Criminal
Michael has an established, heavyweight and successful criminal practice which involves representing those accused of the most serious of offences including murder, fraud and large scale drug conspiracies.
He is now exclusively instructed for the defence, although in the past has been a Category 4 and specialist rape prosecutor.
He has been instructed in some of the most notorious cases nationally, from the Strangeways riots of the early 90’s, numerous ‘Gunchester’ murder trials, to the infamous serial killer Dale Cregan and he defended Thomas Mair, the killer of the MP, Jo Cox.
In recent years he has become sought after for defending in white collar crime.
He has extensive experience in defending clients charged with fraud and has been instructed in MTIC, eBay, reverse transaction and Ponzi frauds.
Recent instructions include:
- Defended (leading) a director in a 7 month high-profile e energy fraud case, https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2023-07-04/13-years-in-prison-for-owner-of-fleetwood-town-fc-for-fraud-and-money-laundering
- Defended (leading) the manager of a Nursing home where widespread fraud was said to have been committed. Client found Not Guilty after 12 month trial, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-44821876
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Defending a former solicitor accused by the SFO in the Axiom fund fraud. Client found Not Guilty after trial, led by Simon Csoka KC, https://www.sfo.gov.uk/2022/08/11/serious-fraud-office-secures-conviction-in-100-million-no-win-no-fee-fraud/#:~:text=On%2010%20August%202020%20Timothy,for%20their%20own%20financial%20benefit.
- Defending a corporate financier alleged to be involved in what was alleged to be the largest HMRC prosecution in respect of Tax evasion schemes, trial had been listed for 8 months. The client was discharged after a successful application to dismiss, led by John Charles Rees KC, Tax fraud charges dismissed against Zeus Capital founder (ft.com)
- Successfully defended a former solicitor accused of fraud arising out of an estate planning and wills writing business. Client acquitted on submission of no case, led by Adam Kane KC, https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/de-vita-platt-solicitor-court-2531760
Current instructions include:
- Defending in a time share fraud trial at Southwark listed for some 4 months, 18 defendants face trial after five year investigation into £25million timeshare Monster Group – Mirror Online