At New Park Court Chambers, we do things a little differently. With 70 junior barristers and 16 King’s Counsel, our reach and influence stretches far beyond the bounds of our Circuit.
As a Tier 1 Set based in Leeds and Newcastle we are home to a number of high profile and nationally and internationally reputable Counsel.
News & Events
On 28th August 2025, Ben Richardson, Tom Richardson and Carl Messen were sentenced by HHJ Khokhar at Leeds Crown Court for their involvement in what the judge described as the “industrial-scale” importation of cannisters of nitrous oxide into the UK. This followed a trial lasting some 12 weeks, prosecuted by Tom Storey KC and Peter Byrne.
The Defendants had established a business importing “cream chargers” containing nitrous oxide from the Far East in around 2011. At that time, there was no prohibition on the importation or supply of nitrous oxide, which has been used medicinally for many years and also has uses within the catering industry. Concern about an increase in the misuse of nitrous oxide as a so-called “legal high”, along with a variety of other substances, led to the implementation of the Psychoactive Substances Act in 2016; from May of that year, it became illegal to import nitrous oxide in circumstances where one knew or suspected it would be consumed for its psychoactive effect.
The Defendants set up multiple companies to facilitate their importation business, disguising their true nature by adopting names implying an involvement in the catering trade; in fact, the only products the companies ever traded in were nitrous oxide capsules. The Defendants also established companies in mainland Europe to facilitate the importation of this product, and to assist in the concealment of the subsequent proceeds of the onward sale of cream chargers to customers across the UK. At trial, evidence was given that the Defendants wanted to become the largest importers of cream chargers in the UK; between May 2016 and December 2018, they imported in excess of 91 million cannisters, the onward sale of which produced credits to the company bank accounts of some £16.7 million, over £12 million of which was in cash.
The trial involved presentation of evidence regarding the operation of these multiple companies; the nature of the Defendants’ principal customers; the process involved in importing these vast quantities of nitrous oxide cannisters; various intercepted consignments; and consideration of vast amounts of digital material comprising messages passing between the Defendants and with their customers. The trial also involved legal arguments concerning exemptions to the Psychoactive Substances Act and the binding effect of previous Court of Appeal authorities, and the appropriate directions to be given to the jury in relation to the mental ingredients of the offence.
Tom Storey KC and Peter Byrne were instructed by Julian Briggs of the Yorkshire & Humberside CPS Complex Casework Unit.
Geraldine Kelly KC and Jemima Stephenson-Finn represented a defendant in the trial who was acquitted of both conspiracy to import nitrous oxide and money laundering offences.
Laughing gas gang set up bogus firms to import 91 million canisters – BBC News
We are really pleased to publish and share our third Annual Review. Reflecting…
Discover moreWe are pleased to share that the King, on the advice of…
Discover more
