Gerwyn is a specialist criminal defence barrister with experience defending in the most serious cases of violence, organised crime, sexual offences and fraud and confiscation.
Criminal Defence
Overview
Gerwyn is a criminal defence barrister specialising in cases of serious violence, organised crime, sexual offences and fraud and confiscation. He has been instructed in a number of complex and high profile cases in recent years.
An extremely capable and personable advocate, Gerwyn has extensive experience representing young and vulnerable clients charged with grave crimes.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
Serious violence
Vulnerable client arrested for the attempted murder of 9 police officers after holding his family hostage (Operation Hampshire)
R v NS, Snaresbrook Crown Court
The client was arrested following a lengthy standoff with police after he threatened to kill members of his family and held them hostage inside the family home. He attacked the attending police officers with several samurai swords and axes, causing serious injury to one of the police officers. The vulnerable client was immediately sectioned under the Mental Health Act but later charged for his actions.
Successful defence against one of the first prosecutions alleging non-fatal suffocation
R v TK, Isleworth Crown Court (2022)
The defence successfully challenged the credibility of the complainant having identified national reporting of four previous dishonesty convictions, including an occasion when she impersonated a police officer in order to blackmail an ex-partner. The case involved one of the first prosecutions alleging non-fatal suffocation following the passing of s.70 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
Prosecution forced to offer no evidence against client charged with attempted murder following challenge to the identification evidence of a police officer (Operation Cardamine)
R v NF and others, Central Criminal Court (2022)
The client was accused of an unprovoked attack on a stranger during a night out in Camden. The attacker, identified as the client by a police officer, used a knife to cut the throat of the victim. The defence challenged the identification evidence, and the prosecution was subsequently forced to offer no evidence prior to the trial.
East London gang accused of attempting to assassinate a rival gang member with a firearm (Operation Julica)
R v JC and others, Southwark Crown Court (2022)
The client is jointly charged with four others with the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival and conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. The prosecution case is that one of the five defendants present discharged a firearm at the complainant while he was leaving an address in the Bethnal Green area of London.
Successful appeal against sentence for 17-year-old client convicted of killing a rival gang member
R v Alexander Sprules [2022] EWCA Crim 1556
Led by Chris Henley KC in an appeal against a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years imprisonment. After considering the written submissions, which were “attractively presented” by the leading counsel, the Court of Appeal reduced the minimum term to 17 years imprisonment on the basis that the sentencing judge failed to attach sufficient weight to the client’s youth and psychological immaturity.
Mother assists teenage son and his friends with murder of 17-year-old gang rival (Operation Tanunda)
R v AS and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
Led by Chris Henley QC in the trial of five defendants, one of whom was the mother of her co-defendant, charged with the murder of an alleged gang rival. The 17-year-old client, a well-known south London drill artist who had previously been stabbed by the victim’s gang, was alleged by the prosecution (and various co-defendants) to have been the individual responsible for the fatal stab wound. The case was covered in the national media.
17-year-old client found not guilty of attempted murder after three-week trial
R v KW and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
The client was jointly charged with two others with attempted murder of a suspected gang rival. The prosecution sought to adduce significant sections of the accounts of two reluctant witnesses, both aged under 16 years old, as hearsay evidence. The defence successfully opposed the most significant parts of the applications, heard over the course of 5 days, thereby limiting the scope of the evidence that was placed before the jury. The client was acquitted by the jury of attempted murder at the conclusion of the three-week trial.
16-year-old client originally arrested for the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival avoids youth detention after pleading guilty to a lesser offence
R v OF, Bromley Youth Court (2021)
The 16-year-old client was arrested for the attempted murder of a suspected 16-year-old gang rival. The client was caught on CCTV stabbing the complainant in the back with a large machete. After a series of written representations to the CPS, the client pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of unlawful wounding on a favourable basis of plea and received a Youth Rehabilitation Order.
Allegation of attempted murder following revenge attack on rival gang member (Operation Shale)
R v TT and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
The 17-year-old client was charged with four others of attempted murder following the stabbing of an alleged rival gang member. The stabbing was said by the prosecution to be revenge for an earlier attack on the client by a rival gang, the recording of which was circulated on social media. The admissibility and interpretation of drill music lyrics were central issues in the case. The case was covered in the national media.
Client acquitted of male model murder (Operation Panhandle)
R v JO, Central Criminal Court (2018)
Led by Kieran Vaughan QC in the trial of three defendants charged with the high-profile murder of male model Harry Uzoka. The client was the only defendant acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter. The case was covered extensively in the national media including BBC.
Acid attack by gang seeking revenge on two music producers (Operation Silverfox)
R v WD and others, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2018)
The trial followed a police investigation and manhunt covered in the national media including BBC. The client was one of four defendants charged with offences arising out of a gang-related acid attack on two music producers.
Thirteen-year-old gang leader stabs junior school rival
R v SS and others, Luton Crown Court (2018)
The thirteen-year-old client was charged with five others of GBH with intent and violent disorder following the stabbing of a former junior school rival. The trial judge subsequently referred to the case in his nationally reported retirement speech in support of his campaign for the introduction of blunt-edged knives. Covered by Telegraph.
Acquittal following exclusion of gang affiliation evidence (Operation Diryu)
R v AC and another, Central Criminal Court (2017)
The client was accused with others of being part of a gang responsible for attacking a fourteen-year-old rival gang member with Rambo-style knives. Following successful submissions to exclude YouTube ‘drill’ music videos the client was acquitted by the jury of attempted murder. CCTV of the incident was covered in the national media including Daily Mail.
Prosecution arising out of the protests following the death of Rashan Charles (Operation Falmer)
R v AT and others, Wood Green Crown Court (2017)
The client was charged with others of violent disorder arising out of his involvement in the Hackney protests against the police following the death of Rashan Charles.
Prosecution offer no evidence rather than comply with disclosure obligations (Operation Horn)
R v RW and others, Canterbury Crown Court (2017)
The client was charged with others of conspiracy to kidnap and serious assault on the partner of a rival gang leader. The prosecution was forced to offer no evidence rather than disclose defence-requested sensitive material relating to the wider police investigation.
Acquittal despite the presence of unexplained DNA at the scene
R v SK, Woolwich Crown Court (2017)
The client was acquitted of aggravated burglary despite his unexplained DNA having been found on the inside of the window used by a gang when breaking into the property.
Successful submission of no case in gang murder trial following Jogee (Operation Lebberston)
R v SK and others, Central Criminal Court (2016)
Led by Martin Heslop QC in the trial of six defendants charged with murdering a rival gang leader. The client was acquitted after a successful submission of no case to answer. This was the first murder trial to apply the Supreme Court decision in Jogee on joint enterprise. Covered by Telegraph.
Favourable basis of plea negotiated on behalf of teenage girl charged with attempted murder
R v FP and another, Kingston Crown Court (2016)
The client was a teenage girl initially charged with attempted murder having deliberately driven into two police officers in an attempt to escape arrest. She subsequently pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of ABH with a favourable basis of plea and was given a suspended sentence.
Organised crime
East London gang charged with county lines drug dealing and human trafficking following nationally coordinated police operation (Operation Harrier)
R v LJ and others, Northampton Crown Court (2023)
Led by Judy Khan KC of Garden Court Chambers in the five-week trial of alleged East London gang members charged with conspiracy to supply drugs and trafficking of vulnerable individuals and children. The prosecution case was that the client oversaw the national county lines operation and was directly involved in the recruitment via social media of children as young as 13 years old.
National Crime Agency investigation into the importation of 100 kilos of cocaine valued at £10 million (Operation Cangler)
R v TH and others, Lewes Crown Court (2022)
The client is one of five individuals charged with a conspiracy to import drugs into the UK from mainland Europe disguised as a consignment of frozen fish. The investigation was linked to Operation Venetic and the use of EncroChat devices. The case has been reported in the national media.
County lines drug gang involved in the trafficking of an autistic schoolboy (Operation Orochi)
R v HK and others, Kingston Crown Court (2021)
The 19-year-old client was jointly charged with six other defendants as part of a county lines operation being run between London and Swansea, the charges being conspiracy to supply class A drugs, human trafficking and possession of firearms and ammunition. The case was reported in the national media.
Large-scale trafficking of drugs with the use of EncroChat (Operation Venetic)
R v LD and others (2021)
The client was arrested in possession of half a kilogram of cocaine and linked to a larger conspiracy to supply class A drugs over a three month period estimated as having a street value of over £5 million. The alleged conspirators were identified through the infiltration of the EncroChat communication system. The client pleaded guilty on a limited basis of plea and received a 24 month suspended sentence.
Client with suspected links to the running of brothels is acquitted by the jury of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life (Operation Golspe)
R v MMA, Southwark Crown Court (2021)
The client, previously convicted of armed robbery with a firearm, was arrested for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life having been stopped driving a vehicle found to have a loaded handgun under the driver’s seat. After a series of successful defence legal arguments excluding unhelpful aspects of both the client’s previous convictions and the evidence, the client was unanimously acquitted by the jury in under an hour.
International conspiracy to steal £300,000 worth of high-value vehicles (Operation Roquefort)
R v KR and others, Wood Green Crown Court (2020)
The 21-year-old client was jointly charged with two others of conspiracy to steal £300,000 worth of high value vehicles, some of which were stolen in residential burglaries where machetes and CS gas were used to threaten owners. The three defendants, alleged to have been London gang members, were recruited by individuals involved in an international operation to steal vehicles and move them out of the country.
Husband and wife enslave foreign national as part of a conspiracy to supply drugs
R v MS and another, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2019)
The client was jointly charged with his wife of offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and conspiracy to supply drugs. They were alleged to have coerced a foreign national into living within their home before subsequently forcing him to both produce and supply drugs to others as part of an illegal business operation undertaken over a number of years.
Prosecution offer no evidence in slavery case following defence submissions (Operation Cadet)
R v DP and others, Bournemouth Crown Court (2018)
Led by Warwick Aleeson in a case representing one of three defendants accused of holding four vulnerable individuals in servitude for over a decade. The client was assessed as unfit to stand trial and following defence submissions the prosecution offered no evidence.
Conspiracy to blackmail a high-profile businessman (Operation Zonal)
R v NA and others, Caernarfon Crown Court (2018)
Instructed to represent an alleged London gang member charged with six others of conspiracy to blackmail a high-profile businessman in North Wales.
Prosecution offered no evidence following defence submissions on admissibility of gang affiliation evidence
R v TH, Camberwell Green Youth Court (2018)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a sixteen-year-old client alleged to be a high-ranking member of a South London gang involved in the trafficking of teenage boys. The prosecution offered no evidence following defence submissions on the admissibility of gang evidence.
Acquittal following defence submissions to exclude confession
R v RS and another (2018)
Successful application to exclude an improperly obtained confession upon arrest. The client was subsequently found not guilty by the jury.
London gang involved in county lines operation in Essex (Operation Saturn)
R v SR and others, Chelmsford Crown Court (2017)
The client was one of seven members of the London-based ‘Jay Boys’ gang involved in a county lines conspiracy to supply class A drugs in Essex.
Conspiracy to smuggle drugs and mobiles into prisons (Operation Rabbit)
R v BC and others, Southampton Crown Court (2017)
While serving a life sentence for murder the client was charged as the ringleader of an eight-handed conspiracy to convey both class-A drugs and mobiles into prison.
Prosecution of gangs involved in human trafficking (Operation Herschel)
R v KS and others, Southwark Crown Court (2015)
Led by Roderick Price in a seven-handed trial arising out of an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Kidnap and Trafficking Unit into people trafficking into the UK.
Sexual offences
Prosecution of client charged with a series of series sexual assaults in North West London (Operation Burleson)
R v MH, Harrow Crown Court (2023)
The client, a vulnerable young man who fled persecution from the Syrian government, is accused of sexually assaulting three women in a series of violent incidents outside North West London underground stations in September 2021.
Client accused of multiple stranger rapes in the Shoreditch area of London (Operation Visalia)
R v CO, Wood Greed Crown Court (2022)
Led by Anya Lewis KC in an ongoing case where the client is alleged to be a serial rapist targeting women strangers in the Shoreditch area of London. The case has been reported by the national media.
London gang accused of trafficking two vulnerable children for the purpose of sexual exploitation (Operation Mahama)
R v GK and others, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2022)
The 20-year-old client is one of five men accused of being part of an Organised Crime Group (‘OCG’) responsible for arranging and facilitating the sexual exploitation of two young teenage girls. The allegations span a number of years and the OCG is said to have a presence in London, Surrey and Essex.
Mother and boyfriend accused of serious physical and sexual assaults on her five-year-old son
R v JC and another, Harrow Crown Court (2022)
The client is jointly charged with her boyfriend with multiple counts of rape, GBH with intent and cruelty in relation to her five-year-old son. The investigation was initiated after the child was hospitalised with serious injuries all over his body, including injuries to his genitals and anus – the medical experts at the hospital stated that they had only just avoided “another baby P” case.
Sexual assault of a sleeping passenger on a London bus
R v DOB, Wood Green Crown Court (2021)
The client was charged with two counts of assault by penetration having been accused of inserting his fingers inside both the anus and vagina of a sleeping passenger on a London bus. The case required extensive legal arguments in relation to the admissibility of the complainant’s account and resulted in the prosecution offering no evidence in relation to one of the two counts.
Client accused of subjecting two previous partners to years of physical and sexual torture
R v LC, Bristol Crown Court (2020)
The client was charged on the indictment with sixteen counts which included rape, penetrative sexual activity with a child, witness intimidation and controlling and coercive behaviour in relation to two former partners. He was alleged to have both physically and sexually abused both women throughout the duration of both relationships. The client was found not guilty of the rape allegations following multiple days of cross-examination of both previous partners during the 3-week trial.
Erectile dysfunction and the effects of cocaine in a case of attempted murder and rape of an elderly female (Operation Backpack)
R v ZE, Leicester Crown Court (2019)
Led by Jason Bartfeld QC in the trial of a young defendant charged with the attempted murder and rape of an elderly female left with life-changing injuries. The case raised novel points of law on the admissibility of expert evidence relating to erectile dysfunction caused by cocaine use. The case was covered extensively in the national media including the Independent.
Prosecution offered no evidence after defence request for disclosure of the complainant’s mobile telephone
R v PT, Inner London Crown Court (2018)
The client was charged with three allegations of rape. Following defence requests made in advance of trial in relation to the disclosure of the complainant’s mobile telephone, the prosecution offered no evidence.
Youth acquitted of sexual assault on a teenage girl
R v KP, Chelmsford Youth Court (2018)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a sixteen-year-old client accused of dragging a thirteen-year-old girl into an underpass and sexually assaulting her by placing his hands on her vagina. The case was dismissed at the end of the prosecution evidence after a number of fundamental inconsistencies were exposed during the cross-examination of the complainant and her mother.
Sexual assault of two nine-year-old girls by client suffering from paranoid schizophrenia
R v SM, Croydon Magistrates’ Court (2018)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a client suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Having recently been convicted of sexually assaulting a seventy-nine-year-old woman, the client was charged with committing the same offence against two girls aged nine years old. Following cross-examination of the two complainants and three further witnesses aged eleven years old, the client was found not guilty of the most serious allegation.
Determinate sentence for multiple grooming and sexual assault offences
R v SH, St Albans Crown Court (2017)
Determinate sentence imposed on a client convicted of multiple grooming and sexual assault offences on two children under the age of thirteen.
Favourable basis of plea limits length of inevitable prison sentence
R v JBH, St Albans Crown Court (2017)
The eighteen-year-old client was originally arrested for rape of his fourteen-year-old girlfriend. Despite evidence that the complainant had been threatened into having sexual intercourse by the client, a favourable basis of plea to the lesser charge of sexual activity with a child was accepted and the inevitable custodial sentence was limited to 12 months imprisonment.
Vulnerable client charged with historic child sex offences
R v LC, Chelmsford Crown Court (2016)
Led by Sasha Bailey in the trial of a client charged with twenty-three allegations of rape or attempted rape in relation to six teenage boys. The vulnerable client was assisted throughout the six-week trial by an intermediary.
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Financial Crime and Confiscation
Overview
Gerwyn has experience as junior alone and led junior defending clients charged with high value fraud offences, breach of consumer protection legislation, VAT evasion and other white-collar crime. This extends to representation of individuals in subsequent confiscation and enforcement proceedings. Gerwyn also has experience representing individuals accused of criminal contempt of court arising out of failures to comply with financial and employment contractual obligations.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
10 individuals charged with conspiring to defraud 19 pensioners as part of a courier fraud operation running out of East London (Operation Rissole)
R v SK and others, St Albans Crown Court (2023)
The young client was accused with 9 others of being part of an East London gang operating a courier fraud targeting pensioners living in Hertfordshire. The 19 pensioners were encouraged by members of the gang, often impersonating police officers and bank employees, to hand over their life savings.
International company pursues criminal contempt of court against the company’s former director
Centek Holdings Ltd v Tristram Giles [2020] EWHC 1682 (Ch)
The client breached a High Court injunction, which had previously been obtained by the international market-leading company that employed him as a director for 20 years, on 26 separate occasions by disclosing confidential business documents to foreign competitors. The High Court judge described the case as falling within the “most serious category of contempt possible” although he was persuaded to impose a sentence far below the 2-year maximum.
Conspiracy to launder the proceeds of stolen high-value agricultural machinery (Operation Merseyside)
R v CG and others, Isleworth Crown Court (2019)
Led by Avi Chaudhuri in a trial arising out of a multi-year investigation carried out by specialist police unit the Plant and Agricultural Intelligence Unit (PANIU). The client was one of five defendants charged with conspiracy to launder the proceeds arising out of the sale of stolen agricultural machinery valued in excess of £ 1 million.
City worker given suspended sentence for £270,000 fraud
R v DH, Central Criminal Court (2018)
Instructed to represent a city worker responsible for defrauding his employer out of £270,000 of client funds. Having heard lengthy submissions on behalf of the vulnerable client, the judge agreed to suspend the inevitable custodial sentence. The client was also represented in the subsequent confiscation proceedings. The case was covered in the national media including Daily Mail.
Director of building company given suspended sentence for £140,000 fraud
R v MD and others, Ipswich Crown Court (2017)
The client was the director of a building company prosecuted by Trading Standards for a £140,000 fraud and breach of consumer protection legislation involving vulnerable pensioners. The judge was persuaded to suspend the prison sentence given the client’s young age and previous good character.
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Youth Justice & Child Rights
Overview
Gerwyn has a particular interest and expertise in representing children accused of serious criminal offences in both the Crown Court and Youth Court. He is frequently instructed to advise and represent young individuals involved in gang activity in high profile cases of serious violence, organised crime and human trafficking. He also has extensive experience representing children accused of serious sexual offences.
Gerwyn has lectured internationally and advised various public bodies on the areas of youth justice, modern slavery and child trafficking. He continues to work closely with organisations such as the Criminal Bar Association, Bar Council and The Law Society on drafting reforms aimed at ensuring that children are able to effectively participate in criminal trials.
Notable Cases
Past notable cases can be viewed below. Click here to see a list of recent notable cases.
17-year-old client accused of running a county lines drug operation in East London (Operation Yamata)
R v AH, Snaresbrook Crown Court (2023)
The 17-year-old client is jointly charged with two younger teenage boys with conspiracy to supply class-A drugs and money laundering. The prosecution alleges that the client set up and ran a county lines drugs line and recruited younger individuals to undertake the packaging and delivery of the drugs, even though was previously found by the Home Office to have been the victim of modern slavery.
Successful appeal against sentence for 17-year-old client convicted of killing rival gang member
R v Alexander Sprules [2022] EWCA Crim 1556
Led by Chris Henley KC in an appeal against a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years imprisonment. After considering the written submissions, which were “attractively presented” by leading counsel, the Court of Appeal reduced the minimum term to 17 years imprisonment on the basis that the sentencing judge failed to attach sufficient weight to the client’s youth and psychological immaturity.
Mother assists teenage son and his friends with murder of 17-year-old gang rival (Operation Tanunda)
R v AS and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
Led by Chris Henley QC in the trial of five defendants, one of whom was the mother of her co-defendant, charged with the murder of an alleged gang rival. The 17-year-old client, a well known south London drill artist who had previously been stabbed by the victim’s gang, was alleged by the prosecution (and various co-defendants) to have been the individual responsible for the fatal stab wound. The case was covered in the national media.
17-year-old client found not guilty of attempted murder after three-week trial
R v KW and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
The client was jointly charged with two others with the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival. The prosecution sought to adduce significant sections of the accounts of two reluctant witnesses, both aged under 16 years old, as hearsay evidence. The defence successfully opposed the most significant parts of the applications, heard over the course of 5 days, thereby limiting the scope of the evidence that was placed before the jury. The client was acquitted by the jury of attempted murder at the conclusion of the three-week trial.
16-year-old client originally arrested for the attempted murder of a suspected gang rival avoids youth detention after pleading guilty to a lesser offence
R v OF, Bromley Youth Court (2021)
The 16-year-old client was arrested for the attempted murder of a suspected 16-year-old gang rival. The client was caught on CCTV stabbing the complainant in the back with a large machete. After a series of written representations to the CPS, the client pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of unlawful wounding on a favourable basis of plea and received a Youth Rehabilitation Order.
Allegation of attempted murder following revenge attack on rival gang member (Operation Shale)
R v TT and others, Central Criminal Court (2021)
The 17-year-old client was charged with four others of attempted murder following the stabbing of an alleged rival gang member. The stabbing was said by the prosecution to be revenge for an earlier attack on the client by a rival gang, the recording of which was circulated on social media. The admissibility and interpretation of drill music lyrics were central issues in the case. The case was covered in the national media.
Fifteen-year-old alleged gang leader acquitted following half time submission on all charges including conspiracy to rob
R v KW and others, St Albans Youth Court (2021)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent one of six defendants accused of undertaking multiple knife point robberies. The fifteen-year-old client, alleged to be the leader of the gang, was one of only two defendants found not guilty on all charges following a successful halftime submission.
Drug dealer robbed, kidnapped and blackmailed by a group of youths
R v MS and others, Southampton Crown Court (2020)
The client and four other young individuals were charged with conspiracy to rob, blackmail and kidnap of a drug dealer. The lengthy incident was recorded on various mobile telephones and later circulated on social media. The defence raised issues of admissibility and relevance of Snapchat material relied upon by the prosecution to support an additional charge of witness intimidation.
Sixteen year old charged with conspiracy to steal high-value vehicles
R v LLR and others, St Albans Crown Court (2019)
The sixteen-year-old client was charged with others of conspiracy to steal high-value vehicles on behalf of a London based organised crime group. The case raised complex issues of child trafficking and modern slavery. The client ultimately avoided detention in a youth offending institution despite having a number of similar previous convictions.
Thirteen-year-old gang leader stabs junior school rival
R v SS and others, Luton Crown Court (2018)
The thirteen year old client was charged with five others of GBH with intent and violent disorder following the stabbing of a former junior school rival. The trial judge subsequently referred to the case in his nationally reported retirement speech in support of his campaign for the introduction of blunt edged knives. The case received national news coverage, including The Telegraph.
Prosecution offer no evidence following defence submissions on admissibility of gang affiliation evidence
R v TH, Camberwell Green Youth Court (2018)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a sixteen year old client alleged to be a high ranking member of a South London gang involved in the trafficking of teenage boys. The prosecution offered no evidence following defence submissions on the admissibility of gang evidence.
Youth acquitted of sexual assault on a teenage girl
R v KP, Chelmsford Youth Court (2018)
Instructed under certificate of counsel to represent a sixteen year old client accused of dragging a thirteen year old girl into an underpass and sexually assaulting her by placing his hands on her vagina. The case was dismissed at the end of the prosecution evidence after a number of fundamental inconsistencies were exposed during cross-examination of the complainant and her mother.
