Adrian has been an exclusively criminal practitioner since 1988. He began his legal life as a solicitor before becoming a barrister in 1997. Adrian regularly undertakes both the defence and prosecution of breaches of health and safety and associated legislation, appearing against other familiar and senior specialist health and
safety practitioners.
He is on the A List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety law and is instructed to prosecute by the Health and Safety Executive Legal Advisor’s Office and by their approved solicitor-agents at all levels of case.
As a former solicitor, Adrian is known to have an approachable and practical style and travels extensively with his health and safety practice. He has wide-ranging experience of work at height, LOLER, PUWER, asbestos, vehicle movement regulations as well as railway and care home regulations and many of his cases involve serious injury or fatalities.
In addition, Adrian is consulted and instructed in local authority health and safety prosecutions. With a reputation for hard work, thorough preparation and effective advocacy, Adrian is always in demand as an approachable criminal practitioner in chambers.
He is strategically aware and has a clear, calm manner in what are often hugely complex cases.
Defending, it is normal for Adrian to be consulted even at the investigation stage, where responses to the investigation can shape and influence the course of the proceedings. Adrian likes to take the time to understand the particular trade or business in question so that his conduct of the case and submissions to the court are as cogent and accessible to the bench or jury as possible, with appropriate results.
Health & Safety Cases
R v XX – (Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court) Local Authority prosecuted for breach of Work at Height Regulations (2018 defending)
R v BGB Ltd – (South Cheshire Magistrates’ Court) Non-fatal Fire Safety case (2018 defending)
R v DH – (Manchester Crown Court) Conditional discharge arising from fatal electrocution of contractor visiting a farm (2018 defending)
R v HP Ltd – (Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court) Award-winning builder prosecuted for serious injury s3 HSWA breach (2017 defending)
R v PPE Ltd – (Manchester Crown Court) Trial of Principal Contractor for s3 HSWA breach following serious injury accident invovling stump grinder (2017 Prosecuting)
R v Cargill plc [2016] EWCA Crim 101
R v W – (Manchester Crown Court defence trial) – fatal accident involving JCB digger
R v E & F – (Manchester Crown Court defence trial) prosecution of police officers following fatal shooting during a training exercise
R v PM Ltd – (Court of Appeal – prosecuting) – appeal from Crown Court involving fall from height
R v MM Ltd – (Crown Court defending) – prosecution of national chain involving workplace violence
R v AG Ltd – (Lincoln Magistrates’ Court trial prosecuting) – asbestos regulation breaches by specialist contractor
R v CSC Ltd – (Lincoln Magistrates’ Court defending) – defence of specialist scaffolding subcontractor to national house building company involving fall from height
R v RF Ltd – (Derby Crown Court prosecution trial) – breach of lifting regulations
R v IO Ltd – (Stockport Magistrates’ Court prosecution) – fatal incident in a care home
R. v. Pyranha Mouldings Ltd [2014] 2 Cr.App.R.(S.) 349(43), C.A.
R v Balfour Beatty Utilities Ltd – (Preston Crown Court) – fatal trench collapse
R v BUPA Care Homes (CFC Homes) Limited – (Carlisle Crown Court) – fall prevention breach.
