Background

John Hobley has established a practice in criminal, family and regulatory work.

His family practice spans both public and private Children Act cases as well as domestic abuse and financial disputes. In the Crown Court John both prosecutes and defends and undertakes work involving serious violence, drugs, and high value burglary and theft.

John joined chambers in 2017, following the completion of a pupillage supervised by Lee Fish.

Expertise

John regularly appears in the Crown Court, both prosecuting and defending. His Crown Court work has involved serious violence, drugs, and high value burglary and theft matters. John also regularly appears in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings.

John has experience of managing both vulnerable and expert witnesses, as well as marshalling telephone, cell site, and other evidence to his clients’ advantage.

John has also appeared in private prosecutions involving Trading Standards and on behalf of local authorities in environmental protection cases, and has experience of prosecuting on behalf of the Home Office.

John has experience of both private and public family work, including Children Act and Family Law Act proceedings on behalf of applicants and respondents in the County Court and High Court. John frequently represents clients at both finding of fact and contested final hearings. These cases have frequently involved complex allegations of domestic violence and abuse of children. John also has experience of cases involving matrimonial finance.

John’s work often includes assisting clients with learning difficulties and past and current mental health struggles and he is well equipped to assist all clients in the preparation of their cases, and presenting their best case.

Represented a father who had ASD and ADHD diagnoses in public law proceedings. Over two final hearings, lasting 17 days, the court found that the Local Authority had failed to properly account for client’s additional needs in the assessment and further work was required. This case involved cross-examination of a number of social workers and a consultant clinical psychologist.

Represented a mother in public law proceedings at a 7 day final hearing following a finding of fact hearing at which it had been found that father had sexually abused a number of other family members. Involved cross-examination of a consultant psychologist.

Represented a mother in the pool of possible perpetrators for serious non-accidental injuries to an infant child, there were further allegations that she had failed to protect the child from harm. The five-day composite final hearing involved analysis of over 1,000 pages of social media and text message evidence. No findings were made against the mother and the child was returned to her care following a short rehabilitation plan.

Represented children’s guardian in private law proceedings concerning a contact application by a litigant in person father. The case involved allegations of cross-border abduction and allegations that parents had agreed to mislead the court.

Represented a respondent mother in contact proceedings. The case involved allegations made by the client of rape and sexual abuse in both the UK and abroad. The court found that client’s allegations were proven.

Represented respondent in matrimonial finance proceedings who had become unable to work in his chosen career and therefore been unable to make periodical payments previously ordered by the court. Successfully argued for the discharge of the periodical payments order.

John has undertaken a secondment at the Care Quality Commission in the Litigation, Prosecution and Inquests team. His work included reviewing evidence collected by CQC inspectors and providing advice on potential breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Many of these alleged breaches involved neglect, or systemic failures, in the provision of care to vulnerable adults, often having resulted in serious injury or death. Following this secondment, John continues to provide advice to the CQC on the merits of potential prosecutions.

John is also instructed in cases brought by Social Work England in their role as the regulator for social workers. John has assisted in case preparation and advice, as well as interim and final hearings before adjudication panels.

Additional Information

  • CPS Level 3 Prosecutor

  • BPTC (Very Competent), BPP Law School (2014-2015)
  • BA (Hons) Jurisprudence, University of Oxford (2011-2014)

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