Peter Byrne

Peter is instructed in the following criminal areas: Murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, rape and serious sexual offences, non fatal serious violence, money laundering, robbery and cases involving the importation, production and supply of drugs. Peter has experience of defending and prosecuting in cases where there are arguments regarding fitness to plead and Mental Health Act disposals.

Fraud: Missing trader, asset stripping, fraudulent trading, VAT and mortgage fraud.

Notable Cases

• R v Rawlins (2019)
  

  Successfully defended a man charged with attempted murder after the discharge of a firearm but was left with very serious injuries himself following the incident.

  Led by Jamie Hill QC of Fountain Chambers.

• R v K and others (2019)
  

  Secured acquittal in multi defendant alleged insurance fraud valued at £1.1m.

  Jeremy Barton, Adam Birkby and Peter Byrne secure acquittals in million pound fraud case.

• Operation Angelstoke (2017 – 2018)
  

  Modern-Day Slavery – Led Prosecution Junior – Eight defendants convicted of exploiting men and women trafficked from Slovakia and forced to work on building sites here in the United Kingdom.

   

• Operation Bellum (2015 – 2016)
  

  Complex eleven-handed identity fraud involving two corrupt bank managers and an accomplice witness. Successful appeal by the prosecution against a terminating ruling. Led Junior in the main case and then alone in the three, satellite cases.  £2m confiscation proceedings.

   

• Broadhead & Others (2012)
  

  Allegation of handling HGV trailer and contents stolen from high security depot.

• Hewison & Others (2011)
  

  Nine defendant multi million pound mortgage fraud representing the defendant described by the Prosecutor as ‘the thread that ran through the fraud’.

• Richardson & Others (2011)
  

  Five-defendant joint enterprise murder.

• Foster (2010)
  

  Allegation of damaging property being reckless as to whether life was endangered following a domestic gas explosion. Significant issues of causation and specialist expert evidence.

• Mitchell & Others (2010)
  

  £11.3m VAT fraud.

• Marley (2009)
  

  Allegations of murder and attempted murder of a previous girlfriend tried together.

• Bham & Others (2008)
  

  Twelve-defendant insurance fraud.

• Straughan (2007)
  

  £50m fraudulent trading.

• Khan & Others (2007)
  

  Large scale ‘inside man’ Building Society fraud.

• Hesketh [2006] EWCA Crim 2596
  

  Appeal regarding the making of a Confiscation Order and the admission of fresh evidence.

Defence of motorists in Magistrates’ Courts and on appeal to the Crown Court and specialist advice designed to limit the effect of motoring convictions and the avoidance of disqualification.