Linda Taylor
April 3, 2017
Dale Sullivan
April 3, 2017
gregjohnson

Greg Johnson

Barristers Privacy Notice

Greg is a criminal defence specialist who regularly represents those accused of serious offences. He knows that for his clients the result is everything. Greg always strives to secure an acquittal using the law, tactics and persuasive advocacy. Solicitors and clients ask for him not only due to the results he achieves but also because he never forgets that at the heart of every case is the client.

Greg’s interest in science enables him to understand, deploy & cross-examine experts in a wide variety of fields in a highly effective way.

Testimonials:

“We have worked with Greg Johnson on some of the most complex and grave cases. As a solicitor, in matters such as these, the last thing you need is a barrister who has to be chased up or is behind the game. Greg Johnson is impressive from the outset. His work ethic is indefatigable. His proactive approach brings calm and confidence to the client and solicitors. His obvious intelligence and up to date knowledge of the sciences (DNA & cell site analysis) puts him in the top bracket of Counsel we have ever used”, Richard Derby (Solicitor)

“Greg Johnson is a very hard-working barrister with a fierce commitment to his clients. His attention to detail, client care and skillful advocacy are all exemplary as is his rapid grasp of the most complex issues”, John Goodwin (Solicitor)

“Greg Johnson is incredibly able Counsel who has an in-depth knowledge of the law and technical argument. This was demonstrated during a complex manslaughter case … whereby a successful submission of no case to answer was advanced by way of comprehensive submissions drafted by Counsel on our client’s behalf.” Frances Murray (Solicitor)

“You saved my life” – BB (Client, Attempted Murder)

 Appointments & Memberships:

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • South Eastern Circuit
  • North London Bar Mess
  • Bar Lawn Tennis Society
  • Liberty

Practice Areas:

Murder & Manslaughter

Greg has acted alone and as led junior counsel in high profile murder and manslaughter trials. Greg has been specifically requested by clients to represent them when accused of the most serious offences. One such case was a series of alleged contract killings. Another case was an allegation of murder and attempted murder. Recent cases include:

  • R v LG (Liverpool Crown Court) - The Defendant was accused of the high-profile murder of a 17-year-old. He was one of four defendants. The case against him involved cell-site and DNA analysis. National press coverage https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/killers-boy-17-give-middle-15018285
  • R v MR (Inner London Crown Court) - The Defendant was accused of manslaughter, money laundering and a regulatory offence. The three Defendants were accused of running a business that placed unsafe diet pills on the market that led to the death of a young woman. The case involved expert evidence relating to: computer analysis; psychiatric evidence; the properties of the diet pills; historic website, email and phone analysis. National press coverage https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/21/dnp-deadly-diet-pills-online-trade
  • R v AC (Chelmsford Crown Court) - The Defendant was accused of manslaughter. The offences were alleged to be committed during a fight at a pub.
  • R v BB (St Albans Crown Court) - The Defendant was accused of the attempted murder of his granddaughter. It was alleged he tried to strangle, stab and suffocate her.
 

Fraud, Money Laundering & Financial Crime

Greg is instructed regularly in large and complex cases often with an international dimension. He has represented a number of professional people accused of fraud, commercial fraud and money laundering. He has considerable experience in Money Laundering allegations where the defence involves the Hawala Remittance System. He represented a number of Defendants involved in Operation Rize (6,717 Safety Deposit boxes were broken into in three branches of the Safe Deposit Centres Ltd, in Mayfair, Edgware and Hampstead by the police). Recent examples include:

  • R v MJ (Snaresbrook Crown Court) - The defendant was alleged to have been involved in a money laundering conspiracy to the value of £35 million. Leading counsel.
  • R v KB (Hull Crown Court) - Operation Accordian. Conspiracy. A Conveyancing Executive accused of high-value mortgage frauds. The defendant was on the receiving end of “cut-throat” defences from many of the other five defendants. The defence was that many of the prosecution witnesses (some of whom were solicitors) had in fact committed the mortgage frauds. They had then tampered with the evidence in a way that shifted the blame and made the Defendant look guilty.
  • R v NB (Manchester Crown Court) - Operation Isidor. A practicing solicitor was alleged to be involved in Money Laundering for an Organised Crime Group.
  • R v AC (Lincoln Crown Court) - Fraud. The defendant was alleged to have committed a complex international commercial fraud to the value of £3 million.
  • R v AS (Hull Crown Court) - Operation Amber. The Defendant was accused of cheating Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs. The Defendant was one of seven defendants accused of very high value gains flowing from the sale of NPS (New or Novel Psychoactive Substances). A related Money Laundering allegation was the subject of extensive legal argument.
  • R v JW (Teeside Crown Court) - Conspiracy to Defraud. A Conveyancing Paralegal accused of a large number of high-value Mortgage Frauds. Many of the co-defendants ran cut-throat defences against the Defendant. Her defence required analysis of the Solicitor Conduct Rules, the prevailing Codes of Conduct and Conveyancing Practice and the cross-examination of solicitors.
  • R v GP (Ipswich Crown Court) - The Defendant was a broker accused, with six others, of Conspiracy to Defraud in a SFO prosecution arising out of an alleged £8 million Spanish ‘boiler room’ fraud.
  • R v LF (Southwark Crown Court) - Conspiracy. Allegation of Money Laundering by Solicitors and a Legal Executive the proceeds of a Carousel fraud involving in excess of £200 million

Regulatory

Greg has been instructed in a number of cases where knowledge and analysis of Regulatory and Criminal Law is required. Recent cases include:

  • R v MR (Inner London Crown Court) - The Defendant was accused of manslaughter arising from a breach of regulatory offences. There was extensive legal argument regarding the regulatory offence brought under Article 14 of Regulation (EC) 178/2002 and Regulation 19 of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. National press coverage https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/21/dnp-deadly-diet-pills-online-trade
  • R v RL (Wolverhampton Crown Court) - The Defendant was accused of offences under The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and The Fraud Act 2006. There was extensive legal argument on behalf of the Defendant.

Confiscation

Greg takes a holistic approach in relation to confiscation proceedings flowing from the Financial Crime cases he conducts. He is also instructed in free-standing confiscation proceedings.

Organised Crime

Greg is instructed regularly, alone or as leading counsel, in large and complex cases with an international dimension. Examples include an allegation of Conspiracy to Blackmail in an international animal rights protesters case.  Recent cases include:

  • R v ** (**** Crown Court) - Operation Raboro. The Defendant was accused of a conspiracy to supply a firearm and ammunition. Leading counsel. (This case is ongoing)
  • R v AL (Snaresbrook Crown Court) - Operation Wolf. The Defendant was accused of being in a conspiracy to rob. There was a series of car jackings using ammonia as a weapon. Victims included Michael Watson (the former boxer). National media interest.
  • R v BH (Snaresbrook Crown Court) - So called “cold cases” are usually sexual allegations. In this case the Defendant was accused of armed robbery. The prosecution case was based primarily upon new DNA analysis of old samples obtained a decade ago.
  • R v JK (Inner London Crown Court) - An allegation of conspiracy where mobile telephones were alleged to have been stolen to order and then re-sold. A complex case involving cell-site, ANPR and phone downloads. Leading counsel.
  • R v DC (Sheffield Crown Court) - The Defendant was accused of committing a drive-by shooting with a machine gun. Cell-site, ANPR, CCTV and DNA analysis where key features of this high-profile case.
  • R v EF (Manchester Crown Court) - The Defendant was accused of modern-day slavery. The prosecution alleged that the Defendant conspired with others to cause the complainants to perform compulsory or forced labour.
  • R v NM (Preston Crown Court) - The Defendant was alleged to be involved in a conspiracy to Pervert the Course of Justice. The facts related to serving police officers who attempted to cover up crimes they were allegedly involved in. Leading counsel.

General Crime

Greg has represented those accused of crimes covering the broad spectrum of criminal offences. Offences include large drugs importations and drugs supply, County Lines, firearms, kidnap, blackmail, Grievous Bodily Harm and Woundings (“GBH”), organized football violence, Riot & Violent Disorder (including the London Riots of 2011).

Sexual Offences

Greg has represented those accused of the most serious sexual offences including an alleged gang rape that was filmed and shared on social media and an alleged campaign of rapes of prostitutes in Bournemouth (the “Boscombe Strangler” case). Greg has completed the Advocacy & the Vulnerable National Training Programme run by the Inns of Court College of Advocacy. Inner Temple (March 2018). He has been instructed in cases involving vulnerable defendants & witnesses. Recent cases include:

  • R v MO (Northampton Crown Court) - An allegation of gang rape. The defence case involved the analysis of hours of unused material (disclosed by the prosecution) by way of CCTV and Police Body Worn Video footage.
  • R v AW (Snaresbrook Crown Court) - Historic sexual offences allegations dating back to the early 60’s.
  • R v HD (Southampton Crown Court) - Historic sexual offences allegations dating back to 1990.

Appeals and CCRC

Several cases that Greg has taken to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) have helped to shape the law. Areas of law include Money Laundering; Conspiracies & Sentencing under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

He has recently successfully resisted an Attorney General’s Reference in relation to a firearms sentence. After making representations the Solicitor General decided to withdraw his application to seek permission to refer the case to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) as an unduly lenient sentence.

 Reported cases

  • R v. Mohammed Uddin & others [2010] EWCA Crim 2344. Appeal against sentence: Possessing a prohibited weapon; causing grievous bodily harm with intent; perverting the course of justice and violent disorder (The New Year’s Day shootings in Leeds)
  • R v. Max Sharp and others [2008] EWCA Crim 1395. Appeal against sentence: Robbery; ASBO.
  • R v. Harmer [2005] 2 Cr. App. R. 2, CA. Appeal against conviction: Money laundering conspiracy involving £2.5 million moved to Spain. This case helped to shape the law in respect of money laundering conspiracies (Led junior counsel at trial and appeared pro-bono on appeal)
  • R v. Heard [2005] Cr. App. R. (S.) 73 (Guideline Case). Appeal against sentence: Indecent Assault; Indecency with a Child; Engaging in Sexual Activity with a Child; Causing or Inciting a Child to engage in Sexual Activity. This case helped to shape the law in respect of sentencing under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
  • R v. Dilks [2005] EWCA Crim 2817, CA. Appeal against sentence: Arson. The fire was set in a serving police officer’s house at the request of a third party.
  • R v. Morris [2005] EWCA Crim 609, CA. Appeal against conviction: Violent Disorder;  Wounding.
  • R v. McLean [2002] EWCA Crim 3065, CA. Appeal against conviction: Wounding.


Called 1998
Practice Areas: Crime

Email: clerks@westgate-chambers.co.uk

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