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.
Tom Storey KC is a leading criminal practitioner both on the North Eastern Circuit and beyond, instructed to prosecute and defend the most serious offences. He specialises in cases involving homicide, terrorism, large-scale organised crime and fraud, and serious sexual offences.
Tom’s meticulous eye for detail makes him a tactically astute barrister who can present or challenge evidence clearly and effectively. He encourages early engagement and adopts a pro-active approach to cases he is engaged upon, providing strategic advice from the inception of any case. He is always keen to establish successful working partnerships within case teams, and will place the client at the heart of any case strategy.
In Court, Tom is admired for his easy but intelligent manner and his ability to render complex issues comprehensible to juries. He is adept at sensitively handling particularly vulnerable witnesses and clients.
Tom also provides an advisory service, being instructed both pre-charge in relation to complex investigations, and also at an appellate level.
Tom is regularly recommended as a leading individual for criminal law in legal directories, where he is noted for his intellect, thorough case preparation and conscientious approach.
Prior to taking silk, Tom was a level 4 prosecutor for the specialist CPS Serious Crime, Rape and Serious Sexual Abuse and Counter Terrorism panels. He is an accredited advocacy trainer for the North Eastern Circuit and an experienced pupil supervisor.
Six Defendants charged with murder of man killed in his own home in a targeted attack; five of the six convicted of manslaughter. Cause of death identified as being asphyxiation/strangulation. Insofar as any motive could be established, this was thought likely to have been the deceased’s involvement in the trade in Class A controlled drugs.
Defendant charged with murder of flat-mate who died after fire set in wheelie bin at entrance to premises, and also with arson with intent to endanger life in relation to occupants of upper-floor flat; convicted of manslaughter and arson being reckless as to endangerment of life. Expert evidence called at trial in relation to flash burns suffered by Defendant at point fire was lit. At sentence, Prosecution served evidence of multiple previous arrests on occasions when Defendant was in drink, almost none of which had led to offences being charged, but which gave rise to finding that Defendant was dangerous offender. Court was persuaded that a life sentence was not appropriate in the circumstances.
Reported in the press as the “Good Samaritan” case. Defendant charged with murder of member of the public by driving into him whilst he provided assistance to the Defendant’s own sister, who had collapsed on a residential street on the day of her marriage. Background of dispute between families of Defendant and his sister’s new husband.
Defendant charged with the murder of his neighbour, having attacked him with a knife, stabbing him 17 times to the torso; convicted of manslaughter. Background of disagreements between Defendant and other residents in block of flats where he resided. Defendant’s claim to have been acting in self-defence was rejected by the jury. Application for leave to appeal sentence imposed refused.
Murder by Defendant of his 20-year-old niece, who disappeared from the home where she was living with her grandmother and another uncle. Her body was subsequently disposed of on waste ground, where it was discovered in a partially decomposed state. Pathologists unable to determine precise cause of death. Although forming no part of the prosecution case, the defence floated the suggestion at trial that she might have been murdered as part of a so-called “honour killing” by her own father, from whom she was estranged.
Murder by Defendant of his 2-month-old son in a case involving allegations of shaking and either throwing him or striking his head against a hard surface. Multiple expert medical witnesses relied on by prosecution; admissibility of defence expert evidence successfully challenged at trial.
High-publicity murder of 15-year-old boy by his mother and her partner, who together repeatedly beat the child causing multiple internal injuries which ultimately led to massive infection and his death. Much of the violence was captured on CCTV cameras installed within the family home.
Attempted murder of man who had previously been acquitted of the murder of defendant’s cousin (targeted revenge attack). Defendant travelled from Oldham to Sheffield to lie in wait for victim; stabbed repeatedly in attack Defendant then attempted to set fire to the vehicle he had travelled in.
Causing or allowing a child to suffer serious physical harm. Two-month-old infant son of the defendants found to have 13 separate fractures to his body, caused over period of time. Extensive expert medical evidence.
Attempted murder – stabbing of rival gang member by 17-year-old defendant. Victim refused to co-operate with prosecution. Consideration of “gang-related” bad character evidence.
Defendant convicted at trial of attempted murder, having sought out and stabbed an Eritrean national at a hotel which had previously been used to accommodate asylum-seekers. Evidence adduced of Defendant’s far-right extremism, based on texts found at his home address and on his electronic devices, his many X (Twitter) posts and a pre-prepared manifesto document which he was in the process of trying to upload to X at the point of his arrest. Successfully argued that offence had a terrorist connection within the meaning of the legislation. Defendant sentenced to term of life imprisonment.
Defendant convicted of distributing material stirring up racial hatred and encouraging or assisting the commission of racially aggravated criminal damage. Defendant distributed via an anonymous Telegram channel called the Hundred Handers printable versions of stickers bearing racially offensive slogans and expressing various far right ideologies; he further encouraged the widespread placement of these stickers in public locations throughout the UK and abroad. Expert evidence called at trial on topic of far-right extremism, in order to assist with some of the ideologies expressed on the stickers and with the practice of “stickering” more generally.
Defendant charged with possessing material stirring up racial hatred, consisting of collections of stickers bearing racially offensive slogans and advocating various extreme right-wing points of view; also charged with breaching a criminal behaviour order and notification requirements following previous similar convictions. Guilty pleas entered at trial.
Defendants charged with and convicted of multiple offences, including conspiracy to commit criminal damage (to 5G mobile phone masts), encouragement of terrorism and dissemination of terrorist publications. Extensive evidence derived from messages posted on Telegram channels, which included material demonstrating an extreme right-wing mindset. Principal Defendant called for commission of terrorist attacks upon others, in particular MPs and those of the Jewish faith; also provided access to online repositories of terroristic and extreme right-wing texts. Expert evidence called in relation to far-right extremism.
Possessing & collecting documents likely to have been of use to a terrorist. Defendant in possession of multiple copies of The Anarchist’s Cookbook and a prohibited weapon. Much digital and other evidence of extreme rightwing ideology. Defendant had previously been referred to Prevent programme.
Defendants charged with conspiracy to import nitrous oxide pursuant to the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 and associated money laundering offences. Principal offenders convicted after 12-week trial. Court found level of importation to be “industrial-scale” (over 91 million cannisters or “cream chargers”). Defendants’ importation business operated through multiple successively-incorporated limited liability companies, some fronted by other individuals; shell companies established in the Netherlands and Poland assisted to conceal the proceeds of the sale of cream chargers to customers across the UK.
Total of 18 Defendants charged with conspiracies to supply cocaine and to launder proceeds, committed during 2020 and covering an area comprising much of northern England and the Midlands. Principal Defendant directing operations whilst serving a prison sentence for previous offending. Considerable volume of evidence derived from Encrochat encrypted phone messages; additionally, from phone linking and movement evidence, together with police observations.
Four defendants charged with offences relating to the receipt in West Yorkshire of 15kg of import-strength cocaine which had been collected from London, and associated possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
Manchester-based gang of Albanian nationals had set up cannabis “farms” in houses in Burnley. When one such property was attacked by Burnley-based gang, those in Manchester travelled up to defend their investment. Serious disorder in residential streets, involving two men being shot, one struck with a machete and multiple vehicles damaged; one vehicle abandoned and subsequently set on fire.
Defendant charged with conspiracies to supply controlled drugs and to sell prohibited firearms, and possession of prohibited firearms and ammunition. Evidence of conspiracies derived entirely from content of Encrochat mobile phone messages between “handle” attributed to defendant and others involved in the wholesale drugs trade.
Five defendants charged with offences relating to the movement of firearms and ammunition, and additionally with offences relating to the supply of Class A drugs during the first national lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic
Seven defendants charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine and associated money-laundering, relating to the purchase of 9kg of import-strength cocaine from Liverpool and its transfer back to Bradford. Much evidence of covert police observations, telephone linking evidence and CCTV footage.
Five defendants charged with conspiracy to rob, involving firearm and machete to inflict injuries on victim. High-value Porsche car parts stolen during robbery from Leeds industrial unit by organised criminals from Manchester. Case involved telephone linking and cell-site evidence, overlain with ANPR and CCTV footage. Extradition proceedings in relation to two of the defendants who had fled the jurisdiction.
Defendant a former CPS prosecutor. Charged with arranging the commission of various child sexual offences, following his interactions with an undercover police officer on an online platform catering for those interested in sexual fetishes. Defendant arranged to meet at the home address of someone he believed to be the mother of a 7-year-old daughter, for the express purpose of engaging in sexual activity with both of them; he was found to have taken with him a variety of sex toys, lubricants, restraints and chocolates.
Defendant charged with multiple allegations of non-recent sexual assault upon two young girls for whom he had babysat in the 1990s – 2000s. Multiple issues at trial relating to Defendant’s poor health; all overcome so as to enable trial to proceed after previous strenuous efforts by defence to prevent trial going ahead.
Multiple allegations of non-recent (1970s through to early 2000s) sexual abuse of young boys in East Yorkshire area, where JF worked as local bus driver. Some of the abuse occurred at his home address and also involved his wife. Five separate complainants gave evidence at trial, each with limited knowledge of the others. Issue at trial relating to DF, who was deemed to be unfit to be tried due to her advancing dementia.
Multiple allegations of non-recent (1970s and 1980s) sexual abuse of young girls by former houseparent at children’s home in East Yorkshire. Three separate complainants, with limited knowledge of each other. Defendant kept one of them hidden at his flat for several months, where he repeatedly abused her, when she was subject of a missing person enquiry by Humberside Police. Unsuccessful attempt by Defendant – now acting in person – to appeal his conviction and sentence.
Multiple allegations of non-recent (1970s and 1980s) sexual abuse of multiple young girls at children’s homes in both London and East Yorkshire, where defendant’s wife and he had worked. A total of eight complainants gave evidence of abuse by Defendant; one of them the Defendant had continued to have a sexual relationship with once she was an adult.
Non-recent (1980s) sexual abuse of former pupils at Ampleforth College public school by former monk and teacher at school; offences also committed upon altar boys in parish in Cumbria to which defendant had been sent by the school when abuse first complained of. He had previously been prosecuted for abuse on other former pupils in 2005; consideration of autrefois convict doctrine in relation to the way this case was presented.
Defendant a financial broker charged together with several others in relation to complex invoice financing (factoring) fraud and associated money laundering. Substantial trial (in excess of four months) involving evidence relating to applications by multiple shell companies for finance agreements with secondary lenders. Defendant said to have been instrumental in sourcing directors for companies in fact controlled by co-accused. Successful defence run at trial was essentially that Defendant was an unwitting party to scheme orchestrated by others, and was taken advantage of as much as complainant witnesses had been.
Two interlinked trials both alleging conspiracies to commit credit card fraud and associated re-sale of goods via eBay online sales platform. Offending initially uncovered after investigation into fraudulent purchase of high value Canyon road bicycles, many of which were delivered to addresses in South Yorkshire. Police subsequently uncovered large quantities of fraudulently obtained stock, much of high value (electrical and designer label goods) and all destined for re-sale.
Seven defendants charged with offences relating to large-scale intercept fraud and associated money-laundering offences. Email communications of various international businesses (including the BBC) were intercepted, resulting in millions of pounds being paid into and then laundered through accounts which had been set up for the purpose, some in fabricated names and others having been acquired from co-accused.
Offence of fraud committed by carer upon vulnerable supported residents of care home in Sheffield; over £900,000 obtained and then laundered through accounts held in names of defendant’s brothers. Protracted confiscation proceedings followed conviction.
Conspiracy to commit fraud by abuse of position, relating to operation of procurement process conducted by West Yorkshire Police for vehicle-recovery contracts. Subsequent confiscation proceedings involved issues relating to corporate vs personal involvement.
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