Richard Reilly

Crime

Examples of cases include: –

– R v MJK (CACD): – Multiple Count historical rape in intrafamilial setting over sustained period. Defendant aged 13 – 16 during indictment period. Victims aged 9 – 12 (niece and nephew of Defendant). Defendant voluntarily reported offences to police aged 26. Guilty plea at PTPH. Various physical and neurodevelopmental impairments of Defendant. Complicated sentencing exercise examining voluminous medical records the Defendant developing an acquired brain injury following meningitis aged 2 and diagnosis of atypical autism in later life. Represented in Crown Court where Defendant was sentenced to a 3 year Community Order. Subject to AG Ref successfully resisted in Court of Appeal who declined to interfere with sentence imposed in the Crown Court.

R v X Lewes CC: D accused of multiple counts of sexual assault of daughter between ages of 5–12. Acquitted on majority of counts save for 2 x Sexual Assaults & Inciting a Child under 13 to engage in sexual activity. Represented in Court of Appeal where sentence reduced substantially: R v DEF [2024] EWCA Crim 1303.

– R v CB Brighton YC: – 2 x rape. Certificate for Counsel granted. Defendant step-brother of Complainant. Defendant now 16 and Complainant 8 years old (13 and 5 years old respectively at material time). SARC examination only disclosed as unused revealing no evidence of injury necessitating instruction of Forensic Paediatric Clinician with expertise in injury interpretation in Child Sexual Assault and Rape cases. Sentenced to Referral Order following pleas to lesser offences on 1st day of trial. Application for SHPO successfully resisted and deemed unnecessary given passage of time and particular circumstances of case.

– R v MP Brighton YC: Young Defendant charged 3 x rape, ABH, threatening with a knife & controlling/coercive behaviour. Complainant made allegation that Defendant raped her on multiple occasions during relationship. D was initially interviewed in respect of controlling/coercive behaviour allegation and bailed with conditions of non-contact which D said to have breached by ambushing the Complainant at knifepoint and assaulting her causing ABH level injuries. Case involved extensive analysis of telephone/social media communications (excess 15,000 PPE) and scrutiny of Complainant’s 2 x ABE interviews which when compared exposed the Complainant had lied extensively in both interviews. Following sustained representations case discontinued days before trial.

– R v MS Brighton YC: – Young Defendant charged with rape. Acquitted following 5 day trial in Youth Court.

– R v DH Lewes CC: – Represented D in relation POCA proceedings following G pleas to drug supply offences. Crown asserted Benefit Figure of £152,188.21 and available amount of £79,005.92 (said to be hidden assets in form of cryptocurrency). Benefit Figure reduced to £45,406.78 and available amount £10,353.02.

– R v G Lewes CC: – Two youths steal moped and involved in road traffic collision where they sustain life changing injuries. Represented principal Defendant who was driver of the other vehicle. The moped had been stolen from one of the Defendants and it was the Crown’s case that that they had decided to pursue the moped and deliberately drove into moped as an act of ‘vigilante justice to exact revenge’ and charged s18 GBH. Defendant acquitted of s18 GBH following trial. Pleaded Guilty to Causing Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving in Magistrates Court. Suspended Sentence imposed.

– R v M Southwark CC: – Led Junior conspiracy to import £7 million worth of cocaine by helicopter. D alleged to have provided cars with adapted compartments for onward distribution throughout UK. Acquittal.

– R v E Southwark CC: – Led Junior £17 million MTIC fraud. Director of umbrella company alleged to be involved in large scale VAT fraud involving sale of precious metals.

– R v K Snaresbrook CC: – Led Junior Conspiracy to Supply Class A 32 KG. Acquittal.

– R v KH Central Criminal Court: – Alleged gang related murder. Led Junior. Acquitted of murder.

– R v Chelmsford CC: – Murder. Led Junior. Youth who following argument with an unknown individual gave chase in motor vehicle. Hit an unconnected pedestrian causing death.

– R v N: St Albans YC: – Certificate for counsel granted. Robbery. D 12 years old with SEN. Acquittal.

– R v S Snaresbrook CC: – possession of knife, reasonable excuse defence, D history of self-harming and in possession of knife to cut wrists. Case discontinued following sustained representations.

– R v H Canterbury CC: – Importation of over 30kg of cocaine and heroin, Junior alone. D advanced defence of duress. Convicted at trial. Represented in Court of Appeal where sentenced reduced from 16 years to 14 years. R v Hubavenski [2022] EWCA Crim 403

– R v P St Albans CC: – Led Junior. Complainant paralysed from shooting. Acquitted of attempted murder and perverting the course of justice.

– R v M Snaresbrook CC: – D a mechanic whose business premises were raided by police. At the time suggested D was operating a chop shop described as an ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of stolen high value motor vehicles which in turn would be transported to D’s native Romania. Following targeted disclosure requests Crown offer no evidence.

– R v TW Southwark CC: – Travel insurance fraud. Negotiated amended indictment substituting overarching count with specimen counts to reduce fraud from in excess of 100k to 40k. Sentenced to SSO.