Profile
Brett is an experienced advocate who defends and prosecutes in a wide range of cases, primarily at Crown Court level. Brett’s calm and practical manner readily wins the confidence and trust of everyone he deals with, both at client-level and beyond. Diligent and thorough preparation ensures that his client receives the best quality representation at every stage of proceedings.
Brett has appeared in cases involving homicide and other serious offences against the person; heavyweight crime, including firearms supply, perverting the course of justice and kidnap; terrorism-related offences; serious sexual offences; major and complex fraud; substantial drug importations and supply; robbery and other offences of dishonesty; and regulatory offences.
As well as advocacy, Brett is regularly involved in an advisory capacity, both in anticipation, and after commencement, of proceedings. Advisory work has related to large-scale document reviews of material arising from investigations in China and the Channel Islands.
Expertise
Brett has extensive experience in relation to homicide cases, both prosecuting and defending, and often involving issues of legal and factual complexity.
Recent cases have included:
R v Myles and others – junior counsel for the Prosecution in relation to an allegation of murder, arising from a stabbing outside a nightclub. The case (which spanned two trials) involved expert evidence (regarding pathology) and issues of joint participation [Kingston CC; September 2022 and July 2023]
R v Khan and others – junior counsel for the first defendant in relation to allegation of murder and attempted murder, arising from a revenge attack in Bradford city centre. The case involved expert psychiatric evidence being called on behalf of both Prosecution and Defence [Bradford CC; June to July 2022]
Operation Trabzon – junior counsel for the Prosecution in relation to an allegation of murder, arising from a knife fight between two rival gang members. The case involved extensive CCTV analysis and issues of joint participation [Central Criminal Court; March to May 2022]
Operation Zeroth – junior counsel for the Prosecution in relation to an allegation of murder, arising from conflict between rival drugs gangs in Leamington Spa. Nine defendants were prosecuted before Mr Justice Baker. The case involved expert evidence of pathology, CCTV analysis and telecommunications, as well as issues of joint participation [Loughborough CC; November 2021 to January 2022]
Operation Molar – junior counsel for the Prosecution in relation to allegations of conspiracy to murder, arising from a gangland shooting in which three people were injured, one fatally. The case spanned a total of three trials and involved expert evidence regarding telecommunications, DNA evidence, firearms and criminal gangs [Birmingham CC; January 2020 to July 2021]
R v Cumberbatch and another – junior counsel for the second defendant in relation to an allegation of manslaughter. The case involved complex issues of causation, the admissibility of earlier guilty pleas, and abuse of process [Central Criminal Court; March 2021]
R v Eccleston – junior counsel for the Prosecution in relation to an allegation of murder. The case involved complex issues of causation, admissibility of alleged confession evidence, and suicide pacts [Stafford CC; September 2019]
R v Hopkins and Docherty – junior counsel for the Prosecution in relation to an allegation of murder and subsequent concealing of the deceased’s body [Central Criminal Court; February to March 2019]
Operation Navigator – junior counsel for the Prosecution in relation to an allegation of conspiracy to murder. The case (which spanned two trials) involved complex legal arguments in relation to disclosure and abuse of process [Birmingham CC, September 2016 to March 2017]
Other serious crime
Brett has been instructed in cases involving complex and serious allegations, both prosecuting and defending.
Recent cases have included:
Operation Mysticise – prosecution counsel in relation to an allegation of conspiracy to supply a firearm with intent to endanger life. The case involved the use of recordings of prison telephone calls which were used by the defendants to arrange the supply of a firearm to another. The intended recipient of the firearm was separately convicted of terrorism-related offending [Inner London CC; November 2023]
Operation Scotia – prosecution counsel in relation to an allegation of conspiracy to kidnap, involving Albanian nationals. The case involved extensive analysis of telecommunications evidence and CCTV evidence [Harrow CC; March to May 2023]
Operation Shark – defence counsel for the principal defendant in relation to allegations of conspiracies to supply class ‘A’ drugs, involving supply both to Northampton and Devon over a period of months. The case involved detailed analysis of telephone attribution and communications [Northampton CC; January to February 2023]
Operation Adley – junior counsel for the Prosecution in relation to an allegation of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, involving both the giving of false evidence and jury tampering. The case (before Mr Justice Cavanagh) involved detailed analysis of telephone communications, including cell site evidence [Central Criminal Court; November to December 2022]
Operation Embossed – defence counsel in relation to allegations of conspiracy to supply class ‘A’ drugs and money-laundering, arising from ‘Encrochat’ evidence. The case involved lengthy legal arguments (before Mr Justice Dove) in respect of the admissibility of such evidence [Manchester CC; proceedings spanned hearings from July 2020 to May 2022]
Operation Chicago – defence counsel in relation to allegations of conspiracy to supply class ‘A’ and ‘B’ drugs, involving the supply from Liverpool to Cardiff. The case involved detailed analysis of telephone attribution and communications [Liverpool CC; July to October 2021]
Brett has extensive experience of cases involving allegations of fraud brought by the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue & Customs, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Fraud experience covers instructions in significant “boiler room” frauds to “advance fee” frauds, often on a global scale. In addition, Brett has acted in numerous cases relating to conspiracies to defraud and to cheat the public revenue. Brett often appears in heavyweight and complex cases, both for the prosecution and defence. Corruption experience includes offences of misconduct in a public office.
Current instructions include acting for a defendant accused of conspiring to commit fraud against Transport for London and related money-laundering allegations.
Brett frequently is instructed in proceedings arising from the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. These proceedings can involve consideration of expert forensic accountancy evidence and recovery of overseas assets.
Brett has often acted on behalf of local authorities to advise and prosecute a wide range of regulatory offences, including landlord and tenant disputes, food hygiene, noise pollution, and false trademark offences. Brett also accepts instructions in other areas of regulatory litigation.
Brett has experience of all aspects of road traffic proceedings, from summary proceedings to High Court appeals by way of case stated. Brett has often been instructed in cases involving fatal road traffic accidents, both prosecuting and defending.
Recent High Court instructions have concerned consideration of the ambit of ‘public place’ for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act 1988.
Brett has extensive experience of proceedings involving allegations of serious sexual offences, both prosecuting and defending. On occasion, Brett has been instructed to provide pre-charge advice in respect of allegations.
As well as conducting proceedings as junior counsel alone, Brett has been led in respect of complex trials arising from historic sexual offending and trafficking offences, in particular:
- Operation Silk – junior counsel for the principal defendant in a trial involving historic allegations of sexual abuse towards a vulnerable female in Oxford [Oxford CC, November to December 2018]
- Operation Jardine – junior counsel for the Prosecution in respect of sexual offences, including trafficking, relating to young and vulnerable females in Peterborough [Central Criminal Court, February to April 2015]
Brett has been instructed in a wide range of terrorism-related cases, principally on behalf of the prosecution, both at first instance and on appeal.
Relevant experience includes:
Operation Semiportable 2 – prosecution counsel in respect of allegations of disseminating terrorist publications and possessing information for terrorist purposes [Winchester CC, September 2023]
Operation Xanthogen – prosecution counsel in respect of allegations of disseminating terrorist publications [Woolwich CC, May 2023]
Operation Pabulous – junior counsel on behalf of the first defendant in respect of allegations of disseminating terrorist publications [Central Criminal Court, October to December 2019]
Operation Suithold – prosecution counsel in respect of allegations of possessing information for terrorist purposes [Central Criminal Court, May 2019]
Operation Gynic – prosecution counsel in respect of allegations of funding terrorism, relating to payments sent to Syria [Central Criminal Court, January 2019]
Operation Gueston – prosecution counsel in respect of an allegation of wilful obstruction of a Schedule 7 examination [City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court, June 2018 and Southwark CC, December 2018]
Operation Afoam – prosecution counsel in respect of allegations of disseminating terrorist publications via social media [Woolwich CC, May 2018]
Operation Hammerless – prosecution counsel in respect of allegations of encouraging terrorism and disseminating terrorist publications via social media [Manchester CC, April 2018]
Operation Smalling – junior counsel for the prosecution in respect of an allegation of preparing acts of terrorism [Birmingham CC, April to May 2017]
Operation Angelica – prosecution counsel in respect of an allegation of possessing an article for terrorist purposes [Leeds CC, October 2015]
Fraud, bribery and corruption
Brett has extensive experience of cases involving allegations of fraud brought by the Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue & Customs, and the Department of Trade and Industry. Fraud experience covers instructions in significant “boiler room” frauds to “advance fee” frauds, often on a global scale. Current instructions include acting for a defendant accused of conspiring to commit fraud against Transport for London and related money-laundering allegations.
In addition, Brett has acted in numerous cases relating to conspiracies to defraud and to cheat the public revenue. Brett appears in heavyweight and complex cases, both for the prosecution and defence. Corruption experience includes offences of misconduct in a public office.
- Grade 3 Prosecutor on the CPS List
Member of the Criminal Bar Association.
University of Oxford, BA (Hons), Jurisprudence.
Interests include sport, current affairs, live music, reading and cinema.
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