Anthony James

Call 2021

“He was fantastic… and gave a charming and persuasive speech.”

Circuit Judge at the Central Criminal Court following the acquittal of Anthony’s client.

“Outstanding for a barrister of his age and call.”

Instructing Solicitor

His approach to the law ‘cannot be faulted’.

Praised by opponents and judges for his ‘eye for detail’.

Described by instructing solicitors as 'always on point'.

Represents his clients ‘in an exemplary fashion’ in the Crown, Youth and Magistrates’ Courts.

“Mr Anthony James represented my daughter. I am writing to compliment Mr James via chambers for his impeccable support for my daughter. Mr James showed remarkable restraint and dignity with a maturity and clarity of thought. Mr James is a fine barrister. I do hope chambers are able to commend him. I am sure you receive many complimentary messages, however, Mr James's dedication to his profession is worthy of praise. This is my contribution to that praise.”

Client

Expertise

Anthony has significant trial experience having secured acquittals for defendants charged with offences of violence, drug-related charges and sexual offences.

Anthony has had particular success in the area of road traffic offences where he is able to combine his keen eye for legal argument with his robust cross-examination skills. His attention to detail and meticulous case preparation have been instrumental in securing multiple acquittals in this area.

Anthony’s ability to cross-examine professional witnesses, from police officers to expert witnesses, has proved of further use in the areas of violence against police, public disorder and animal welfare.

Coupled with his trial advocacy experience, Anthony also has a very good track record when representing defendants at other stages of the criminal trial process. His client care skills and analytical ability allow him to spot and utilise the most persuasive points when applying for bail and also when mitigating on a client’s behalf.

Notable Crime cases


R v K (Central Criminal Court)

Anthony’s client was charged with handling stolen goods. Having taken Anthony’s advice not to give evidence in his defence and following Anthony’s speech, the defendant was unanimously acquitted by the jury.

R v N (Kingston CC)

Anthony won a complex legal argument on reverse burdens of proof for an offence which has never before been dealt with in case law. The relevant statute required the defendant ‘to prove a reasonable excuse’. Anthony successfully argued that this express statutory exception should be read down under the Human Rights Act 1998 to impose only an evidential burden and therefore not contravene the defendant’s right to a fair trial under Article 6 of the ECHR.

R v B [2021] Maidstone CC

Secured a suspended sentence for a client charged multiple shoplifting offences and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, described by the judge as ‘at the highest level of ABH, on the cusp of GBH and wounding.’

R v B [2022] Staines MC

Successful in renewing a previously refused application to extend a representation order to reflect the unusual difficulty in a case of harassment related to a protracted neighbour dispute.

R v H [2021] City of London MC

Successful in a Newton Hearing to decide whether the client punched or pushed a police officer, the client’s having previously pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker. The case turned on Anthony’s lengthy cross-examination of the officer in question.

R v S [2021] Isleworth CC

Client received a sentence of 16 months’ custody for possession of a razor blade melted into a toothbrush in prison. The sentence was below the starting point for such an offence. The judge was persuaded to grant the client 20% credit for a guilty plea entered on the first day of trial as the client had not had the opportunity to view the CCTV prior to that date.

R v T [2021] Wimbledon Youth Court

Secured a Youth Rehabilitation Order for a client convicted of 24 separate offences, including mutiple bladed articles and robberies, described by the court as an ‘horrendous catalogue of crimes’. By imposing this sentence, the court was persuaded to move outside of the sentencing guidelines.

R v C [2021] Uxbridge MC

Anthony successfully excluded confessions made by his client per section 78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. Despite the client’s failing to attend her trial, she was acquitted due to the lack of other prosecution evidence.

R v H [2021] Kingston CC

Negotiated a basis of plea to one charge of cultivating cannabis which placed the client in lesser role on the sentencing guidelines. The client received a sentence which allowed his immediate release.

R v M [2021] St Albans CC

Successfully argued that the client fell into lesser role on the guidelines for cultivating cannabis despite prosecuting counsel’s submissions to the contrary. Due to this categorisation, the sentence was capable of being suspended, which the judge was persuaded to do. In his remarks, the judge said that Anthony had represented his client ‘in an exemplary manner’.

R v H [2021] Willesden MC

Successfully persuaded the court not to order the destruction of his client’s pitbull. The complex hearing involved the cross-examination of police officers and two canine experts. The client then received a fine for the offence despite significant injuries caused to both humans and dogs at the scene.

R v H [2021] Chelmsford MC

Secured a suspended sentence for a client charged with owning a dog dangerously out of control and owning a dog of a prohibited breed. Injuries were caused to a member of the public and the client had previously failed to comply with interventions. The Court was also persuaded not to order the destruction of both dogs.

R v F [2021] Isleworth CC

15 year old client was in breach of a Crown Court Youth Rehabilitation Order through the conviction of further offences since its imposition. The case was committed to the CC by the Youth Court and Crown Court judge was persuaded to allow the YRO to continue despite the client’s convictions for three further offences since its imposition.

R v L [2021] Brighton MC

Client acquitted after trial of sending a false message by a public communications network as the court could not be sure that the video was a false message and that the client had the requisite intent. The trial involved the sensitive questioning of both the client’s ex-partner and the client himself who had significant mental health issues and vulnerabilities.

R v T [2021] Westminster MC

Client charged with possession of an offensive weapon and trespassing into Buckingham Palace. Client had complex mental health issues including schizophrenia. He also had two previous convictions for bladed article offences, subjecting him to a mandatory minimum sentence. Anthony produced a lengthy sentencing note in addition to his oral submissions. Chief Magistrate Goldspring found that it would have been unjust in all the circumstances to impose the mandatory minimum, noting that he ‘could not fault’ Anthony’s approach to the relevant law. The client received a sentence which did not affect his release date.
Coverage:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/15096259/buckingham-palace-knifeman-wielding-blade-jailed/
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/17/man-charged-for-trying-to-enter-buckingham-palace-with-knife
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9629405/Chorrie-Thompson-46-jailed-six-months-carrying-knife-Buckingham-Palace.html

R v Y [2021] Stratford MC

Client acquitted of two breaches of a restraining order. The defence was one of reasonable excuse as a separate non-molestation order had expired by the time of the breaches. At the conclusion of the case, the client was found not guilty as he had made an ‘honest mistake’ due to the confusion regarding which orders were in place. The acquittal followed Anthony’s lengthy submissions on the confusion of all parties, including the prosecution, regarding the status of the order.

R v E [2021] Isleworth CC

Client charged with possession of almost 200 Category A indecent images and a further 400 Category B and C images. On hearing the complex background to the offending, the judge remarked that he had not ‘come across a case for some time where there has been so much that has and could be said by way of mitigation’. The judge went outside of the guidelines and imposed a community order.

R v I [2021] Ealing MC

Client charged with being drunk in charge of a motor vehicle in a public place. Anthony spotted that there was an issue as to whether the car park where the client was stopped was a public place and the matter was adjourned for several months. In the intervening period, the Crown served further evidence on the issue. At the next trial listing, Anthony cross-examined the officer about the insufficiency of the further evidence he had obtained before being successful in a submission of no case to answer.

R v M [2022] Highbury Corner MC

Secured acquittals for a client charged with taking a vehicle without consent, driving without insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. Without the need to call his client to give evidence, Anthony made detailed submissions on the legal insufficiency of the Crown’s evidence, leading to the client’s acquittal for all three offences.

R v S [2021] Uxbridge MC

In a case of driving with no insurance, Anthony argued that there were special reasons to not endorse his client’s licence on the basis of a genuine belief that the car was insured. The client was therefore not disqualified from driving.

The Chief Constable of Sussex Constabulary v Ors [2022] Brighton MC

Represented the Chief Constable of Sussex Constabulary in breaches of Domestic Violence Protection Orders.

The Insolvency Service v R [2021] Luton MC

Prosecuted a defendant charged with re-using a prohibited company name under section 216, Insolvency Act 1986.

Notable Asset Forfeiture & Civil Recovery cases


R v M [2021] Folkestone MC

Secured an adjournment in lieu of a warrant of committal at an enforcement hearing, where the client had £13,000 outstanding to pay on her confiscation order.

Anthony has considerable experience representing parties before fitness to practise tribunals. Anthony undertook a 6-month secondment with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, where he gained experience in all stages of proceedings, having advised on case preparation and also presenting cases at the interim and substantive stages. Anthony’s experience in the criminal courts has proved invaluable in cases involving extensive cross-examination and allegations comprising criminal convictions and dishonesty.

Notable Professional Regulation cases


NMC v C

Presenting on behalf of the NMC. The Registrant was struck off having been convicted of child abduction offences. Despite the registrant’s attempts to relitigate the matter, Anthony extensive cross-examination at the impairment stage led to the panel’s decision to strike the registrant off the register.

Coverage: https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/ftpoutcomes/2022/august-2022/reasons-cherian-ftpcsh-71329-20220803.pdf

NMC v A

Novel case where Anthony applied to the Committee to exercise its powers to require the attendance of a reluctant witness under rule 22(5) of the Nursing and Midwifery (Fitness to Practise) Rules 2004.

NMC v M

Complex case involving the cross-over between upper tribunal findings at an appeal against a DBS barring decision and related regulatory proceedings.

NMC v T

Case involving allegations of sexual assault, bullying and unprofessional use of social media.

Bar Professional Training Course – Outstanding

University of Law, London Bloomsbury

LLM – Distinction

University of Law, London Bloomsbury

LLB Law (with German Law) – First Class Honours

University of Sheffield

Amicus ALJ

The collateral use of documents disclosed in civil proceedings in criminal proceedings, Young Fraud Lawyers Association Spring Newsletter (June 2022)

Perpetuating Myths: the Need for Review in the Right Areas
, Carmelite Briefing (August 2021)

Tell me Lies to Tell me Why: Revisiting the Confidentiality of Jury Deliberations, Carmelite Briefing (April 2021)

A Code to Joy: the Sentencing Act 2020, Carmelite Briefing (December 2020)

Buchanan Prize (The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn)

Kennedy Scholarship (The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn)

Advocacy Scholarship (University of Law)

David Hoath Memorial Prize (University of Sheffield) 

Winner of the Lincoln’s Inn Moot 2020

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