
Grant Vanstone
Grant Vanstone is a practising Criminal Barrister involved in both prosecution and defence work. He has wide experience in all criminal cases including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, serious fraud, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, serious sexual offences, kidnapping, armed robbery, public order and serious drug offences.
He is currently a regular visiting lecturer at the Inns of Court College of Advocacy and has been involved in training and lecturing elsewhere including the Inn, solicitors and other professional bodies. He is a registered pupillage supervisor with Middle Temple and has been involved in training the Bedford Police.
Cases
Asset Forfeiture & Confiscation
R v S – (CCC) Was an allegation of involvement in a boiler room fraud in Spain S was alleged to have committed a conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. The date span in the indictment was 1st April 2007 and 31st December 2010. S had worked in a mid-level management role in a ‘boiler room’ operation in Spain. The ‘boiler room’ had targeted vulnerable and elderly investors selling to them worthless or low-value shares. The confiscation proceedings were extremely protracted and complicated by international issues.
Criminal Defence
R v Simon Vallor – One of the first prosecution under the Computer Misuse Act where the defendant had ‘created’ the third most virulent virus of its time.
R v OA – Leading junior in multi million pound conspiracy to import class A drugs from Trinidad and Tabago into the uk. The case involved the first defendant to be extradited from outside the jurisdiction.
R v Liverpool – Defended in the ‘Joss Stone’ Conspiracy to murder and kidnap case.
R v Collingwood – Exeter Crown Court – Defended in a hearing of the facts a notorious local businessman accused of extensive sexual abuse but who was too ill to be tried as he was unfit to plead.
R.v MD – Prominent Local businessman charged with alleged historic systematic abuse of his stepdaughter and sister. Linked to allegations that his family (father and brothers) had also seriously sexually abused other members of their family and local children. The case was widely reported in the press as the body of a sister was exhumed for tests. Successfully acquitted.
R v S – Kingston Crown – Court defended a local VIP in allegations of serious sexual abuse. Recently in the R v S at Harrow Crown Court the acquittal of a defendant in ‘Operation intrada’. In a trial lasting 6 weeks the defendants were alleged to have conspired together with others in the importation of in excess £30 million of cocaine. 788kg were intercepted by the authorities from containers that were being moved through the London Container Terminal at Tilbury.
R v GW – Blackfriars – Successfully defended in a notorious case involving the biting off of an ear on the tube.
R. v. MO and Others – Successfully acquitted recently at Harrow CC on Operation Lipoa where a feud between the NPK and the OFB, two North London Gangs, resulted in a shooting around the Tottenham Stadium.
R v ES and others – defended in operation Letea at Croydon Crown Court another shooting around Brixton Hill.
Criminal Prosecution
R v LB – Prosecuted a well known rugby star involved in the supply of Crystal Meth at ‘Chemsex’ parties said to be similar to the TV show ‘breaking bad’.
Fraud & Financial Crime
R v D – Southwark Crown Court – Defended in the largest Advance fee fraud of its time.
R v S – CCC – Was an allegation of involvement in a boiler room fraud in Spain S was alleged to have committed a conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation. The date span in the indictment was 1st April 2007 and 31st December 2010. S had worked in a mid-level management role in a ‘boiler room’ operation in Spain. The ‘boiler room’ had targeted vulnerable and elderly investors selling to them worthless or low-value shares.
R v C – Kingston CC – Defended in ‘Operation Lothian’ a large scale ticket fraud stealing monies from TFL and SWT.
Professional Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Middle Temple
- South Eastern Circuit
- Pupillage Supervisor
Awards, Qualifications & Other
- Grade 1 CPS Counsel
- School Governor