Steven Crossley
Steven’s practice combines serious crime and regulatory proceedings. In crime, he has been instructed for the defence in numerous Murders, Frauds and Serious Sexual Offences. He has been instructed to act for police officers charged with criminal offences.
He is well-known for his Regulatory expertise and has regularly appeared before Police Misconduct Hearings throughout the country, at the General Medical Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
He has been instructed to represent interest parties in Inquests concerning deaths in custody and deaths following medical intervention, often involving complex medical issues of causation.
Notable Cases
Crime
R v Clegg (Court of Appeal Northern Ireland). Junior Counsel. Attorney General’s Reference based on fresh medical and ballistic evidence in case of a paratrooper wrongly convicted of murder. Appeal successful. Re-trial ordered.
R v Valentine (Leeds Crown Court). Murder. Appeared for Defendant with previous conviction for Manslaughter.
R v Klein (Newcastle Crown Court). Murder. Appeared for 16 year old Defendant. Issues of Provocation.
R v Scully (Leeds Crown Court). Murder. Provocation.
R v Ellerington (Teesside Crown Court). Appeared for a Sergeant in successful defence. Manslaughter of a detainee (Christopher Alder).
R v Wardman (Leeds Crown Court). Successfully prosecuted an allegation of Attempted Murder against a silk and junior. Elderly victim left with little brain function after being struck to the head repeatedly with a metal pole. Complex forensic issues.
Fraud
R v Moran (Teesside Crown Court). Junior Counsel acted in successful defence of a company director charged with a multi-million pounds railways fraud.
R v Maughan (York Crown Court). Acted for defence in case of International Money Laundering
Police
R v J (Manchester Crown Court). Appeared for Sergeant in successful defence of charges of conspiring to transfer firearms to an informant.
R v Durkin (Newcastle Crown Court). Appeared for Sergeant in successful defence. Misconduct in Public Office
R v Billington (Liverpool Crown Court). Appeared for PC in successful defence. Misconduct in Public Office
R v M (Caernarfon Crown Court). Appeared for Sergeant (CID) in successful defence. Misconduct in Public Office. Supplying Drugs to an Informant.
Attorney General’s Reference No3 of 2003 [2004] EWCA Crim 868. Acted for defence in leading case on the mental element required for the offence of Misconduct in Public Office.
R v Scothern (Sheffield Crown Court). Appeared for Inspector in successful defence. S47 Assault.
R v Bichard (Sheffield Crown Court). Appeared for Inspector in successful defence. S20 GBH.
R v Pendriss (Sheffield Crown Court). Appeared for PC as Leading Junior in successful defence. Dishonesty offences arising out of the firearms surrender compensation scheme
Regulatory Work
Police
Steven has extensive experience of representing police officers in disciplinary proceedings brought under the 1985, 1999, 2004 and 2008 Regulations. He has experience of conduction appeals before the Police Appeals Tribunal. He has represented officers in nearly every force in the country, including cases in the Met, Merseyside, Greater Manchester Police, West Yorkshire Police, Northumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Cheshire, Wiltshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, North Wales, West Midlands and Warwickshire.
He has represented police officers facing disciplinary allegations of:
- Sexual assaults
- Corruption
- Dishonesty, including theft and providing false statements
- Improper Use of Force
- Harassment
- Neglect of duty, including in the context of related deaths in custody
- Misuse of PNC and other confidential information held on police systems
- Conflicting business interests
Healthcare Professionals
Steven has appeared before the GMC and NMC at Interim Orders and Fitness to Practise hearings, notably:
Re G- Doctor accused of failing to meet minimum clinical standards
Re H- Doctor accused of sexually assaulting a patient
Re T- Nurse accused of assaulting an elderly patient in his care.
Re N- Nurse accused of falsifying patient records
Re C- Nurse accused of unfitness to practise by reason of psychiatric condition
Inquests
Notable Cases
-R (Dawson) v HM Coroner for Kingston Upon Hull [2001] EWHC Admin 352.
Causation required for a conclusion of Neglect/Lack of Care
-Inquest into the death of Christopher Alder. Longest Single Death Inquest. Complex medical issues re causation
Recent Cases
Michael Spencer (2010) Oxford Coroner’s Court. Acted for Custody Sergeant interested party. IPCC managed investigation. Issues of Causation and Gross Negligence Manslaughter. Suicide following release from custody.
Victor Massey (2011) Nottingham Coroner’s Court. Acted for 4 police officers as interested parties. Use of CS spray and restraint on an inpatient in hospital. Complex medical evidence re causation.
