory work

Advising Mr K following an NCA investigation into the exportation of

eels to the Far East.

R v SR [2016] Isleworth Crown Court (defence)

Regulation 8 offences

Junior alone defending individual indicted with various offences

contrary to Regulation 8 of the COTES Regs 1997.

R v SC [2014] Basildon Crown Court [defence]

Regulation 8 offences

Junior alone representing an individual charged with various offences

contrary to Regulation 8 of the COTES Regs 1997.

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

http://www.echo-

news.co.uk/news/11167522.Elephant_foetus__wasn_t_to_boost_busi

ness_/

R v SW [2013] Croydon Crown Court [defence]

COTES offences, fraud and money laundering

Junior alone representing a taxidermist charged with fraud and money

laundering as well as various offences contrary to the COTES Regs.

Further issues to do with restraint.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-21617964

COURT OF APPEAL

Tom regularly appears in the appellate courts. Some of his recent cases

are detailed below.

R v SMB [2015] EWCA Crim 1658

Successful appeal against imposition of 12-year sentence for robbery.

R v GS [2015] EWCA Crim 1842

Successful application for leave to appeal against 15-year sentence

imposed for massive class A drugs importation.

R v CL [2014] EWCA Crim 1383

Appeal against conviction and sentence in manslaughter case.

R v EN [2013]

Applying for leave to appeal against a sentence of 12 years imposed for

conspiracy to produce class A drugs.

R v DC [2013] EWCA Crim 1832

Responding to an appeal against conviction based upon the

inadmissibility of mass spec drugs traces and covert audio recordings.

R v JC [2012] EWCA Crim 3202

Applying to set aside an abandonment of an appeal as a nullity.

R v BC (2012)

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

Appeal against conviction on the basis that an alternative verdict had

not been left to the jury.

R v LG [2011] EWCA Crim 685

Appeal against sentence in an assault and false imprisonment case.

R v MM (2011)

Appeal against sentence for conspiracy to supply class A drugs.

R v XX (2011)

Appeal against sentence for a section 20 GBH matter.

CIVIL AND ASSET RECOVERY

R v SW Southwark Crown Court

Restraint proceedings. Application to discharge a restraint order

granted ex parte. Issues re: dissipation of assets and duty of disclosure

on the applicant

REGULATORY AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS

Tom is well versed regulatory and discipline hearings in front of a range

of different tribunals.

Police discipline

Tom has appeared in front of police misconduct panels in a number of

substantive hearings. He is well known for his written work when

advising on grounds of appeal against the findings of misconduct

panels at first instance.

Re: Rohan SCARLETT [2014] Metropolitan police

Discipline hearing following the officer’s conviction for common

assault.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2403113/Pc-Rohan-Scarlett-

punched-suspect-face-self-defence-spat-mouth.html

Officers Taylor and Reynolds (2010) Essex (Operation Oak)

Discipline hearing under the ‘old Regulations’. Following complaints

from a victim of rape as to how her initial allegation was handled,

23 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA 020 7413 0353

Tom Godfrey 2003

numerous Essex officers were put on disciplinary proceedings. This led

to a complete overhaul of how Essex police handle rape complaints.

Re: PC X (2010) Thames Valley

Appeal to the Police Appeals Tribunal. Successful appeal to the PAT

following written argument. The officer concerned was dismissed after

accepting a police caution for assaulting a vulnerable member of the

public.

Football Association

Tom recently appeared in front of the FA on an appeal against an

interim suspension order. The appeal was successful and is believed to

be the first of its kind.