Alasdair Campbell

Criminal Cases

Operation Alex – Old Bailey, London

Junior Counsel in the prosecution of a 4 defendants who conspired to murder an alleged drug dealer. This Prosecution overlapped with many other ongoing sensitive police operations resulting in a vast and complex disclosure issues. There were 3 other subsequent prosecutions in which acted as junior alone. These concerned a 9 handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs and separate Arson and Firearm prosecutions.

R v Richard Peters – Leeds Crown Court.

Defending a client in a multi-handed conspiracy to defraud arising out of the “hand car-wash” phenomenon. Issue was whether his disputed acts formed part of the setting up of the “phoenix” companies and whether he had the associated mens rea. Cut throat defence inevitable. Directors’ duties and obligations critical.

R v ArnoldasLoveikis– York Crown Court.

Defending an allegation of rape on an elderly lady who it was said lacked the capacity to consent due to an Alzheimers type dementia. Expert psychiatric and psychological evidence required as to capacity.

R v. Adam Briggs – Sheffield Crown Court.

Defending a murder – shooting of girlfriend by jilted ex and his subsequent suicide. Question was whether the defendant’s prior involvement with ex was sufficient to amount to joint enterprise. The extent of his involvement in preparation was crucial.

R v. Ashley Hanson and Sean Stobbs – Leeds Crown Court.

2 handed murder prosecution. Complex medical and causation of death issues. Cut-throat defence.

R v. Michael Faulkner – Sheffield Crown Court. Manslaughter by injection of heroin to a friend. Causation of death a live issue given that witnesses had seen deceased self-injecting. Toxicology questions. Awkward joinder arguments as wife was a witness in one set of allegations and a co-accused in another. Sentence Appeal.

Fraud Cases

R v. William Bark and Others – Leeds Crown Court.

Defending a multi-handed Customs & Excise prosecution. Conspiracy to launder £1m red diesel in Yorkshire. Impact of other similar operations nationwide. Cross- border/jurisdictional involvement. Conspiracy to conceal proceeds of laundering operations. Layering of numerous bank accounts. Complex tracing and forensic accounting exercises. Third party cheque encashment issues. Banking knowledge. Four weeks of RIPA abuse of process arguments and other general admissibility points. Disclosure. Cross-examination of accountancy experts. Professional conduct and ethical issues re calling of client. Reporting/broadcasting restriction applications.

Operation Preston Crown Court

Defending an accountant and Company Secretary in a fraud in which the defendant was said to have played an integral part in the formation and management of a company which was then used as a vehicle for fraud by others.

Operation Goodyear – Leeds Crown Court

Leading Prosecution Counsel of a multi handed drugs conspiracy. Contested cell site and phone attribution coupled with observation evidence and disputed forensic evidence all had to be presented to the jury as part of both the Prosecution case and cross examination of the defendants.

R v. Jeanne Trutch – Winchester Crown Court.

Defending allegation of perverting the course of justice arising out of a £35m fraud/theft from Sheik Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai. Acceptance of bribes from multinational companies tendering for contracts. Re-investments of bribes into companies. Directors’ duties considered. Subsequent civil recovery process whereby numerous affidavits sworn.Veracity of affidavits central to allegation. Complex legal professional privilege issues. Disclosure of evidence from Dubai and USA. European Article 6 issues. Preparatory hearing argument. Ruling resulted in Court of Appeal hearing. Potential cut-throat with husband (also prosecuted) to contend with. Proceeds of crime.

R v. RoobikMirzabegi and Others – Leeds Crown Court

Prosecuting a multi-handed MOT fraud. Conspiracy to defraud VOSA, the public and car dealerships. Complex hearsay issues involving evidence of those that pleaded guilty and / or turned Queens Evidence. Conduct of Police during investigation and subsequent disclosure issues. VOSA records and admissibility thereof. Money laundering (international element). Proceeds of Crime.

R v. Jennifer Gleed and Others – Bradford Crown Court

Defending a Customs & Excise Prosecution. Conspiracy to produce £5m worth of counterfeit perfume, CDs and clothing. Extent of participation/involvement. Conspiracy to commit a crime in a foreign jurisdiction and issues arising thereof. Proceeds of crime. PII issues and applications.

R v. James Pearson – Divisional Court

Judicial review of decision by Leeds Magistrates Court.

Trading Standards Prosecutions

Operation Angel 2 – Manchester Crown Court

Leading Prosecuting Counsel in 6 week, multi-handed National Trading Standards prosecution and subsequent  Proceeds of Crime Act recovery against, amongst others Vance Miller, a self-styled kitchen guru. Charged with conspiracy to defraud customers of various kitchen companies, presentation of the case involved distilling a vast amount of witness, expert and documentary evidence into a manageable amount that could more easily be followed by a jury. The POCA proceedings were complex involving the first successful UK application to recover from an absconded and un-convicted defendant.