Overview
For 20 years, Alex maintained a busy 50/50 defence and prosecution practice, and believes this is the best way of learning and retaining the skills needed to be an effective criminal barrister. This has ranged from prosecuting complex Flying Squad and NCA investigations, through the prosecution and defence of all manner of violence, fraud and sexual offending, to defending in heavyweight, and especially Turkish, gang matters.
Currently, he principally defends, deploying this wide experience of cases involving serious violence, grave sexual offending, fraud and organised crime. He is currently instructed to defend in a number of “Encrochat” cases and is fully up to speed with recent developments. He also has two murder cases for the defence on his case-list as of May 2023
He often appears alone against King's Counsel, and is respected for his ability to deal sensitively with clients and witnesses who are having difficulty with the experience of the court process, be that because of vulnerability, cultural difference or simply what is at stake.
Solicitors and judges have commented favourably on his ability to pick up complex cases, to master large amounts of information, and to cut to the chase in a very short time.
He has particular expertise in cross-border smuggling cases, and in confiscation and asset forfeiture matters under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and its predecessor legislation. He is currently instructed to defend in a number of “Encrochat” cases and is fully up to speed with recent developments.
Alex has advised upon and successfully defended many Road Traffic Act (RTA) matters, and accepts Direct Public Access instructions for this.
He has recently been privately instructed in several Indecent Images cases, obtaining good results for the clients.
Professional panel appointments
- Grade 3 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Prosecutor.
- Appointed to the CPS specialist crime, POCA (Grade 2), and fraud panels (Grade 3).
Additional Information
Direct Public Access
- Alex accepts Direct Public Access instructions, and has been qualified since 2009.
Languages
Prior to coming to the Bar, Alex worked in Turkey for seven years as a university teacher. His spoken Turkish is near fluent, and he also has a decent command of French.
Education and Awards
- Bar Vocational Course 2001.
- Walter Wrigglesworth Scholar, Lincoln's Inn 2001.
- Postgraduate Diploma in Law, 2000.
- M.Sc. (International Relations), Middle East Technical University, Turkey, 1996.
- B.A. Hons (History and Politics), Keele University, 1991.
Asset Forfeiture, Confiscation & Civil Fraud
Alex is regularly instructed in Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 matters, often where other lawyers have defended at trial or taken the plea but lack the experience of complex confiscation cases.
He was instructed in 2010 by the Registrar of Criminal Appeals to handle a batch of resurrected tobacco duty evasion cases, successfully reducing a number of confiscation orders or eliminating them altogether.
He is often briefed in cash seizure and forfeiture matters by both state agencies and private individuals.
Criminal Defence
Alex is an experienced criminal barrister and is instructed to defend in serious and complex criminal cases, involving offences of murder and manslaughter, rape and serious sexual assault, frauds, drug importations, money laundering and confiscation cases.
Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public
Alex is a highly experienced prosecutor. He is a grade 3 Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Prosecutor and he is also appointed to the CPS specialist crime, rape and fraud panels.
Alex is instructed in serious and complex criminal cases, involving offences of murder and manslaughter, rape and serious sexual assault, frauds, drug importations, money laundering and confiscation cases.
Professional Memberships
- Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association.
- Fraud Lawyers Association.
- South East Circuit.
Cases of Note
Crime Appeals
R. v Ernest [2014] EWCA Crim 1312
Reduction of confiscation order
R v Khushal, Ayub and others [2012] EWCA Crim 2432
Reduction of sentence in large scale Class A supply.
R v Maksimov [2012] EWCA Crim 1169
Sentence reduced in cocaine importation and supply conspiracy on grounds of disparity.
R v Lacko [2012] 2 Cr. App. R. (S) 102
Reduction of sentence in sham marriage and immigration fraud case.
R v Saddique [2012] 2 All ER 793
Interim appeal re ECHR compatibility and form of indictment in s.46 Serious Crime Act 2007.
R v Haslett et al [2011] EWCA Crim 553
Nominated by Registrar of Criminal Appeals in relation to a number of 'cold' cases involving POCA 2002 and duty evasion post R v May and R v Chambers.
R v C (George) [2011] 1 Cr. App. R. (S.) 28
Reduction of sentence in child sex offence case involving abuse of position of trust.
Violence and Homicide
R v F (Canterbury Crown Court 2015)
Murder case.
R v E and B (Canterbury Crown Court, 2015)
Affray, defence of door security staff, excess of force.
R v D (Nottingham Crown Court, 2014)
Causing death by careless driving
R v A (Maidstone Crown Court, 2013)
Murder, significant medical causation issues.
R v F (Wolverhampton Crown Court, 2013)
Murder and public disorder, significant medical causation issues.
Sexual Offences
R v M (Harrow Crown Court, 2015)
Male on male “date” rape, administration of drugs to facilitate sexual offence.
R v E (Maidstone Crown Court, 2015)
Rape of step-daughter.
R v H (Maidstone Crown Court, 2015)
'Revenge porn' involving indecent images of child.
R v T (Canterbury Crown Court, 2015)
Historic rape of defendant's children and step-children.
R v B (Canterbury Crown Court, 2015)
Sexual assault on child, automatism/sleep disorder.
R v F (Stafford Crown Court, 2014)
Multiple rapes, s.18 Offences Against the Person Act, kidnap, false imprisonment.
R v K (Birmingham Crown Court, 2013)
Grooming and rape of vulnerable 13 year-old.
R v CG (Maidstone Crown Court, 2011)
Alleged rape by father of 5 year-old girl.
R v W (Canterbury Crown Court, 2010)
Sexual activity with animals and children.
Fraud
R v D (Maidstone Crown Court, 2015)
'Rogue trader' targeting the vulnerable for over-priced and unnecessary home repairs.
R v M and others (Kingston Crown Court, 2014)
200 plus instances of 'vishing' or 'line capture' bank fraud
R v T (Maidstone Crown Court, 2014)
VAT and Income Tax fraud in road haulage industry.
R v S and others (Chelmsford Crown Court, 2013-4)
Insider bank transfer fraud and money laundering.
Re CHC (City of London Police investigation, 2012)
Instructed to advise Defendant before charge in matter involving corruption of Liberian Government officials and carbon-trading. No charges brought. Acted for Company in liquidation proceedings under Companies Act.
R v A and others (Inner London Crown Court, 2010)
Multi-handed, multi-agency organised benefit fraud.
R v K and others (Wood Green Crown Court, 2009)
Large scale postal intercept and false identity benefit cheque encashment fraud involving postal intercept and multiple false identities.
R v B and others (Maidstone Crown Court, 2015)
Large scale theft of mechanical diggers.
R v K and B (Canterbury Crown Court, 2015)
Large scale Class A drug importation, fitness to plead issues.
R v P and others (Inner London Crown Court, 2014)
Industrial cannabis farming and money laundering, confiscation proceedings.
R v M (Canterbury Crown Court, 2014)
Large scale Class A drug importation
R v L and others (Norwich Crown Court, 2013)
Vehicle 'ringing' and cannabis farming.
R v A and others (Birmingham Crown Court, 2012)
Substantial test purchase of drugs and surveillance operation.
R v S and others (Maidstone Crown Court, 2012)
Nationwide supply of cutting agents used in the sale of Class A drugs.
R v T (Snaresbrook Crown Court, 2010)
Cannabis successfully supplied over long period from retail premises; undercover police, surveillance and PII issues.