Marr College, Troon
Clare College, Cambridge University : LLB
Northumbria University : LLM
Criminal Bar Association
Northern Circuit
Andy has practiced exclusively in crime for eighteen years, prosecuting and defending at every level up to the Court of Appeal. He is a CPS Level Four prosecutor.
Andy has been briefed on matters indicting:
Andy has developed a sound reputation in matters involving complex POCA matters including:
Instructed variously by CPS, Police, Border Force, HMRC, NCA and Respondents both corporate and individual.
Instructed to apply for and respond to Account Freezing Orders across the UK, providing tactical advice to applicants and respondents at every stage, assisting in the collation of evidence bundles and appearing before AFO courts to make and respond to oral submissions. He is frequently instructed on a privately-paid basis to represent the interests of third parties under s10A POCA, representing family members, business associates and corporate bodies as intervenors in POCA proceedings.
Andy delivers Professional Development seminars to CPS, Environment Agency, Defence Solicitors and Investigators in the UK and overseas, allying up to date caselaw knowledge with strategic experience borne of seventeen years at court specialising in Confiscation.
He can effectively lead a client through the strategic demands of the reverse evidential burden, enlisting his established panel of trusted experts and his experience of novel and effective evidence gathering techniques, to guide the construction of the respondent’s case. Andy enters negotiations already held in high regard by Financial Investigators across the North for the clarity of his analysis and ability to successfully conclude applications.
Ranked in Chambers and Partners – POCA Work and Asset Forfeiture since 2022.
Proceeds of Crime
R v DB (2026) Chester Crown Court
Ongoing. Led in Confiscation proceedings where Crown contend for a Benefit Figure of over £7 million.
R v MP (Operation Disguise) (2026) Guildford Crown Court
Ongoing Confiscation, instructed post-sentence to act for Respondent. Crown seek a Benefit of £9 million, including £1.1m as Hidden Assets following discovery of a national Cannabis cultivation network. Ongoing.
R v SM (2025) Teesside Crown Court
Leading, responding to POCA proceedings instigated by North Yorkshire Trading Standards following conviction for double glazing fraud. Negotiated settlement with Crown counsel reducing Available Amount by 25%, having instructed Matrimonial Finance Counsel to consider equitable interests.
R v AK (2024) Preston Crown Court
Instructed to represent a third party to POCA proceedings seeking to reopen a 2013 Confiscation Order, decided prior to s10A being inserted into the Act. Secured a considerable reduction of the Crown’s application via negotiation and legal argument.
R v RB (Operation Redwood) (2023) Newport Crown Court
Instructed post-sentence for respondent. Private prosecution by the BPI, proceeds of copyright fraud regarding the copying of records. Secured % reduction of initial Benefit Figure.
R v LB (2023) Sheffield Crown Court
Respondent to s22 revisit application raised “rehabilitation” following release from prison and setting up legitimate company. Secured a 2/3 reduction of the Crown’s contended sum following successful submissions on s22(4) “justice” test before the Recorder of Sheffield.
R v MA & MA (Operation Rosa) (2023), Leeds Crown Court
Confiscation, instructed post-sentence for two co-respondents. Global Benefit Figure sought of £1.7m. Secured Benefit Figure of 759k following negotiation. Contested hearing on s10A intervenor’s equitable rights to her husband’s property.
R v AS (2022) Court of Appeal
Instructed to appeal decade old Confiscation on the grounds of error in the Schedule of Assets. Ongoing. Negotiated a favourable out of court settlement with Crown’s QC.
Financial Crime and Fraud
R v AY (Operation Delphic) (2026) Liverpool Crown Court
Defending conspiracy to sell counterfeit goods online investigated by North West Intellectual Property Crime Unit. Crown allege Conspiracy profits of £4.3 million. Ongoing.
R v LC (Operation Calabar) (2026) Bradford Crown Court
Led, defending conspiracy to defraud and conspiracy to cause Public Nuisance, prosecuted by West Yorkshire Trading Standards and the Medical Health Regulatory Authority. Allegation of widescale fraud stemming from the faking of Covid-19 tests. Alleged fraud valued at £6.7 million. Ongoing.
R v A-MS (2025) Carlisle Crown Court
Prosecuting People Trafficking and Prostitution offences in relation to foreign prostitutes brought into the UK to work in a brothel. Subsequent POCA proceedings secured concessions of Hidden Assets overseas. BBC News
R v WK (2024) Preston Crown Court
Defending money laundering stemming from an EncroChat arrest. Successful submission pursuant to s78 of PACE rendered the EncroChat evidence inadmissible. No Evidence Offered.
R v SA and fourteen others (Operation Pearl) (2023) Bolton Crown Court.
Leading, prosecuting conspiracy to commit online fraud.. Online purchase fraud using fake identities, bank accounts and postal addresses to steal goods sold on Facebook Marketplace. 246 identified victims. Daily Mail Online
R v R, C, Q & A (2023) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting Kidnap and Fraud. Multi-handed, multi-victim offence. “Fresher’s Week” kidnappings where students were targeted by a gang in cars, befriended and then had entire bank balances drained. Manchester Evening News
R v LT (2018) Manchester Crown Court
Defending fraud where D had persuaded her family she had terminal cancer in an elaborate lie. Secured Suspended Sentence. The Mirror
Firearms and Weapons
R v RW (2024) Carlisle Crown Court
Successful submission of exceptional circumstances pursuant to Sentencing Act s311(a) for a Defendant convicted of possession of a Section 5 Firearm, a pistol. Community order imposed
R v JP (2023) Carlisle Crown Court
Prosecuting D who used a shovel to facially wound his uncle who had been acquitted of inter-familial sexual abuse. Convicted of s18 after trial.
R v RC (2022) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting construction of homemade pistols and IEDs. Liaison with MoD Porton Down and Royal Armouries Leeds as to viability of weapons seized by Police mid-construction. Advising on charges pursuant to Explosives Act 186?
R v SB (2021) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting D who attended a family party wielding a WWII era sub-machine gun. Convicted after trial. Manchester Evening News
R v MF (2019) Manchester Crown Court
Defending Armed Robbery in the home using a firearm. Negotiated lesser pleas and a custodial sentence that led to immediate release.
R v GW (2018) Liverpool Crown Court
Defending possession of a homemade blowpipe. App to Dismiss on Expert Evidence as to muzzle velocity. Secured Suspended Sentence using Psychiatric evidence.
Violence
R v AS and others (2026) Carlisle Crown Court
Defending Attempted Murder, allegation of revenge attack upon informant in drug dealing. Ongoing.
R v JM (2025) Carlisle Crown Court.
Led, prosecuting Attempted Murder. Female Defendant of good character used a knife to slash the throat of her partner, herself and a young child. Issues of trauma induced amnesia. Psychiatrists gave evidence at voir dire as to admissibility of repeated confessions. BBC News
R v B, M, M & M (2024) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Burglary. Victim tasered and stabbed in his own bed. Apparent mistaken identity as to the gang’s intended target. Secured four convictions including one trial in absence, D having fled the jurisdiction. Cumulative 29 years custodial terms imposed.
R v KE and others (2023) Carlisle Crown Court
Prosecuting nine handed Violent Disorder. Football hooliganism between Celtic and Hibernian fans. Successfully applied for cross-jurisdictional Football Banning Orders effective in England and Scotland.
A, I, S and M (2023) Manchester Crown Court
Knife fight during lockdown between adults and youths. Four parties stabbed. Prosecuting both sides of the altercation in two separate s18 trials.
R v D v D, C & O (2021) Bolton Crown Court
Prosecuting Kidnap and s18. Revenge attack. Victim driven into countryside and beaten. Subsequent prosecution for witness intimidation committed during the currency of the first prosecution. Bolton News
R v KM (2021) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting unprovoked facial stabbings of five homeless men in Manchester city centre. No victim gave evidence – jury shown CCTV footage produced from over twenty different cameras, used live in cross examination and speeches. D convicted after trial, D received twenty three year sentence. ITV News BBC News
R v CT (2021) – Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting Attempted Murder. Lockdown Domestic Violence with child witnesses present.
R v JB (2021) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting Arson Reckless. Multiple fires set by repeat arsonist, causing serious injury. Correlating cell siting and forensic evidence to show pattern of deliberate fire-setting secured conviction. Manchester Evening News
R v AB (2020) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting Attempted Murder, Domestic. Son stabbed stepfather six times inside the home, in front of his mother. Psychiatric disposal.
Drug Offences
R v AS and four others (Operation Rusk) (2025) Carlisle CC
Prosecuting five-handed “county lines” supply between Manchester and Cumbria. All Ds convicted, after trial. Cumulative sentences of X years and three POCA confiscation orders. Drugs gang busted by police minutes after hatching plot – Manchester Evening News
R v BH (Operation Magnify) (2024) Carlisle CC
Defending a professional drug courier travelling across the UK to deliver Class A and B. Phone suggested deliveries up to 22 Kg of Class A.. Identified and negotiated out 11 Kg by showing it was supplied in another jurisdiction. Secured “mere bailee” status in basis of plea, leading to negotiation of £1.6m POCA Benefit down to £50k.
R v NH (Operation Malange) (2023) Manchester CC
Defending Class A Conspiracy. Encrochat phones. Created our own SOE chart mid-trial to correlate the use of four Encro phones and CellSite evidence served during the trial.
R v KW (2019) Carlisle Crown Court
Supply of Prescription Drugs leading to a death. Cumbria News and Star
R v JR & MM (2019) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting Conspiracy to smuggle Class A, Class B and phones into HMP Forest Bank using drones.
Motoring Offences
R v NC (2025) Carlisle Crown Court
Led, Defending Death by Dangerous. D of Good Character involved in two RTC in one night, the second causing a fatality. Crown conceded automatism: D was in a post-ictal state caused by latent epilepsy. Crown proceed on recklessness as to management of medical condition. Ongoing.
R v MM (2025) Carlisle Crown Court
Defending Serious Injury by Careless Driving. Juvenile client of good character injured a friend having crashed when distracted by a mobile phone. Secured SSO following a Goodyear, deployed Personal Mitigation to achieve Community Order.
R v JR (2023) Carlisle Crown Court
Prosecuting Death by Dangerous. D speeding on a rural road in an ice storm, V was his partner who was asleep at the point the vehicle collided with a tree.
R v SA (2022) Carlisle Crown Court
Defending Attempted Murder with a car by a 15 year old passenger, Crown assert “Jogee” joint enterprise. Negotiated lesser pleas, successful submission on remittal to the Youth Court – Referral Order made.
R v LH (2019) Burnley Crown Court
Prosecuting Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving. Drink driver sped through busy taxi rank on Christmas Eve colliding with pedestrian, causing her life changing injuries. Lancashire Telegraph
Technological cases
R v KG (2021) Manchester Crown Court
Defending Coercive and Controlling Behaviour. Securing service of the entire 12 months of iPhone messaging and correlating with specific indicted events. Prosecution discontinued the C&C allegation as a result of messages discovered within the thousands of pages disclosure.
R v LH (2021) Bolton Crown Court
Defending alleged computer “hacking”. Expert evidence deployed and lengthy Defence Statement to show Police Cyber Crime Unit had drawn impossible conclusions from fragments of internet evidence, leading to an offer of no evidence. (Hepplewhite)
R v UN & MH (2020) Manchester Crown Court
Prosecuting. Disclosure review of iPhone material in response to D1’s Basis of Plea led to the discovery of the true identity of the true owner of nearly a kilogram of Class A drugs. D2 was subsequently charged on the basis of the evidence recovered, and received a lengthy sentence. Daily Mail
R v L, H, L & J (2020) Preston Crown Court
Prosecuting workplace bullying of a neurodiverse teenager culminating in his being seriously burned by his supervisor using a makeshift flamethrower. Presenting a single flowing narrative across three camera angles from CCTV to show the build up to the offence and the involvement of each Defendant BBC News
Kane Simons was pleased to assist a severely injured man with his successful personal injury claim that was conducted recently through the Advocate pro bono scheme. Advocate looks for free legal help from barristers for people who…
> Read More ALL ARTICLESKane Simons was pleased to assist a severely injured man with his successful personal injury claim that was conducted recently through the Advocate…
Oliver Caplan, head of 18 St John Street's Business and Property Department, has an article published on Lexis+ - Setting aside statutory demands…
18 St John Street Costs Barrister James Miller has provided expert analysis in the latest LexisNexis Dispute Resolution blog. In a current LexisNexis blog, James Miller analyses the case of…