Damian is a criminal barrister who prosecutes and defends cases across the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court. He regularly appears in contested hearings and jury trials and is known for clear advocacy, careful preparation and strategic advice in cases with serious personal or professional consequences.

Before coming to the Bar, Damian was a university law lecturer and brings more than twenty years’ experience of legal research and teaching to his practice.

A significant part of Damian’s work involves allegations of sexual offending, including sexual assault, rape and indecent images offences. These cases often involve complex evidential issues and potentially life-changing consequences for those accused. Damian has secured acquittals for defence clients in numerous contested trials.

His wider Crown Court practice includes cases involving serious violence, drug production and supply, weapons offences, public order offences and dishonesty offences.

Damian also represents motorists facing disqualification in the Magistrates’ Court, including drink and drug driving, speeding, s.172, and other road traffic matters, and regularly succeeds in Special Reasons and Exceptional Hardship arguments.

Unlike most direct access barristers, Damian is authorised by the Bar Standards Board to conduct litigation and can correspond directly with the court and the Crown Prosecution Service where necessary.

Area of Law

What sort of work do I do?

Damian accepts instructions for advocacy, advice and drafting across a wide range of criminal and regulatory matters. He represents clients in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court in both contested hearings and trials, and can advise on cases at an early stage before charge or court proceedings.

Unlike most barristers undertaking direct access work, Damian is authorised by the Bar Standards Board to conduct litigation. This allows him, where appropriate, to correspond directly with the court and opposing parties on behalf of a client and to assist with the preparation and management of a case.

Damian advises on and drafts appeals to the Crown Court against conviction or sentence from the Magistrates’ Court, and prepares applications for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division). Advice and drafting in relation to potential judicial review proceedings are also offered where appropriate.

He also accepts instructions to oppose police applications for Sexual Risk Orders. Damian has successfully resisted such applications even where the sexual act complained about by the police has been admitted. Where an order is unavoidable, Damian has achieved significant reductions in both the scope and duration of what was asked for by the police.

Who do I work for?

Anyone in need of representation in a criminal court or regulatory tribunal, irrespective of the offence / misconduct alleged, and with no judgments made about what led to the need to seek advice or appear before a court or disciplinary panel.

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