David Potter
Practice
David Potter is an accomplished advocate before juries and Appellate Courts in all aspects of Criminal Law.
He regularly appears as a Leading Junior. He has been a Category 4 Prosecutor since 1999 and has a particularly strong ability in cases involving homicide, organised crime, serious sexual offences, cases involving telecommunications, fraud and asset recovery.
David is highly skilled in setting strategies for the case management of complex crime. He is proficient and confident in the use of technology, particularly in the presentation of evidence in Court.
David is noted for the thorough preparation of his casework and the clarity of his openings, skeleton arguments and advices. He has excellent interpersonal skills in conferences, negotiations and meetings with vulnerable and intimidated witnesses.
A skilled and persuasive communicator, David regularly lectures to University Students, Senior Police Officers and fellow Professionals.
In his spare time David plays alto sax and keyboards and is delighted to have been invited to join Exchange Chambers’ House Band, “Ex Post Facto”.
Notable Cases
▪ Operation Musketry (2003 – 2007). Drug dealer tortured and
murdered in front of his captive children in retribution for a drug debt owed to a major Manchester dealer. Largest investigation by Cheshire Police in recent times. After successful trials as Junior Prosecuting Counsel in 2004, was a Leading Junior at the last trial in which the remaining defendant was convicted.
2010
• R v. Burke & ors (ongoing): Conspiracy to Rob.
• Operation Oxford (ongoing): Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated
Burglary.
• Operation Habilis (ongoing): Conspiracy to Produce Cannabis.
Prosecuting the Organisers and
Managers of a gang of Vietnamese
Nationals running cannabis factories
across North Wales.
• Operation Lucia Murder
• Operation Blackbird: Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated
Burglary.
Prosecuted an Organised Criminal Gang which targeted 25 high-value properties across Cheshire and Lancashire during which violence was used and threatened towards several occupiers. All defendants convicted. Ring leaders received Indeterminate Sentences.
• R v. Andrew Child Abuse (Leading Junior)
• R v. Caunce Rape and violent assault by stranger
on heavily intoxicated victim
• R v. Johnson Death by Dangerous Driving: Medical
Defence (Leading Junior)
• R v. Humphreys Manslaughter
2009
• Operation Kenya Conspiracy to Rob
Prosecution of an Organised Criminal Gang that planned robberies of jewellers and cash in transit vehicles. Ringleaders convicted.
• R v. Duggan Defended alleged rape by approved
carer on mentally disabled client:
acquitted.
• Re: M Defence of Registered Nurse before
Fitness to Practice Committee.
• R v. Roberts Manslaughter
• R v. Dickenson Serious wounding in Prison.
Indeterminate Sentence.
• R v. Barnett Money Laundering proceeds of MTIC
fraud. Benefit figure for POCA
£8.34m.
• R v. Broughton Murder
2008
• R v. Moylan & ors Manslaughter
• R v. Buckley Murder
• R v. Walton Attempted Murder
• R v. Lewis Murder (Leading Junior)
Other Cases
• R v. Turner & ors Anti-Corruption within Greater
Manchester Police Print and Design
Unit.
• R v. Ellison & ors Conspiracy to Defraud: (Leading
Junior) Asset stripping of a failing
company preceding the setting up of
a phoenix company. Creditors
defrauded of £1.1m
• Operation Astral Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs:
(Leading Junior) A case that featured
covert intrusion, voice identification
and use of high-tec audio and visual
equipment in Court.
Personal
Education: New Heys Comprehensive, Liverpool. University of East Anglia.
Inn: Lincolns
Member and former Wales and Chester Circuit Representative of the Criminal Bar Association.
Other interests include music, theatre and cinema.
