Robin Shellard

R v Andy Akokye. 2020. Robin Shellard was junior counsel for the prosecution in the trial of Andy Anokye also known as the Grime Artist ‘Solo 45’. Anokye was unanimously convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court on the 11^thMarch 2020 of 21 counts of rape; five counts of false imprisonment; two counts of assault by penetration and two ABH’s. Originally instructed to prosecute Anokye for rapes against one victim police seized Anokye’s mobile phones and laptop and this led to the police to three other women. Leading Counsel was then instructed. This was a complex and difficult prosecution given the terabytes of data that the defendant had stored; issues of bad character; previous sexual activity between the defendant and the victims and the resulting s.41 applications that were made by the defence.

Operation Nicosia. 2020. Robin Shellard as leading counsel secured convictions against a gang of armed robbers following guilty verdicts at the end of a 4-week trial. The gang targeted taxi drivers, supermarkets and betting shops. The case involved the presentation of complex phone evidence alongside identification and DNA evidence.

R v Smith and others. 2019. Secured convictions against a gang of five burglars who committed over 50 offences of both dwelling house burglaries and ATM cash point ram raids throughout East Anglia during 2018. In a crime spree investigated by the Flying Squad the gang burgled houses to obtain keys to high powered cars which were then stolen to be used as get away vehicles. The gang would then steal farm machinery and trucks to use in the ram raids. They were sentenced on the 27^th September at Isleworth Crown Court and received periods of imprisonment of up to 14 years.

Operation Solero . Successful prosecution of 11 defendants in connection with a conspiracy to supply cocaine in Gloucester.

Operation Greenfield 2. In 2018 he was leading Junior in the successful prosecution of a 7-defendant conspiracy to supply kilos of cocaine and cannabis.

R v Gilby and others 2018. He has also in 2018 prosecuted a 15-defendant conspiracy to supply drugs between London and Bristol.

Operation Talon. 2017.  Successfully defended in a case brought by National Crime Agency, against members of an Organised Crime Group for transporting a machine gun.

Operation Astoria. 2017. Successfully defended a client for an offence under the modern slavery legislation, in a prosecution brought by Regional Organised Crime Unit against an Organised Crime Group involved in cannabis factories and people trafficking.

R v Crosdale. 2017. Murder. Junior counsel to David Hislop QC and in the retrial Mark Wyeth QC, in the successful defence of a teenager charged with others.

R v Farnham. 2018. Murder. Junior counsel to Patrick Harrington QC.

R v B. 2019 Successfully defended a teenager charged with multiple sexual offences including rape of child under 10 years.

R v R. 2019 Successfully prosecuted a woman charged with multiple sex offences against 13-year-old boy.

R v A. 2017. He was leading junior, successfully defending in a multiple complainant historic sex trial. His client was a father with allegations made by his ex-wife and children

R v Wadsworth. 2017. Was junior counsel to Miranda Moore QC, in the prosecution of two BBC radio presenters charged with multiple historic sexual offences.

R v Denham [2017] 1 Cr. App. R. At trial, he defended one of a number of men charged with conspiracy to rape babies, which was prosecuted by the National Crime Agency (Operation Vanquis. R v Denham and others) and continued to represent during an appeal against conviction.

Operation Button 2016. He has successfully defended one of a number of men in Bristol, charged with sexually exploiting vulnerable teenage girls.

Robin has considerable experience appearing before Courts Martial in the UK and Germany and has appeared before the Courts Martial Appeal Tribunal (2016).

“He stands out for his knowledge of firearms licensing.” – Chambers & Partners 2017

Robin has a particular interest in firearms law and was granted leave to appeal against conviction, by the Court of Appeal, in a case involving the importation of blank firing flare launchers that are legal in Europe.

Robin also lectures on firearms legislation and frequently represents gun owners on applications and appeals involving firearms licensing.

He has prosecuted a private prosecution against a police officer for the use of a ‘Taser’ in a police cell against a naked man.

2019. Advised owner of stalking business on appeal against revocation of licences

2019. Advised gun owner after revocation of certificate and licences on prospects of success after breaches of conditions.

Robin defended a prosecution brought by the OFT in the largest case concerning offences contrary to The Consumer Protection Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPUT) (Operation Caber). The case involved a national pyramid promotional scheme where over £20 million was lost. His was the only defendant to be acquitted after two trials each lasting four months.

He carries out a full range of regulatory work such as animal movement regulations; poaching; unsafe practices by retailers such as tattoo shops; and the handling and keeping of explosives. He has prosecuted for Trading Standards and Local Authorities and defended in cases involving trademark infringement and goods sold on E-Bay.

Robin has represented a food processing company, Hamza Poultry Ltd, who were prosecuted for breaches of the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 and defended the resulting £2m proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) where the prosecution was seeking to show that the failure to obtain the correct food processing licenses made the Company turnover criminal benefit for the purposes of POCA, with a resulting liability for the Director.

R v Randhawa and Others. 2019.  Secured convictions on behalf of Brent Trading Standards against four defendants for fraud and money laundering after a 5-week trial at Harrow Crown Court. The first two defendants were convicted of defrauding elderly pensioners by stating that their roofs needed work when there was little or nothing wrong with their houses. Over £500,000 was obtained from the victims. The money was then paid into various company accounts controlled by the third and fourth defendants before the money was transferred overseas. They were sentenced on the 4^th October 2019 to between two and a half years and six years imprisonment.

He prosecutes on behalf of the Maritime & Coast Guard Agency.

“Excellent with clients and always up for a good scrap.” – Chambers and Partners 2020

“An excellent all-round barrister.” – Legal 500 2020

‘Recent work includes historic sexual offences and homicide cases.’ – Legal 500 2019

“He’s very much a jury man and is very persuasive.” – Chambers and Partners 2019

“Robin is really good, a very strong practitioner who does a lot of defence work.” – Chambers & Partners 2018

‘Recommended for multi-defendant fraud and drugs conspiracies.’ – Legal 500 2018

“Robin is really good, a very strong practitioner who does a lot of defence work.” – Chambers and Partners 2017

‘He specialises in sexual offence trials.’ – Legal 500 2017

“Absolutely the consummate gentleman barrister, he’s the complete package.” – Chambers and Partners 2016

“Robin Shellard provides a thorough and detailed service. He oozes charm and ability.” – Chambers and Partners 2015

‘A very strong and charismatic advocate.’ – Legal 500 2015

‘Recommended for his broad prosecution and defence practice.’ – Legal 500 2014

‘Robin Shellard is notable for his ability to charm a jury and a judge.’ – Legal 500 2013