John Elvidge QC
Year of call: 1988
Year of silk: 2010
areas of practice
synopsis
John Elvidge specialises in defending and prosecuting criminal cases of the utmost gravity:
- Homicide
- Serious and Organised Crime
- Fraud and Money Laundering
- Commercial Drugs Supply and Importation
- Sexual Offences
He has extensive experience of complex matters, including medical and scientific issues.
As Queen's Counsel, instructed to prosecute and defend cases for and against the Crown Prosecution Service Complex Crime Unit.
He receives instructions from the Police Federation to represent their members facing prosecution.
Other areas of work;
- Professional Complaints and Discipline
- Regulatory offences
- Licensing
notable cases
- R v Rowe : Alleged conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in a murder trial; informant evidence; case stayed for abuse of process.
- R v Barras : Gross negligence manslaughter.
- R v W : Defending 16 year old boy charged with the rape of six schoolgirls who was acquitted on all rape allegations.
- R v Chisholm : Trial and re-trial conducted pre and post legislation providing for the making of witness anonymity orders.
- R v Thorne : Misconduct in public office; police officer engaged in a nationwide prostitution ring.
- R v Sayers : Money laundering and tax evasion; prosecuted by the Serious Fraud Office; confiscation application substantially defeated.
- R v Hanson : Random killing; psychiatric evidence used to persuade the prosecution to accept a plea to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
- R v M : Conspiracy to supply kilos of cocaine; two-year undercover operation; instructed as Leading Junior for a Columbian emerald dealer who was acquitted.
- R V S Glover : Operation Norfolk; Alleged Laundering Of The Multi-Million Pound Proceeds Of Drug Trafficking; Involving Solicitors And Relatives Of Principal In Drugs Business Known As 'The Firm'; Listed As 9 Month Trial; Instructed To Act As Leading Junior For Brother Of Principal Who Was Acquitted Without Trial.
- R V Janet Charlton : Female Escort Handcuffed And Gagged Her Partner Before Inflicting Multiple Axe Wounds To His Head; Acquitted Of Murder Using Psychiatric Evidence (Battered Women's Syndrome) To Establish Provocation; Sentence For Manslaughter Reduced To 3 Years By The Court Of Appeal.
- R v Howells : Children killed their mother, assisted by their father.
- R v Haq & Saleem : Honour killings; no bodies recovered; admissibility of covert recordings; phonetics.
appellate cases
- R v Yu Hang and others [2012] 1 Cr App R (S) 91 : Appeal allowed against sentence imposed for Kidnap of Shanghai Shipping Merchant's son, making a $2 million blackmail demand.
- R v Henderson [2011] All ER (D) 64 : Prosecuting; upheld convictions of H who used website based companies to incite offences contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- R v W (2011) : Appeal allowed against sentence imposed for consensual offences of sexual activity with a child, and overturning Sexual Offences Prevention Order.
- R v Darling [2010] 1 Cr App R (S) 1 Cr App R (S) 420(63) : Guidance issued on the appropriate discount to be given where the prescribed minimum sentence of imprisonment would be unjust (appeal allowed).
- :
education
- king Edward VII School, Sheffield
- University of Newcastle Upon Tyne
- Inns of Court School of Law
- Pupil at 2 Harcourt Buildings, Temple (annex at 17, Blake Street, York) admitted as a tenant in 1989.
appointments
- Queen's Counsel (2010)
- Head of York Chambers (2011)
- Head of Dere Street Barristers
memberships
- Member Criminal Bar Association
- Member North Eastern Circuit
- Member General Council of the Bar (2008-2010)
