Simon Goodman

Simon’s experience of criminal cases extends to those at the highest level: he has been led in murders and has conducted drugs conspiracy and firearms cases, both as led counsel and as junior alone. He has been sought after for his expertise in firearms and prohibited weapons cases.
But he knows that all cases are important to those facing them, and is always happy to assist, whatever the level of charge.

Drugs

Simon has extensive experience of drugs cases at all levels of seriousness, from large-scale conspiracy involving firearms to street-dealing, and both prosecuting and, particularly, defending.

Recent cases include:

• The defence of an allegedly-prolific dealer in Class A drugs; Simon was able to obtain a substantially lower sentence than expected and to make successful legal submissions in relation to the related POCA proceedings.
• The defence of a man from London who was accused of supplying Class A drugs and of “cuckooing” a property in Yeovil as part of a “County Lines” conspiracy. Simon’s client was himself a victim as well as an offender, and Simon was able to obtain a suspended sentence, with no POCA proceedings.
• The defence of a man arrested as part of a substantial police operation targeting drug dealing in West-Country towns. Simon was able to obtain a short-than-expected sentence, with no POCA proceedings.
• The defence (as led junior) of the alleged “enforcer” in a conspiracy involving Class A drug and firearms.

Sexual offences

Simon’s experience extends to sexual offences at all levels of seriousness, from rape to exposure, from historic abuse to voyeurism.
Simon has significant experience in both the prosecution and defence of cases involving indecent images, both “internet” cases and those involving the direct exploitation of children.

Recent cases include:

• The defence of a young man accused of five counts of rape, kidnap with intent to commit a sexual offence, voyeurism and gross indecency. That his client spoke no English only added to the complications of the case.
• The defence of vulnerable young adult accused of historic familial sex offences when he was himself a child and a troubled adolescent.
• The defence of a highly vulnerable man who was indicted for the attempted grooming of young girls – the “victims” were in fact an “internet vigilante”.
• The defence of a man charged with the repeated rape of his female partner. He pleaded guilty and Simon was able to obtain a sentence significantly lower than that expected.
• The prosecution of a serving prisoner for a sexual offence upon a prison nurse.
• The defence of a thirteen-year old boy accused of sexual offences against an even younger girl.

Violence

Simon has a lot of experience when prosecution and defending in matters of violence and public disorder at all levels of seriousness, including sensitive case of domestic violence.

Recent cases include:

• The prosecution of a man for assault upon his particularly vulnerable female partner, who was very unwilling to give evidence against him. Simon’s sensitive but firm handling of the case resulted in the defendant’s pleading guilty on the day of trial.
• The defence of a severely autistic man accused of causing GBH with intent, by the use of his car as a weapon, in a case of alleged road rage.
• The prosecution of a father for a series of assaults upon his wife and daughters, and for threatening two of them with a kitchen knife such that they barricaded themselves into the bathroom.
• The defence of a young woman accused of wounding with intent by the deliberate “glassing” another of young woman. Simon’s client’s plea to the lesser charge of unlawful wounding was, eventually, accepted and she did not receive an immediate custodial sentence.
• The defence of a musician caught up in a street affray outside a nightclub.

Fraud and business crime

Simon has wide experience both prosecuting and defending in a broad range of cases where fraud of one kind or another is alleged, including benefit frauds.

Recent cases include:

• The prosecution of the practice manager of a local GP health centre who had stolen over £60,000 from her employers.
• The defence of a company director accused by a trading standards department of significant fraud and numerous breaches of consumer protection regulations arising out of her directorship of a building company. Simon successfully challenged the charges, finding a solution to the case that involved his client instead pleading guilty to an offence under the Insolvency Act that did not result in a custodial sentence; Simon then successfully negotiated his client’s path through the subsequent proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
• The defence of a so-called “rogue builder” accused of fraudulent trading, in which Simon was able to obtain a very significant reduction in the monetary value of the alleged fraud.
• The defence of a company director accused of fraudulent trading, essentially a “boiler room fraud”, arising out of “asset swaps” involving fine wines and coloured diamonds.
• The prosecution of a man with very significant intellectual deficits alleged to have defrauded government departments and local authorities of over £100,000 while owning a Maserati.
• The prosecution of a man for bankruptcy-related fraud which involved complex issues of law and fact, including who was in fact the bankrupt and obscure property law both in this country and in Belgium.
• The prosecution of a case of “identity theft” with an international background involving the making and use of false documents and the making of fraudulent benefit claims.
• The defence of a businessman accused of fraud arising out of his claims against his private health insurance policies. Simon’s technical knowledge and tactical approach resulted in there being found no case to answer.

Simon also has wide experience of both the prosecution and defence of offences under the bankruptcy legislation, and of representing companies and directors facing prosecution under the Companies Acts and the Company Directors Disqualification Act.

Care Homes

Simon is one of the few counsel with experience in representing those facing criminal proceedings arising from their ownership or management of care homes, as well as having experience in representing those accused of ill-treating people in their care. He is pleased to be involved at an early stage, prior to interview or charge. Recent instructions include advising a substantial operator of care homes in relation to threats of prosecution apparently made in an attempt to force settlement of a (civil) overpayment claim.

Road Traffic – Regulatory Enforcement

Simon’s practice has always extended to the regulatory enforcement side of road traffic law, including overloading and drivers’ hours cases, breaches of taxi and private hire regulations, and public enquiries before the Traffic Commissioner, including breaches of operators’ licences.

Local Authorities

Simon is instructed both to prosecute on behalf of local authorities and to defend those facing proceedings brought by local authorities, in planning, listed buildings, trading standards and environmental health matters, including waste disposal and fly tipping. Simon has experience of both the prosecution and defence of cases involving houses in multiple occupation or unlawful eviction. He has successfully prosecuted and defended a number of high-profile cases involving breaches or alleged breaches of enforcement notices that attracted considerable publicity, including “airport parking” cases.

Recent cases include:

• The defence of a company director accused by a trading standards department of significant fraud and numerous breaches of consumer protection regulations arising out of her directorship of a building company. Simon successfully challenged all of the charges, finding a solution to the case that involved his client instead pleading guilty to an offence under the Insolvency Act that did not result in a custodial sentence; Simon then successfully negotiated his client’s path through the subsequent proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
• The defence a so-called “rogue builder” accused of fraudulent trading, in which Simon was able to obtain a very significant reduction in the monetary value of the alleged fraud.
• The defence of a client charged under the Housing Act with failing to complete remedial action, in which Simon successfully argued that the proceeds were out of time, resulting in the proceedings’ being dropped.

Simon also advises and represents local authorities, both in judicial review and in appeals to the County Court, made under the Housing Act, with their quasi-judicial review character.

Recent cases include the successful response, on behalf of a local authority, to an appeal made by a litigant in person in a case that required sensitive handling.

In addition, Simon is one of the few counsel sought out to advise and represented local authorities in proceedings under the Mental Health Act.

Animal Welfare

Simon has significant experience in animal welfare and associated cases, having both prosecuted and defended.

Recent such cases include the successful defence of a farmer accused of mistreating his pigs, and Simon’s reported cases include the successful appeal to the Court of Appeal in Dorset CC v House, in which he successful argued that a farmer (who he had not represented at trial) had been convicted (ostensibly under the Cattle Regulations) of offences not known to law.

His instructions in environmental matters include advising (both pre- and post-charge) and representing clients accused of the destruction of or interference with wildlife habitats.

Simon has very considerable experience in road traffic cases at all levels of seriousness, up to and including those involving fatal accidents, cases that frequently combine the need for extreme sensitivity with the need to master highly technical evidence and for the examination and cross-examination of experts.

Recent cases include:

• The defence of a man allegedly indulging in “racing” or “road rage” at high speeds along the M4.
• The defence of a man with severe autism charged with using his car as a weapon against a cyclist, causing serious injury as a result, in an incident of alleged “road rage”.
• The defence of an older lady who caused the death of a motorcyclist by turning across his path. Simon’s client received a community sentence.
• The defence of an elderly man who knocked over and caused the death of a neighbour while reversing. Simon’s client was spared an immediate custodial term of imprisonment.
• The defence of a vulnerable man charged with running down two elderly pedestrians.
• The defence of a driver charged with four counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after the surfboards he was carrying on the roof of his car became detached. Simon’s client was acquitted of all charges, and he successfully argued that the prosecution were too late to charge alternative offences.
• The defence of a lorry driver charged with causing the death of a van driver after he drove into a queue of stationary traffic on the motorway (and whose subsequent disqualification Simon successfully challenged in the Court of Appeal).

In addition, Simon is always pleased to receive instructions from or on behalf of clients in danger of losing their livelihood through the loss of their driving licence or otherwise facing prosecution for motoring offences. He is regularly instructed in such cases on behalf of those who carry legal expenses insurance.

Simon’s first reported case was R v Bristol Magistrates’ Court ex parte E (1988), an authority still cited in the practitioner textbooks, and others include Sak v CPS (2007).

His judicial review successes include challenges of Magistrates’ Courts’ decisions, on the one hand not to commit for sentence in drugs cases, and on the other to commit to prison for non-payment of monetary penalties.

In addition, Simon advises and represents in appeals under the Housing Act, with their quasi-judicial review nature. Recent cases include the successful response, on behalf of a local authority, to an appeal made by a litigant in person in a case that required sensitive handling.

Mental Health

As a solicitor, Simon was a member of the Law Society’s Mental Health Review Tribunal panel and has continued to advise and represent in such cases as a member of the Bar, including as assigned counsel in cases of considerable sensitivity and where complex issues of capacity and restraint have arisen.

Additionally, Simon is one of the few counsel with experience of proceedings in the County Court to displace a patient’s “nearest relative”, where he has been instructed by local authorities, by lay clients and on behalf of the Official Solicitor.

Simon also has extensive experience of hearings before the Parole Board, particularly in “lifer” panels.

“I feel that it was in no small part your great expertise, experience and commitment to the case that steered things in the direction we wanted, so I really would like to say one last very big thank you for what you have done for us. It has also been a great pleasure working with you.”

“Offering a good response, he’s very approachable and good on his feet” – Legal 500

‘A lawyer’s lawyer who is highly approachable’ – The Lawyer Magazine