General Crime Over the last few years Robin Sellers has continued to establish himself as one of the most adaptable juniors in the field of criminal law. He has experience of both heavy prosecution and defence work beyond his call. In particular he has carved out a niche in death by dangerous driving cases for both prosecution and defence to the point that he is instructed in such cases beyond the normal volume of those encountered in generic practice. They include acting for police officers accused of such matters in the course of their duties. His other specialty is the prosecution of multi-handed cases where there are in excess of six to ten defendants in one trial. He undertakes such matters as leading counsel with particular expertise in test purchase drug conspiracies and group violence cases. Robin is adept at vulnerable witness handling and regularly receives instructions in historic sexual cases for the prosecution where witnesses exhibit special needs or behavioural difficulties. His expertise was nurtured from being lead by some of the most dynamic practitioners at the criminal bar in murder and other cases. He has already been involved in 5 murder cases at this stage of his career. Robin is regularly instructed by local government bodies to advise upon and prosecute cases of a fraudulent nature. Robin has continued to develop his practice in the area driving cases. Representing emergency services drivers who are prosecuted as well as ordinary members of the public in this field. Counsel s Clerk JohnGillespie@23es.com LiamKitcher@23es.com Primary Areas of Practice General Crime Fraud & Financial Crime Appointments CPS Grade 4 Prosecutor CPS Rape List CPS Serious Crime Group Grade 4 Professional Memberships Criminal Bar Association South Eastern Circuit Honourable Society of the Inner Temple Bar Human Rights Committee Surrey and South London Bar Mess Education The University of Reading, LLB (Hons) He has widened his expertise to include representing clients at inquests and internal disciplinary proceedings arising from such matters exploring ACPO and regional pursuit policy implications providing a comprehensive package of advocacy over a range of disciplines.
Recent Cases Include Operation Nacho [2012-2013] Defence counsel in series of cash for crash trials culminating in 9 week trial. Junior counsel standing in for leading counsel when indisposed. R v Buggie [2012] Off duty police officer involved in fatal car crash acquitted of causing death by careless driving. R v Morgan [2012] Prosecuted sexual assault of sleeping victim. R v Bragge [2012] Prosecuted rape case where allegation arising from text confessions and consent vitiated by lack of use of condom. Operation Calcify [2012] Multi handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs by organised crime group from London establishing in Guildford. Leading junior counsel in 4 week trial. Undercover test purchase operation. R v Woodham [2012] Historic rape and sexual assaults by defendant. Leading junior counsel. R v Bennet & Others [2012] Multi handed conspiracy to supply Class A drugs Undercover test purchase operation. R v Dietrich [2012] Junior defence counsel defendant charged with death by careless driving upon newspaper obscuring view in convertible. R v Price [2012] High profile client ultimately acquitted on appeal for driving offences R v Clarke, Bent, Riley & Baker [2011] Sole Prosecution Counsel in this case where the victim was kidnapped in Surrey, taken to the Midlands and subjected to a serious beating and sexual assault in the back of a van. R v Webster [2011] Represented a Paramedic charged with Death by Careless Driving. Mr Webster was a rapid response vehicle ambulance paramedic employed
by the West Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust. On the 23rd December 2009 he answered a 999 call of a child that had swallowed a coin. He drove along the A51 from Lichfield to Tamworth with blue lights flashing and sirens on. As he carried on the deceased in a Ford Ka emerged from a junction into his path. The collision was inevitable due to his speed and the driver of the Ka died at the scene from injuries. Kevin Webster was charged with death by careless driving. The trial ran from the 6th to the 16th of June at Stafford Crown Court. He was acquitted. There is to be an inquest which Robin has been instructed in and potentially a regulatory tribunal hearing in addition. R v Delaney & others [2010] 6 handed conspiracy to burgle case, leading CPS HCA. 100 incident campaign of burglary, tda and dangerous driving. R v Williams, Swaibu et al [2010] 5 handed conspiracy to commit fraud fraudulent use of credit cards to purchase cars from dealers and then fraudulent selling on through internet sites. Involved 43 vehicles two fraudulent transactions majority of vehicles. Inquest re the death of Alan Long representation of police officers at Crown Court dangerous driving trial and 5 week inquest. R v Grundy & others [2010] Conspiracy to burgle commercial premises 5/6 handed. R v Osbourne & Others [2010] Multi-handed violent disorder at charity event. Re AW Court of Appeal hearing regarding variation of restraint orders in confiscation proceedings and the interaction of the provisions with state benefits. R v Hyacinth [2010] Death by careless driving by a mini-bus driver where passenger killed. R v Wright [2010] Defended police officer acquitted of death by dangerous driving on 999 call. R v Hannan [2010] Defended police officer acquitted of death by dangerous driving on 999 call.
R v Bruce [2010] Defended police officer acquitted of dangerous driving in course of a pursuit. R v Robertson [2009] A much publicised (death by dangerous/hit and run) case. Telegraph News Report Reported Cases R v Central Criminal Court ex parte Haque (reported case on custody time limits - responded for the Crown as interested party and Jury material point). R v Peilesz [2004] "Double" death by dangerous driving- Appeal against 5 year disqualification Fraud and Financial Crime In the field of financial crime Robin Sellers has continued to make his customary impact. In 2010 he was instructed to defend a UKBA consultant who fraudulently obtained over 75,000 in fees. The case involved convoluted restraint proceedings that necessitated an appeal to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division to correct an erroneous approach to the interaction of the restraint regime under POCA and state benefits suggested by the Crown and adopted by the Crown Court. (R v Waldron). Money laundering offences are a regular diet in both his prosecution and defence practice. A recent first instance case raised issues of the relationship between conspiracy to cultivate cannabis and converting criminal property. Specifically when the proceeds of crime could be considered to be evidence of conspiracy as profits of the cultivation on dates prior to the other direct evidence of the activities of the growers and managers at a commercial level in the absence of other criminal activity. Robin 'cut his teeth' in fraud dealing with substantial car ringing cases augmented with further dimensions. In Robertson and others, as junior counsel, a major international car ringing syndicate not only stole high value cars to order but imported them from Europe making false declarations to HMRC as to the "new modes of transport" status of vehicles to exploit VAT loopholes.
In Swaibu et al, as leading counsel, an organised crime group targeted not only dealers, using stolen credit cards but perpetrated further frauds on the unsuspecting subsequent purchasers of the vehicles by manipulation of internet financial auction sites such as ebay. In Masterson & Cobb, a million pound heavy plant fraud disseminating stolen to order plant from the South East across the rest of the UK, Europe and China via ebay and similar e-commerce portals. In R v Finbow, involved in large VAT prosecution where organised crime syndicate exploiting disabled drivers exemption on VAT.