Hannah Hinton

Fraud and Confiscation

Hannah has a particular interest in cross-border financial crime, having previously successfully represented a senior accountant against a charge of cheating the revenue of £2.5m in respect of a tax avoidance scheme and through her represented of a female charged with laundering the proceeds of her husband’s £10m Ponzi-scheme and a financial adviser charged with a high value conspiracy to defraud involving off-shore companies.   She is highly experienced in dealing with cross-border evidential criminal issues and Mutual Legal Assistance. Recently she has defended in case where the fraud was valued at 90million Euro and EuroJust executed search warrants across 18 member states.

SFO v B – instructed to represent the Respondent at the enforcement stage of a large confiscation order. The Respondent had been extradited from the US to face a significant fraud allegation. The Respondent was the subject of forfeiture and restraint proceedings in the UK and the US. Hannah applied to state a case for the High Court which was granted. The case is before the High Court upon a jurisdictional point of law concerning the approach to enforcement of fines in the Magistrates Court.

R v B – led Junior in an 8 week trial before Preston Crown Court. Hannah represented the Defendant in respect of allegations of breaches of the FSA rules and in respect of an estimated £5m fraudulent trading scheme prosecuted under the Companies Act. The half-time submission took a week to resolve in favour, in part, of her client leading to a significant period of the Indictment being reduced.

SFO v H – led Junior in a in a 10 week trial heard at Bradford Crown Court. Hannah represented one of five defendants charged with money laundering offences in respect of a £10 million “Ponzi” investment fraud conducted from Mallorca in Spain.

Extradition

Hannah specialises in complex extradition work. She is described in Chambers and Partners as

“an experienced extradition junior” recognised for her “friendly approach” to clients and “in court a fighter who never gives up”.  

She represents individuals and governments in difficult cases involving technical argument and sensitive health and human rights issues.

Most of these cases are published decisions. Hannah has been involved in hundreds of extradition cases, some reported and with links to the media.

Hannah instructed on this case for the Prosecution: Sicilian Mafia Boss Extradition.

Turkey v S – Hannah (led Junior) acted for an individual wanted by Turkey for offences of bribery and corruption dating back to 1992 at the height of the political crisis in Turkey. He had obtained false documents to enable his family to get out of the country to safety. He sought and was granted political asylum in the UK in 2002 however the SSHD rescinded his asylum status. The case involved evidence from the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, lay witnesses, two experts upon prison conditions and corruption in Turkey. S. was not extradited as a result of her success before the Westminster Court.

France v D – D. was wanted by the French authorities for eight offences of fraud. Hannah argued that the warrant was not valid as it did not give sufficient detail of the allegations. The French had also convicted him in his absence while he was unaware of the case against him having settled in the UK. He had 2 years to serve but was offered a re-trial. After a successful legal argument the Judge agreed he should not be extradited on the warrant as it was invalid.

M v Poland – Hannah was successful in persuading the High Court the Judge at first instance was wrong to have ordered the extraction of the Appellant. It is one of the leading cases considering the effect of a qualifying electronically tagged curfew whilst on bail.

Germany v J – large scale drug smuggling allegations.

Canada v D – aggravated burglary.

Albania v C – allegations of murder and attempted murder arising from a so called blood feud.

Spain v G – Rape allegation. Case involves expert evidence from Spain regarding Spanish law.

USA v K & K – Largest cyber crime enterprise ever prosecuted causing losses to UK banks of approximately £4.5m and losses estimated at $70m to UK financial institutions and businesses (including churches and local councils). Hannah was instructed via the US DOJ to secure the surrender of two individuals wanted for prosecution under Federal law. The Defendants were extradited to face charges of bank fraud and wire fraud.

USA v C – Acting for the government in a request for the extradition of the Defendant to stand trial for offences concerning the sexual grooming of a 13 year-old American school-girl via the internet. The defendant travelled to America to engage in unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. He is also charged with sending obscene images to a minor.

V v The Governor of HMP Wandsworth& The Republic of Latvia – Instructed to Respond to an application for a writ of habeas corpus ad subjiciendum and judicial review of a decision of a District Judge who refused to discharge Mr Vaganovs from the European Arrest Warrant before the Divisional Court.

Poland v R – Appeal heard by the Divisional Court concerning the statutory time-limits for appeals. Case linked with a number of others interpreting the Supreme Court decision in Pomiechowski v Poland. The case had the unusual feature of being brought by an Appellant who had already been removed from the jurisdiction.

Actions Against the Police

Hannah specialises in Police Law. She represents clients in litigation involving a range of damages claims brought against the police including false imprisonment, trespass to the person and to property, malicious prosecution, misfeasance in public office, negligence and breach of the Human Rights Act 1998 often following referrals to the IPCC or police disciplinary proceedings.

Inquests and Inquiries

Hannah is a member of INQUEST’s pro bono legal team and has advanced level training upon the provisions of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and Coroners (Inquests) Rules 2013, together with the Inquiries Act 2005 and Inquiry Rules 2006.   She acted for the CPS in the high profile criminal involving senior police officers involved in the devastating 1989 Hillsborough football disaster and its aftermath.

Hannah has acted in complex disciplinary cases. In a recent case she represented a healthcare regulator in disciplinary proceedings concerning a persons’ right to liberty and security under Article 5 of the European Convention upon Human Rights and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.