One area where David has particular expertise is in cases involving serious and historic sexual offences. Whilst taking a robust stance in court, his empathetic approach to victims and witnesses means he is able to handle the most sensitive of proceedings. He has prosecuted and defended cases involving accused persons and victims of all ages and cognitive abilities, and in this context he has extensive experience of dealing with intermediaries, expert witnesses and mental health professionals.
R v KG – David successfully defended an ex-Arsenal football player in his trial on charges of rape of a young woman, in a case which attracted national media interest.
R v GC (2018) – David acted on behalf of a non-English speaking man charged with over 20 instances of rape of his wife throughout the duration of their 20-year marriage. The case was highly sensitive as the complainant was a highly regarded senior academic at one of the country’s top universities.
R v PS – David successfully prosecuted a particularly brutal allegation of multiple rape and other sexual violence by an overseas drug dealer against an extremely vulnerable drug-addicted victim, with severe mental health problems.
R v BS – David acted for the defence in a case involving multiple allegations of sexual assault by a teacher at a well-known local public school, against a pupil at the same school. The defendant was acquitted of all charges.
R v CP (2019) – David successfully defended a teacher accused of historic sexual abuse involving a student from his school. After trial the defendant was acquitted of all charges.
R v RP (2018) – Successful defence of young male, diagnosed with serious ADHD and significant learning difficulties, who was charged with 2 counts of rape of a young teenager, resulting in a full acquittal.
R v SS (Operation Brooke Part 2) – David represented a young man prosecuted as part of Operation Brooke, which featured a large group of Somali men who were investigated for child sexual exploitation. The enquiry has been described as the “largest investigation of this nature in Avon & Somerset police’s history” and the trial was heard over 10 weeks in Bristol Crown Court.
R v SM (2018) – Defence of man entrapped and apprehended by a vigilante group of so-called “paedophile hunters”, who was later charged with multiple counts of internet-based grooming offences against a number of children.
R v RW – David successfully prosecuted a man charged with sexual assault, with the offence dating back over 30 years ago. The defendant was a football coach accused of historic sexual offences against a 13-year-old boy in his team.