Craig has appeared in cases of murder, kidnap, people trafficking, serious violence, firearms, large-scale drugs operations, arson, serious sexual offences and offences of dishonesty, including fraud and proceedings for perverting the course of justice.
He acted for Edwards in Harkins & Edwards v The UK before the European Court of Human Rights, represented the Appellant in the leading case concerning strict liability R v Robinson-Pierre (successfully opposing the Crown’s application for leave to appeal at Supreme Court level) and numerous high-profile, organised crime & people trafficking cases, including ‘The UK’s largest importation‘ and ‘Europe’s largest drugs conspiracy‘
He is also experienced in dealing with regulatory offences at all levels of the justice system, including Trading Standards, Health & Safety and HMO-related matters, and has represented high-profile individuals charged with motoring proceedings.
His expertise includes:
- Complicated conspiracy cases, centring around Organised Crime Groups
- Cases involving informants and Public Interest Immunity-protected material
- Serious road traffic collisions resulting in multiple fatalities
- Significant Trading Standards and Local Authority prosecutions
- Sensitive cases concerning sexual misconduct and related matters
- Advising independently on appeal following criminal conviction
- Applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission
Notable cases below.
HOMICIDE
The murder of Elton Gash (March 2020): Youth stabbing in public park.
The murder of Shahena Uddin (Dec, 2015): Familial homicide – death of vulnerable adult – Further press reports
The Surjeet Singh killing (2014): Conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm with intent – violent disorder – stabbing – Press reports here
The Reece Menzies murder (2013): Alleged gangland murder – shooting – manslaughter verdicts – Press reports here
SERIOUS VIOLENCE & FIREARMS
R v Thompson (2017/18): Alleged conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life, including a loaded Uzi – successful appeal against conviction
R v Halstead (2017): Alleged GBH with intent – chopping off index finger for drugs debt – Press reports here
R v Lightfoot (2017): Alleged false imprisonment – GBH with intent – threats to injure with a pneumatic drill
R v Islam (2017): Relating to a spree of shootings in tit-for-tat gang warfare around the Bedford area – shotguns and scorpion machine gun – Press reports here
R v Hamilton (2016): Alleged kidnapping at gunpoint – successful duress defence – Press reports here
R v Merice Brown (2015): Attempted murder – shooting – confession 10 years after the event – Press reports here
R v Darko-Kwakye (2014-2015): Leading counsel – Gangland kidnap for ransom – drugs deal gone wrong – second revenge kidnap followed – torture – firearms – hot irons – GBH – perverting the course of justice – see the trial Judge’s observations here
R v Garratty & Others (2013): Armed robbery – Flying Squad – conspiracy to rob to multiple small businesses with live firearms – Press reports here
R v Bethel & Others (2013): Armed robbery – orchestrated raid of a high value goods storage facility – use of cable ties, CS gas and multiple getaway vehicles
Football-related violence: Including West Ham and Sunderland violence (2014) – Violent disorder at the Wembley FA Cup Final amongst Millwall fans (2013) – Operartion Balconi (widespread violence between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham fans)
R v Sahil Patel (2010): Gangland drug-related kidnap for ransom
DRUGS
R v Wakeling & Others: Conspiracy to import £8m worth of amphetamine – Press Reports here
R v Hart & Others (2017): Conspiracy to import massive amounts of Class A drugs – dropped from light aircraft flown into the UK under radar – Press reports here
Operation Casino (2016): Conspiracy to flood the Midlands with Class A drugs trafficked from London
Operation Brutus (2015): Widespread commercial drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy – Press reports here
R v Bhatia (2013/14): SOCA prosecution – multi-million pound drugs and cigarette importation – approximately 50kg of cocaine, 100kg of cannabis and millions of cigarettes imported through a bonded warehouse – Led by Oliver Blunt QC
Operation Nemesis (2013) – Acted for Scott Rafferty – family drugs “empire” – Press reports here
R v Dang & Others (Operation Opaque; Central Criminal Court, 2012): International organised crime syndicate conspiring to produce cannabis on largest ever scale in the UK – said to be the largest drugs conspiracy ever uncovered in Europe – acquitted following 4-month trial – Press reports here
R v Glen Cornick (Operation Beath II, 2011): The UK’s largest drugs importation – tonnes of cocaine and cannabis imported worth more than £100million – £28million confiscation proceedings conducted alone – Led by Oliver Blunt QC – Press reports here
The “K Network” (2011): Conspiracy to supply drugs from London to Norwich – flooding Norwich with class A drugs – represented a leading defendant
DISHONESTY: PERVERTING & REGULATORY OFFENCES
R v Tamale (2017) – Alleged conspiracy to pervert the course of justice arising out of the murder of Khiry Ford – Press reports here
R v Iqbal (2015): Trading Standards prosecution – large-scale conspiracy to produce and import counterfeit clothing from Pakistan – confiscation proceedings pending
R v S & Others (2013): Newham Borough Council prosecution – extensive HMO and regulatory/welfare offences charged against a limited company and its directors in person – successful application of the ruling in Sumal and Sons to stay confiscation proceedings worth more than half-a-million pounds
R v Omarov & Angelov (2013): Perverting the course of justice – alleged to attempt by a Russian billionaire and a head hotel concierge to “buy off” a prosecution witness – acted for the concierge – Press reports here
R v Nicholas & Smith (2012): Retained as leading counsel – DEFRA prosecution – animal welfare and “cattle ringing” fraud
SERIOUS SEXUAL OFFENCES
R v Csomor, Ruszo & Others: International people trafficking for sexual exploitation – management of brothels – human slavery – Press reports here
R v TM (2016): Attempted “stranger rape”- Press reports here
R v SH (2014): Rape following serious violence within relationship – issues surrounding application of the ‘section 75’ presumptions against consent
R v MH (2014): Rape – adult defendant with IQ of a child – fitness to plead in issue
R v MP (2012): Alleged kidnap, false imprisonment and violent gang rape
R v RJ (2010): Sexual offences against children – historical allegations – multiple complainants – making and possession of indecent images
R v D (2009): Perverting the course of justice – juvenile charged with making false allegations to have been victim of a double rape by two brothers
