Alfred Underwood

Cases

Asset Forfeiture & Confiscation

HMRC v K and U – Ipswich Magistrates’ Court – Represented clients in an application by the Revenue for forfeiture of £20,000 cash seized at the airport as they were departing for Turkey.

R v PG – Isleworth Crown Court – Led as junior counsel in POCA proceedings following client’s conviction at trial for conspiracy to steal plant machinery. Valuable benefit of the offences was said to be several hundred thousand pounds. Following two day hearing, the client was made subject to a confiscation order of £1.

Criminal Defence

R v H and Others – Snaresbrook Crown Court – Led as junior counsel for one of five defendants jointly charged with attempted murder of a rival gang member in Hackney. Client along with two others attacked the victim with knives and a firearm at an overground station. Trial lasted over three months and involved complex legal argument in relation to bad character, alleged evidence of gang membership and evidence arising ex improviso during the trial.

R v AD – Snaresbrook Crown Court – Client charged with wounding and threats to kill against former partner. Prosecution case supported by complainant’s evidence was that client held a knife to her throat and cut her face while threatening to kill her. Client pleaded guilty to causing her ABH at the outset of the trial. Acquitted unanimously on all remaining counts.

R v ML and Others – Winchester Crown Court – Client charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A and B drugs. Prosecution alleged he entered into an agreement with others to smuggle drugs into “Boomtown” music festival. Following a four-week trial the client was acquitted on all counts. The other two defendants were convicted of supply.

R v JM – Basildon Crown Court – Represented client at trial charged with arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. Prosecution case was that he set fire to a stolen van, a fire which spread to nearby gardens. Case involved detailed cross examination of the prosecution fire expert on the issue of whether the fire could have started accidentally.

DPP v EK – Highbury Corner Youth Court – Represented youth client charged with possession with intent to supply Class A and dangerous driving. Following representations that the defendant was a victim of trafficking at the time, the prosecution discontinued the drugs offences. The youth court bench acquitted the defendant of the dangerous driving offences following a successfully pursued defence under s.45 Modern Slavery Act 2015.

R v FF – Snaresbrook Crown Court – Client charged with possession of a bladed article. Defendant was a cab driver stopped by police while driving a fare. Carrying a craft knife in his bag. Acquitted after successful defence of “good reason”.

R v AH – Inner London Crown Court – Client charged with ABH. Defence accepted complainant had been assaulted and received serious injuries but maintained that the complainant was falsely and maliciously implicating AH. One other eyewitness identified the defendant as one of the attackers. AH was acquitted by a jury after less than fifteen minutes of deliberation.

Criminal Prosecution

R v MM – Ipswich Crown Court – Appeared for prosecution in 4 day armed robbery trial of a petrol station in rural Suffolk.

R v DE – Kingston Crown Court – Secured conviction in 3 day burglary case. Successful argument on cross-admissibility of evidence.

R v J – Reading Crown Court – Secured conviction for assaulting an emergency worker and possession of an offensive weapon.

Professional Discipline

NMC v D and D – Represented the NMC in a three-week substantive hearing against two nurses accused of dishonesty, including the production of false references. The panel found the majority of charges proved against the lead registrant.

NMC v Y – Represented the NMC in four-week substantive hearing of a nurse charged with lacking competency. The majority of charges against the nurse were found proved.

NMC v G – Represented the NMC in two-week substantive hearing of a nurse charged with dishonesty involving the theft of medication. The panel found the majority of charges proved.