Benjamin Nolan QC

synopsis

Described in Chambers 500 as "A well-known Circuit Heavyweight in Serious Crime," Ben has a wealth of experience in top-level Crime. During his 19 years in Silk he has led in over a hundred Murder cases many of them Gangland killings involving ballistic evidence both in the UK and in other Commonwealth Jurisdictions. Of particular interest are cases with an international co-operation element such as extradition and the use of evidence obtained abroad pursuant to Letters of Request and The Crime (International Co-operation) act 2003 and its statutory predecessors.

Ben has considerable experience in drugs smuggling cases involving massive importations into the UK and the alleged inducing of drug trafficking offences overseas. He is considered to be a skilled cross examiner of expert witnesses, particularly medical experts and his skills have been deployed in alleged child killing cases (the so-called shaken baby syndrome) and in trials involving psychiatric issues. Ben has been invited to review the medico-legal element of reference works on Forensic Psychiatry.

In his fraud practice Ben has developed a particular interest in Food-safety frauds and is instructed to advise on the regulatory aspects of food safety and the enforcement of food safety standards. In this respect, in particular, his practice crosses over from crime to regulatory and civil litigation, particularly in product liability cases. He also undertakes personal injury claims involving catastrophic injuries and complex medical issues.

Ben also practises from chambers in Leeds, Manchester and London.

Criminal law

During his nineteen years in Silk, Ben has prosecuted and defended in a number of high profile criminal cases. He has now led in over one hundred murder cases, many of them gangland shootings.

He also has considerable expertise in food safety scandal cases. Ben is on the approved Serious Fraud Office Panel of Queen's Counsel.

Personal Injury

Ben regularly advises and appears for claimants in catastrophic injury civil claims where damages run to millions of pounds, including clinical negligence and product liability cases.

Directory Recommendations

"A well-known circuit heavyweight in serious crime." - The Legal 500 2011

notable cases

• R v. M (Manchester) : Murder-Diminished Responsibility under the new legislation - March 2011.
• R v. K (Newcastle) : Murder in course of robbery - Feb 2011.
• R v. S (Sheffield and Court of Appeal : Alleged jury nobbling and impact of S.44 Criminal Justice Act 2003 (application for non-jury trial) - May-December 2010.
• R v. M.K. (Bradford) : Murder of shopkeeper Gurmail Singh - Sep-Oct 2010.
• R v. B (Manchester) : Murder-shooting in course of armed robbery - June 2010. R v. M.S. (Newcastle) - Murder-baby killing-causation and diminished responsibility - May 2010. R v. R (Teesside) - Abuse of Process alleged forced repatriation of major criminal from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Admissibility of evidence obtained without formal diplomatic channels - April 2010. R v. F
• (Nottingham) : Murder-gangland killing - Jan 2010.
• R v. M (Old Bailey) : Murder-Fitness to Plead and Insanity - Dec 2009.
• R v. M (Court of Appeal) : Reference by CCRC after seven year Police Investigation into miscarriage of justice re Murder conviction - pending consideration by Supreme Court - Oct 2009.
• R v. SC (Newcastle) : Abuse of Process. Police wrongly searching client files when arresting Solicitor. Prosecution stayed - July 2009.
• R v L (Liverpool) : Murder-Provocation and Diminished Responsibility run together - April 2009.
• R v Antoine Anderson (Supreme Court of Bermuda) : Murder by shooting. (Complex ballistics and firearms residue evidence) - Feb 2009. R v Erskine (Manchester) - Murder, in the course of robbery - Dec 2008.
• R v J.C.J - Oct 2008 (Newcastle) : Police Corruption - misfearance in Public Office. R v EV. Endangered species - Corporate liability under Countryside and Wildlife Act. R v A.D. Murder - Gangland execution and torture. (Leeds) - July 2008. R v Barker (Court of Appeal) Murder - Sentence/minimum term sched 21. CJA 2003. Adjustment of minimum term for good behaviour.
• R v King (Court of Appeal). : Definition of Rape - one offence or three. R v Miller (Court of Appeal). Murder - Sentence/minimum term/sched The CJA 2003. Definition of torture. R v E. (Newcastle) - Firearms case - Abuse of Process - April 2008. R v Clough (Woolwich). Massive importation of Class A drugs - April 2008.
• R v S (Manchester) : Massive importation of Class A drugs - March 2008. R v Laurence (Old Bailey) Murder. R v B (Newcastle) Attempted murder (Firearms) - Dec 2007. R v T (Newcastle upon Tyne) - 2007.
• R v Edwards (Manchester) : 2007 Patricide murder. Mitchell v MIB - 2007
• R v Rigdy (Manchester) : 2007 murder.
• R v S (Leeds) : 2007 Baby killing - over twenty paediatric specialists giving expert evidence.
• R v Adams (Court of Appeal) : 2006 Seven day appeal leading to fifteen year old conviction for murder being overturned (CCRC).
• R v Razzaq (Newcastle upon Tyne) : 2006 The Sharon Beshenivski (Bradford policewoman) murder.
• R v H (Bradford) : 2006 Murder by arson.
• R v Curtis Ruthven (Manchester) : 2006 Alleged gangland revenge killing.
• R v Ogmeide (Newcastle upon Tyne) : 2006 Voodoo and ritual practise by Nigerian nationals.
• R v Abbot (Liverpool) : 2006 Alleged gangland killing.
• R v Parkes (Caernarfon) : 2006 Murder
• "Operation Caddy" (Snaresbrook) : 2002-2006 Undercover operation in Costa del Sol and elsewhere leading to a series of trials of major drug dealers and involving law enforcement agencies from Spain, United States, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Columbia. Complex issues of international law, international co-operation, extradition, entrapment, agent provocateur and commissions rogatoir DTA. Proceedings including multi-million pound assets abroad.
• R v Whittaker (Manchester) : 2005 Counterfeiting cases including undercover journalists and entrapment issues regarding the BBC.
• R v Stephenson-Snell (Manchester) : 2005 Halloween 'Barbie-Doll' killer.
• "Operation Aberdeen" (Nottingham) : 2004 Complex fraud involving food safety issues (alleged laundering of condemned poultry-meat through food chain. Multi-agency prosecution involving Fraud Squad, Food Standards Agency and Environmental Health Officials.
• R v Collings (Newcastle upon Tyne) : 2004 Alleged murder by arson. Conviction overturned by Court of Appeal.
• R v Lydiate & Others (Manchester) : 2001 Gangland torture case.
• R v Tantram & Others (Hull) : 2000 Complex fraud involving food safety issues.

appointments

• Recorder
• Deputy High Court Judge (Queen's Bench Division)
• Middle Temple - Bencher, 2004
• Head of Chambers

memberships

• North Eastern Circuit
• Criminal Bar Association
• Personal Injury Bar Association
• Professional Negligence Bar Association

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