Allan Compton KC

Practice Areas

Mr Compton has appeared for both prosecution and defence in the Administrative Court, Court of Appeal, House of Lords and Supreme Court.

He is regularly instructed by the Registrar of Criminal Appeals to act in cases in which he did not appear at first instance including facing appeals against unduly lenient sentences instituted by the Attorney General.

In addition to acting for defendants in appeals against conviction and/or sentence Mr Compton has acted for both defence, the Crown Prosecution Service and Local Authorities in judicial review proceedings and appeals by way of case stated.

Notable appeals cases

R v Geary & Others [2012] EWCA 1540

Successful appeal against a sentence of nine years imprisonment imposed for attempted robbery, on a defendant only recently released from serving a 14 year sentence for serious sexual offences.

Attorney General's Reference No.9 & 10 of 2011 [EWCA Crim 1953]

An application prosecuted by the Solicitor General, Edward Garnier QC for the Court to increase the sentence of 21 years imprisonment imposed for a series of rapes and people trafficking offences committed by the defendant, a Romanian national.

R v Harwich Justices Ex Parte Meredith [2006] EWHC 3336

Judicial review concerning the admission of evidence under s116 Criminal Justice Act 2003.

DPP v Sheldrake [2005] 1 AC 264

Junior counsel for the respondent in the House of Lords Appeal concerning reverse burdens of proof.

R v Wood [2002] JPL 219

Guideline case concerning the statutory defence to prosecutions for breach of enforcement notices under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

R v Basildon Crown Court Ex Parte Cooper LTL 16/2/2000

Acting for the Crown in judicial review concerning the procedure to be employed when the defendant asserted her guilty plea was equivocal.

McDermott v DPP [1997] RTR 474

Leading authority on the definition of failing to stop.

R v Seed 2 Cr.App.R. (S) 69

One of the leading authorities concerning the approach sentencing Judges should take in the light of prison overcrowding and more effective fines enforcement.

Confiscation

Mr Compton has extensive experience in confiscation proceedings often following substantial drugs, money laundering and/or fraud trials.

He is well versed in drafting s17 Proceeds of Crime Act responses in complex cases as well as drafting subsequent submissions and/or skeleton arguments.

Mr Compton has acted in both the Crown Court and High Court in a number of cases where the prosecution have sought to recover millions of pounds against impecunious defendants, alleging hidden assets and/or tainted gifts.

Mr Compton has particular expertise where the prosecution seek to appoint enforcement receivers to realise assets held by defendants and has acted in a number of cases involving third party interventions where assertions as to proprietary interest in property are made by such parties.

He has also acted in cases where a defendant holds assets in other jurisdictions and argues that realisation of such assets is impossible due to the relevant legislation in those jurisdictions preventing sale or disposal of those assets.

Additionally Mr Compton has acted for defendants in enforcement proceedings, in the Magistrates’ Courts, where defendants face substantial terms of imprisonment as a consequence of failure to comply with confiscation orders.

Notable confiscation cases

R v Howard Allen

Acting for a defendant in confiscation proceedings in the high Court. A prosecution application for the appointment of an enforcement receiver to enforce the sale of five properties owned by the defendant following his conviction for a multi-million pound VAT fraud was successfully resisted during a two day hearing in the High Court.

R v John White & Others

Acting for a defendant who following his conviction for his part in a major drugs conspiracy was the subject of confiscation proceedings in which the prosecution alleged a benefit of £63million and substantial hidden assets. Ultimately the Court approved a confiscation figure of £13,000.

R v Barry Goodhead

Acting for a businessman who had been convicted of offences arising out the counterfeiting of photocopying cartridges on a massive scale. It was agreed that profits were in excess of £4million and that the defendant had invested in property in the Caribbean. The prosecution alleged that this property was worth in excess of £1million. It was successfully argued that such were the provisions of the contract, coupled with the relevant laws applicable to the island of St Kitts that the property was, in reality, worthless and could never be realised. The Court eventually approved a figure of £30,000.

R v WG

Acting for a businessman released after serving 7 years of a fourteen year sentence for his involvement in a drugs conspiracy. Having not acted in the original confiscation proceedings in which a figure representing hidden assets in excess of £800,000 was agreed the enforcement court was persuaded not to activate the 7 year default period and instead allow the defendant substantial time to re-establish his businesses and pay of the outstanding sum.

R v Jabar Hussein

Leading counsel instructed for the applicant in a four day asset forfeiture trial at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court following the seizure of vast quantities of cash from the applicant’s home address.

Crime

Throughout his career Mr Compton has acted in cases involving allegations of the utmost gravity and complexity including allegations involving murder, gross negligence manslaughter, hijacking, huge international drugs conspiracies, kidnapping of high profile victims, cases involving the infliction of savage and extensive violence and those involving serious assaults on babies, young children and vulnerable victims.

In recent years he has acted in a number of cases involving complex scientific evidence, particularly where there are allegations of ‘baby shaking’, and has considerable experience of the cross-examination of experts, whether it be neurologists or in other fields such as DNA and cell-site analysis.

Mr Compton is particularly adept in multi-handed cases where often tactically sensitive and difficult decisions need to be taken as to the nature of the defence advanced and its impact on other defendants in the case.

He has also acted in terrorism cases and numerous allegations of misconduct in public office against serving police officers, often involving unauthorised access to police databases followed by disclosure of sensitive information to journalists or organised crime groups.

Notable Cases:

R v LS. Defending a printer in the largest ever prosecution for the production of counterfeit currency in English legal history (in excess of £20million). Defendant acquitted after a 9 week trial at Woolwich Crown Court
R v Reece McHutcherson and others. Prosecuting four defendants for murder, conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiracy to pervert he course of justice. Following a killing in the course of dispute between drug users and ‘County Lines’ dealers, the defendants, from prison, sought to intimidate witnesses and persuade others to provide the police with false accounts, incriminating others. McHutcherson was convicted of murder, three defendants were convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and three defendants were convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
R v Deco-pak Ltd. Prosecuting a 10 week corporate manslaughter trial in Bradford Crown Court following the death of an employee, crushed by robotic machinery at the company premises. Company convicted
R v IS. Defending one of four stowaways from Lagos, accused of attempting to hijack the 70,000 tonne Grande Tema in the English Channel. After a 16 hour standoff the Special Boat Service, ending the incident. Defendant acquitted after an 8 week trial at the Central Criminal Court.
R v Xen Mucaj. Defending man charged in connection with a £250million drugs conspiracy.
R v SM. Defending man charged with conspiracy to murder. Alleged to have recruited a ‘hitman’ to murder the step-father of a friend. The defendant was acquitted following a successful submission of no case to answer.
R v RC. Acting for a defendant who had pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to s58 Terrorism Act 2000, having been found in possession of a number of documents including bomb making instructions, articles concerning detonators and explosive devices, and instructions detailing how to post covertly on the internet. Material demonstrating an interest in anarchist and direct action organisations was also seized from the defendant. Following submissions HHJ Stockdale QC agreed that RC was not, nor had he ever been, a terrorist and had now sufficiently rehabilitated himself to justify the imposition of a suspended sentence.
R v Savva & Others. Defending in a multi-handed benzocaine importation in which it was alleged that enough benzocaine and other applied pharmaceutical ingredients were imported and distributed so as to enable the cutting of £246million of Class A drugs.
R v Wendy Dang & Others. Defending a company director accused of running a sham garden centre facilitating the importation of vast quantities of equipment enabling the establishment of over 60 cannabis farms in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The case involved 22 defendants and an estimated yield of £100million of cannabis.
R v John White. Defending in a major drugs conspiracy to supply large quantities of cocaine across Essex and East Anglia. Following conviction the prosecution sought £63million in confiscation proceedings from the defendant.
R v Gianni Danzieri. Defending one of two defendants charged with conspiracy to import £7million of cocaine. Despite previous convictions for similar importations the defendant was sentenced to five years imprisonment.
R v Arie van der Klij. Defending a Dutch lorry driver alleged to have made 22 trips into the United Kingdom importing half a tonne of cannabis at a time. It was estimated the conspiracy resulted in the importation of over 20 tonnes of cannabis into the United Kingdom.
R v McFarlane & Others. Defending one of eight defendants charged with the kidnap and blackmail of Gianni Paladini, the chairman of Queens Park Rangers football club, during a championship game. They were alleged to be part of a plot orchestrated by a fellow director of the club to force Paladini to sign his shareholding over, at gunpoint.
R v Vrabel & Others. Defending one of three defendants accused of engaging in a gunfight with two other travellers, whilst driving at high speed through the streets of Coventry. Two members of the public were caught in the crossfire and shot in the face and hand.
R v AD. Defending a 21-year-old male who admitted shaking his baby and causing irreparable brain damage. It was successfully argued that he had shaken her in a genuine panic response to a perceived ALTE (Apparent Life Threatening Event).
R v H & T. Prosecuting two parents charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm and neglect of a 6-week-old baby. Both defendants blamed each other for the infliction of serious injuries. Both were convicted of all charges faced.
R v DC. Defending a mother charged with neglect of her children. The case made headlines around the world as it highlighted the addictive nature of on-line role-playing games. The defendant became so immersed in the games that she allowed family pets to die through malnutrition as well as neglecting her children.
R v Saddam Fareed & Others. Defending in a multi-handed gold bullion and jewellery robbery where the victims were tied up and tortured.
R v Wendy Jones & Others. Defending an alleged prostitute who conspired, with others, to rob a client. He was attacked during the course of the robbery, dying three months later.
R v Albert Buckley & Others. Defending the lead defendant of nine defendants accused of the kidnap of two children during a feud between two traveller’s families.
R v Yefgeny Ivanovs & Others. Defending one of four Russians charged with the kidnap and assault of a Lithuanian alleged to have stolen from them.
R v Greener & Others. Defending in a drugs conspiracy involving the supply of multi-kilo deals of cocaine between London, Ipswich and Essex. After five trials the defendant was acquitted of all charges.
R v James Collins & Others. Defending in a massive tobacco importation conspiracy involving 15 defendants importing articulated lorries filled with tobacco. Despite previous convictions for similar offences the defendant was one of only two to receive a suspended sentence.

Criminal Defence

The bulk of Mr Compton’s practice comprises of heavyweight defence work. He is frequently instructed in cases of the utmost gravity and complexity ranging from murder and terrorism, hijacking cases through to cases involving serious sexual offences, fraud and health and safety offences. In particular he specialises in cases involving allegations of gross negligence manslaughter.

Mr Compton is also regularly instructed in non-legally aided cases and ensures that a dedicated and bespoke service is provided from the early stages of case. He has acted for many clients requesting a discreet and effective service including premiership footballers and managers, members of the legal profession and bankers and accountants.

In recent years Mr Compton has acted in a number of cases involving the service of hundreds of thousands of pages of evidence and unused material. His ability to marshal the evidence in such complex cases, yet provide simple, clear and effective advice is regarded as exceptional.

Mr Compton is often asked to advise at a very early stage in proceedings, often securing favourable outcomes for potential defendants seeking to avoid prosecution.

Notable Cases

R v LS. Defending a printer in the largest ever prosecution for the production of counterfeit currency in English legal history (in excess of £20million). Defendant acquitted after a 9 week trial at Woolwich Crown Court
R v SM: Defending man charged with conspiracy to murder. Alleged to have recruited a ‘hitman’ to murder the step-father of a friend. The defendant was acquitted following a successful submission of no case to answer.
R v IS: Defending one of four stowaways from Lagos, accused of attempting to hijack the 70,000 tonne Grande Tema in the English Channel. After a 16 hour standoff the Special Boat Service, ending the incident. Defendant acquitted after an 8 week trial at the Central Criminal Court.
R v MF: Defending one of 8 defendants alleged to have participated in a complex carbon credit fraud in a nine week trial at Bristol Crown Court. MF was accused of sourcing millions of pounds of carbon credits from Pakistan and other countries before onward supply via a series of trade executions companies to carbon credit brokers who sold them on to members of the public. Defendant did not give evidence and acquitted of all charges.
R v Asif Ali: Defending in £5million vishing fraud and associated mortgage fraud.
R v PG: Defending the most senior employee of Sterecycle Ltd, a company charged with corporate manslaughter, following a fatal explosion at a recycling plant based in Rotherham. Following repeated submissions as to the adequacy of the particulars of the indictment the prosecution offered no evidence a week before the close of their case.
R v AM: Defending a man with a previous conviction for murder charged with manslaughter following a botched armed robbery in which a member of the public was pushed to the ground and killed.
R v MM: Defending 19yr old charged with a savage murder of his grandfather, following the discovery of a sexual relationship between his grandfather and mother. Defendant was extremely vulnerable, with very significant learning difficulties borne out of a lifetime of physical and sexual abuse.
R v Philip Meakins: Defending the most senior employee and Company Secretary facing charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act following a fatality at the Peterborough Raceways Karting track.
R v JD: Defending man accused of participation in 7 handed murder and aggravated burglary of a drug user. Successful application to dismiss. Crown re-instituted proceedings following service of a voluntary bill of indictment. Crown forced to drop murder charge on first day of trial following service of defence pathologists report. Following subsequent submissions concerning significant breaches by police officers of Code D PACE, identification evidence from a police officer was excluded and JD acquitted of all remaining counts
R v Edward Redman: Defending the only defendant charged with the murder of Jay Whiston. The defendant, who was 17 at the time was alleged to have stabbed the victim at a party in Colchester, Essex, at which over a 100 people, many of whom were witnesses, attended. The trial lasted 65 days.
R v Andrew Bertram & Others: Defending in an incitement for murder case where the defendant’s allegedly hired a hitman (an undercover police officer) to murder a relative.
R v Mark Czapla: Defending a man alleged to have stabbed his partner to death in front of their four year old child (who gave evidence). The trial was unusual in that the defendant refused to enter the courtroom throughout the entire trial.
R v Lewis Hayward & Others: Defending a 14 year old boy charged with murdering a 25 year old woman when he was 13. He was acquitted following a successful cut-throat defence.
R v Robert Sloan: Defending a Detective Constable alleged to be in a corrupt relationship with a police informant who was later discovered to have tried to murder two police officer’s families by firebombing their homes. Such was the sensitivity of the case that the prosecution unsuccessfully applied for the entire case to be tried in camera.
R v John Green & Others: Defending in 13 handed allegation of controlling prostitution and facilitating breaches of immigration law via what were alleged to be the two biggest brothels in the United Kingdom. Listed for a four-month trial. The case was stayed following a successful abuse of process argument based on the submission that the local police had encouraged the operation of the brothels as a method of controlling street prostitution.
R v Jason Shelley & Others: Defending a businessman accused of running a network of prostitutes across the United Kingdom via a series of bogus escort agencies. It was alleged he had made in excess of £5million profit. The defence employed an innovative defence securing LSC funding for a defence test purchase operation into the activities of a co-defendant. After two trials the case was stayed as an abuse of process following serious non-disclosure by the prosecution following service, by the defence of the results of the test purchase operation.
R v Stuart Mansfield: Defending a businessman accused of controlling prostitution using escort agencies in Essex and Suffolk. He received a suspended sentence.
R v Sophie Mills: Defending a conspiracy to defraud involving the Government’s “Back to Work” scheme. The allegations included the creation of “ghost students” and the falsification of qualifications on an industrial scale.
R v Savva & Others: Defending in a multi-handed benzocaine importation in which it was alleged that enough benzocaine and other applied pharmaceutical ingredients were imported and distributed so as to enable the cutting of £246million of Class A drugs.
R v Barry Goodhead: Defending a businessman charged with fraudulently creating a business counterfeiting photocopying cartridges on a massive scale resulting in profits in excess of £5million.

Environmental

Mr Compton has acted, both for the prosecution and defence in a, wide range of environmental enforcement matters.

He has been regularly instructed by Local Authorities to prosecute matters involving pollution, food hygiene, animal welfare, breaches of tree preservation orders. In addition he has represented a number of companies and individuals prosecuted by the Environment Agency and other authorities.

For a number of years, prior to joining 2 Bedford Row, Mr Compton prosecuted on behalf of both Essex County Council and Basildon District Council, all substantial matters concerning environmental enforcement pursued by those authorities, giving him extensive experience in this area.

Mr Compton has also delivered lectures, on behalf of Chambers, concentrating on the powers of the Environment Agency to investigate and prosecute both individuals and Companies.

Notable environmental cases

R v Sundorne Ltd

Acting for a Waste Management Company alleged to have polluted Welsh mountain streams following unprecedented rainfall in the area.

R v Manoj Patel

Prosecuting a sandwich supplier in food hygiene case involving over 40 counts contrary to the Food Safety Act.

R v James Holford

Defending a farmer alleged to have buried vast amounts of controlled waste on his land.

R v Paul Greenwell

Acting for the most senior employee charged arising from a fatal explosion at Sterecycle Ltd in Rotherham. The defendant was the Operations Director for a waste recycling plant using innovative technology to process waste using pressurised autoclaves. It was alleged that the defendant had pressurised employees to continue operations notwithstanding substantial problems with the technology and equipment. Following repeated submissions as to the breadth of the duties alleged to have been breached the prosecution offered no further evidence against the defendant four weeks into the trial, a week before they closed their case. Sterecycle Ltd were subsequently convicted of corporate manslaughter.

Fraud

Mr Compton is meticulous in his preparation and advice and has consequentially acted in a number of substantial and complex allegations of fraud.

He is frequently asked to advise pre-charge on behalf of defendants, companies and the Crown Prosecution Service and is known for his discreet and effective advice.

Mr Compton has acted in a wide range of frauds including conspiracies to defraud public institutions and organisations, diversion frauds, confidence frauds and conspiracies to cheat the Inland Revenue.

Notable fraud cases

R v MF

Defending one of 8 defendants alleged to have participated in a complex carbon credit fraud in a nine week trial at Bristol Crown Court. MF was accused of sourcing millions of pounds of carbon credits from Pakistan and other countries before onward supply via a series of trade executions companies to carbon credit brokers who sold them on to members of the public. Defendant did not give evidence and acquitted of all charges.

R v Sophie Mills

Defending a conspiracy to defraud involving the Government’s “Back to Work” scheme. The allegations included the creation of “ghost students” and the falsification of qualifications on an industrial scale.

Re Wave Services Ltd

Advising as to potential criminal charges arising from a complex competition law dispute concerning intellectual property rights to music used in fitness centres across the United Kingdom and Europe.

R v Barry Brooks

Original counsel instructed to defend a man charged with conspiracy to defraud millions of pounds worth of benefits via bogus companies purporting to provide employment for disabled workers.

R v Paul Marshall & Others

Defending in a multi-handed bonded warehouse diversion fraud at Stansted Airport.

R v Barry Goodhead

Defending a businessman charged with fraudulently creating a business counterfeiting photocopying cartridges on a massive scale resulting in profits in excess of £5million.

R v Daljeet Bhajaj & Others

Defending in a multi-handed conspiracy to defraud and handle stolen goods involving the laundering of hundreds of thousands of car parts via e-bay and other trading sites.

R v Sydney Fletcher

Defending in a complex confidence fraud involving 12 victims, all of whom were either frail, elderly or disabled. The defendant stole in excess of £450,00. The nine and a half year sentence was substantially reduced in the Court of Appeal.

R v Stacey Robinson

Defending the principle money launderer in a 13 handed case alleging confidence fraud of 24 elderly and vulnerable victims.

R v Rene Bingelli

Defending a Swiss national (with numerous foreign fraud convictions) charged with the forgery and counterfeit of bankers drafts valued at £1.5million.

R v Brian McInerney

Defending in a multi-handed money laundering conspiracy in which it was alleged over £20million had been diverted through a series of money exchanges across the United Kingdom.

R v Rayner & Rayner

Successfully prosecuting a Ponzi fraud operated by husband and wife defendants in which they secured over £1.7 million of investment from investors based on a purported hedge-betting system with Betfair. The defendants, in fact, invested very little, using the purported investments to subsidise a lavish lifestyle including multiple vehicles, plastic surgery, private school fees and numerous foreign holidays.

R v Asif Ali

Defending in £5million vishing fraud and associated mortgage fraud.

R v Hadji Charambalous

Defending owner of a number of restaurants charged with tax and VAT fraud over a 5 year period.

Health & Safety

In recent years Mr Compton has been regularly instructed in cases prosecuted under the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974. In particular he has acted in cases involving fatalities in the workplace culminating in charges including gross negligence manslaughter, corporate manslaughter, breaches of s2 and s3 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and prosecutions of employees under s7 of the HSW Act.

He has particular experience of representing directors and senior managers of Companies charged either under s7 or s37 of the HSW Act with regard to their personal liabilities for Company failures.

As well as defending Mr Compton has been instructed by a wide range of prosecution authorities, including the CPS, local authorities and the HSE, prosecuting cases ranging from gross negligence manslaughter to breaches of enforcement and improvement notices. Mr. Compton has delivered seminars to leading defence solicitors and to the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism of the Crown Prosecution Service concerning recent developments in the law relating to Gross Negligence Manslaughter.

He also regularly advises companies both pre-charge and pre-inquest as well as acting at Coroners’ inquests where necessary.

Notable health & safety cases

R v Deco-pak Ltd

Prosecuting a 10 week corporate manslaughter trial in Bradford Crown Court following the death of an employee, crushed by robotic machinery at the company premises. Company convicted

R v Stanciu and Toppesfield Ltd.

Prosecuting an employee of a sub-contractor and principle contractor. The case concerned the death of a roadworker crushed by a road-sweeper working on a major reconstruction of a roundabout. Stanciu convicted of causing death by careless driving. Toppesfield Ltd convicted of offences contrary to s2 and s3 Health and Safety At Work Act 1972.

R v Devlin and DRSL Ltd.

Prosecuting company and director for offences contrary to Health and Safety at Work Act 1972 and manslaughter following the death of an employee who fell through a roof whilst conducting repair works. Company and director pleaded guilty to health and safety offences.

R v Kamal Bains

Prosecuted defendant for a gross negligence manslaughter and offence under s. 3 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Bains ran a letting agency and assumed the responsibilities of the landlord in relation to a number of properties in the Huddersfield area. In relation to one property, he failed to comply with Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (England) Regulations 2015 and instal working smoke alarms. As a result of a fire at the property, 2 young children, aged 3 and 2, died. During the trial at Leeds Crown Court, the prosecution called expert evidence which included a full scale reconstruction of the fire. At the conclusion of the prosecution case, Bains pleaded guilty to the HSWA 1974 offence. In sentencing the defendant Males J agreed with the prosecution case that, if Bains had installed smoke alarms, the children’s mother would have had the opportunity to rescue her sons. Bains was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

R v Richard Pearson

Mr Compton prosecuted the defendant, the proprietor of SP Fireworks, following a huge explosion and fire at his warehouse in Staffordshire. Following a six week trial, at Stafford Crown Court, Pearson was unanimously convicted of two counts of gross negligence manslaughter and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. An employee of Pearson’s and a customer, were both killed in the explosion, which was caused by a combination of gross overstocking of fireworks and explosives and unsafe working practices instigated at Pearson’s request. He was found to have flouted safety procedures and to have misled Trading Standards Inspectors prior to the explosions. In addition to the two fatalities others were injured and millions of pounds of damage was caused to neighbouring buildings on the Tilcon Avenue Industrial Estate.

R v Paul Greenwell

R v Paul Meakins

Acting for the Company Secretary and most senior employee charged arising from a fatality at Peterborough Raceways Karting Track in Peterborough. Allegations that the defendant bore responsibility for the actions of a rogue employee who operated the track without authorisation leading to the death of a member of public using the Karts, were dropped on the first day of the trial following submissions made by the defence.

R v Alan Turnbull, NEMOC Ltd & Christopher Taylor

Prosecuting three defendants charged following a collapse of steelwork during dismantling works at the Swan Hunter Shipyard on Tyneside. The first defendant was charged with gross negligence manslaughter, the remaining defendants with offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Following a five-week trial all defendants were convicted of all charges they faced.

Re JL

Representing and advising a major car manufacturer in Inquest proceedings following a fatal road traffic accident. Allegations of a fundamental defect in the design of the steering mechanism, which would have led to a world-wide recall of the vehicles if proven, were abandoned after cross-examination of experts instructed on behalf of the driver.

R v Devlin & DRSL Ltd

Prosecuting company and proprietor for fatality caused in refurbishment of a warehouse by a roofing company.

R v Steven Adams & Adams Home Centre Ltd

Prosecuting health and safety offences arising from an oxygen leak at a company specializing in decanting explosive gasses into cylinders. As a consequence of the leak a catastrophic fire developed killing one employee, in part because of the inadequate provision of exits, risk assessments and safety procedures in the event of a fire.

Representing a Company in interlocutory proceedings, charged with offences contrary to the Work at Height Regulations 2005, following a fatal fall during roofing repair works on farm buildings.

Murder & Manslaughter

Mr Compton has, over the last twenty five years, defended and prosecuted in numerous cases involving allegations of all forms of homicide including murder, attempted murder, incitement and conspiracy to murder, manslaughter and corporate manslaughter.

He has represented defendants in cases involving group attacks (particularly allegations where joint enterprise is in issue), contract killings, parents’ accused of the murder of children and killings of one spouse by another. Mr Compton has extensive experience in cases involving loss of control and diminished responsibility.

In addition he has prosecuted and defended in highly complex gross negligence manslaughter including:

R v Richard Pearson: Stafford Fireworks explosion. Prosecuting owner of a fireworks supply business for gross negligence manslaughter following the deaths of an employee and customer in a series of explosions at SP Fireworks in Stafford. Defendant convicted after a 6 week trial.
R v Kamal Bains: Gross negligence manslaughter trial before Males J, following the deaths of 2 young children in a house fire. Prosecuting owner of a property management company for a failure to install smoke alarms in numerous properties he ran. Defendant convicted of offences contrary to Health and Safety at Work Act 1972 and sentenced on the basis his failures were directly causative of the deaths. First prosecution of its kind
R v Devlin and DRSL Ltd: Prosecuting company and proprietor for fatality caused in refurbishment of a warehouse by a roofing company
R v Turnbull and NEMOC Ltd: Prosecuting company and sub-contractor following steel collapse during the dismantling of the Swan Hunter Shipyard in Newcastle

Mr. Compton has delivered seminars to leading defence solicitors and to the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism of the Crown Prosecution Service concerning recent developments in the law relating to Gross Negligence Manslaughter.

In addition in recent years he has acted in a number of high profile cases throughout the country such as R v Blundell (shooting of John Pordage at a petrol station in Chelmsford), R v Edward Redman (the murder of Jay Whiston in Colchester Essex), R v Padmanabha (murder of a disabled baby by her mother) and R v Paul Greenwell (acting for the most senior employee charged in a corporate manslaughter prosecution in Sheffield).

Notable Cases:

R v Reece McHutcherson and others: Prosecuting four defendants for murder, conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Following a killing in the course of dispute between drug users and ‘County Lines’ dealers, the defendants, from prison, sought to intimidate witnesses and persuade others to provide the police with false accounts, incriminating others. McHutcherson was convicted of murder, three defendants were convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and three defendants were convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
R v Deco-pak Ltd. Prosecuting a 10 week corporate manslaughter trial in Bradford Crown Court following the death of an employee, crushed by robotic machinery at the company premises. Company convicted
R v Edward Redman: Defending the only defendant charged with the murder of Jay Whiston. The defendant, who was 17 at the time was alleged to have stabbed the victim at a party in Colchester, Essex, at which over a 100 people, many of whom were witnesses, attended. The trial lasted 65 days.
R v Andrew Bertram & Others: Defending in an incitement for murder case where the defendant’s allegedly hired a hitman (an undercover police officer) to murder a relative.
R v Padmanabha: Prosecuting defendant for the murder of her disabled daughter. The child had a unique genetic abnormality affecting the composition and structure of her bones. In a loss of temper the defendant shook her child causing catastrophic brain injuries and fractures to the ribs and skull. Extremely complex scientific evidence involving 9 experts. Tried before McGowan J.
R v Mark Czapla: Defending a man alleged to have stabbed his partner to death in front of their four-year-old child (who gave evidence). The trial was unusual in that the defendant refused to enter the courtroom throughout the entire trial.
R v Blundell: Prosecuting in the shooting of John Pordage by a 17 year old at a petrol station in Chelmsford. Incident was the subject of Channel 5 documentary ‘When Kids Kill.”
R v AM: Defending a man with a previous conviction for murder charged with manslaughter following a botched armed robbery in which a member of the public was pushed to the ground and killed.
R v SM: Defending man charged with conspiracy to murder. Alleged to have recruited a ‘hitman’ to murder the step-father of a friend. The defendant was acquitted following a successful submission of no case to answer.
R v Michael McDonald: Defending man charged with murdering his grandfather having discovered him in a sexually compromising position with his mother.
R v DM: Defending a 16 year old boy charged with the murder of a man who attacked him in his own home. Use of the householders defence s76(5) Criminal Justice and Immigration Act.
R v JS: Defending in gang murder following ’postcode turf war’ in Islington.
R v Lewis Hayward & Others: Defending a 14-year-old boy charged with murdering a 25-year-old woman when he was 13. He was acquitted following a successful cut-throat defence.
R v C: Prosecuting drug runner for stabbing of two drug users trying to rob him of the drugs he was carrying.
R v Alan Turnbull & Others: Prosecuting a gross negligence manslaughter arising from the dismantling of steel structures at the Swan Hunter Shipyard on Tyneside. Two individuals and a company were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety offences.
R v Bhebe: Defending one of six defendants charged murdering a rival gang member in Southend. The case concerned members of two gangs based in London now supplying class A drugs in Southend and Essex. Following an attack by the deceased on one of the defendants it was alleged that the six defendants were responsible for a revenge attack, stabbing the deceased to death in broad daylight in Southend. Following a submission of no case to answer made by Mr. Compton the defendant was acquitted of murder and conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. At a later hearing he was given a suspended sentence with regard to two separate indictments concerning the supply of Class A drugs to undercover police officers.
R v Kenny Cornwall: Prosecuting a 16 year old drug dealer charged with murdering a crack and heroin addict in Braintree Essex.
R v Simon Meecham: Defending a man charged with murdering his partner (who was also his step-daughter) in front of their son.
R v Peter Knight & Others: Defending a man charged with murdering his 76 year old future mother in law and then burying her body before creating a false missing person’s appeal.
R v Wayne Perry & Others: Defending an attempted murder where it was alleged the defendant and two others organised a revenge shooting of the father of a minor criminal in Essex.
R v Anne Dobson-Starmore: Defending an alcoholic charged with murder who stabbed her partner to death. Battered women’s syndrome was at the forefront of her defence.

Professional Discipline

Mr Compton has acted for presenting authorities and defendants in a number of different spheres of professional discipline. He was an accredited case presenter for the Nursing and Midwifery Council and has presented a number of cases involving serious allegations against nurses and other health care professionals, many involving serious overdoses and/or fatalities.

The principle area of Mr Compton’s professional discipline work is in the field of Police Discipline. He has been instructed on behalf of the Police Federation of England and Wales in a wide variety of cases representing police officers facing criminal prosecutions and/or gross misconduct proceedings before a Misconduct Panel.

Mr Compton has defended police officers facing criminal allegations including serious corruption, misconduct in public office (often involving unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information to third parties), assaults, sexual assaults whilst on duty, fraud and dangerous driving both on and off duty. He frequently defends officers of a senior rank in the Magistrates and Crown Courts as well professional discipline proceedings.

Mr Compton also advises in and acts in proceedings before the Police Appeals Tribunal.

Notable Cases

PC JM. Defending an officer accused of gross misconduct following multiple posts using social media. He was accused of posting racist, homophobic, offensive and ableist memes. He accepted responsibility for the post but denied there was any intent to offend. Sanction was a final written warning. The Appropriate Authority instituted judicial review proceedings arguing the decision not to dismiss the officer was unlawful and irrational. Following written submissions opposing the granting of leave Sweeting J refused the Appropriate Authority leave to appeal.
PC DR. Defending an officer accused of using excessive force when arresting and restraining a man under the influence of cocaine and alcohol, using a Brazilian Ju Jitsu technique. Following 5 days of evidence and careful analysis of multiple sources of body worn camera footage, the Appropriate Authority accepted their initial assertion the hold had been applied for seven minutes was wrong. In fact, it had been applied for a matter of seconds before release. The Appropriate Authority conceded there was no case to answer and all allegations of breaches of professional standards were dismissed.
T/Sgt MB. Acting for an Essex Police Sergeant at a three week Police Misconduct hearing. He was cleared of all charges of use of excessive force, breach of duties and responsibilities and equality and diversity standards arising from an incident occurring in a cell at Colchester Police Station in 2015. The Sergeant, together with other officers tried to remove a Romanian national with mental health issues from a cell after he climbed into a steel toilet. During the attempted cell extraction the prisoner trapped his fingers in the toilet causing three of them to be severed completely. It was demonstrated during the hearing that the design of the toilet was defective and all officers were unaware of the danger it presented. The Panel Chair indicated in his judgment, that the officer had used reasonable force at all times and had been exonerated by the evidence called during the hearing.
DC RF. Acting for a Detective Constable accused of deliberately deleting child abuse images from convicted sex offender he was monitoring. Exonerated of doing so.
PC DC. Acting for a PC in disciplinary proceedings. He had allegedly befriended a domestic violence complainant before misusing the police national computer to obtain her details, contact her and then exchange explicit images with her.
PC TC. Defending an officer in disciplinary proceedings accused of assaulting a prisoner in front of two other officers.
PC NP. Defending PC in fast track proceedings following the tasering of a fellow officer.
PS BP. Defending a police sergeant in disciplinary proceedings accused of assaulting a 15-year old boy and the falsifying reports of his own movements.
PC MS. Defending an officer in disciplinary proceedings arising from an alleged sexual assault on a secretary in a school that the officer was seconded to.
PC SF. Defending an officer in disciplinary proceedings, accused of assaulting a prisoner in a holding cell at Basildon Police Station.
PS MG. Defending a police sergeant in disciplinary proceedings following an acquittal in the Crown Court for perverting the course of justice.
PC DB. Defending an officer in disciplinary proceedings accused of accessing personal information on the police intelligence system.
PS MA. Defending a police sergeant in disciplinary proceedings accused of stalking his ex-partner and unauthorised access to personal information on the police intelligence system.
R v Robert Sloan. Defending a Detective Constable alleged to be in a corrupt relationship with a police informant who was later discovered to have tried to murder two police officer’s families by firebombing their homes. Such was the sensitivity of the case that the prosecution unsuccessfully applied for the entire case to be tried in camera.
R v CI PM. Defending a chief inspector accused of assaulting a motorist in a road rage incident.
R v CI JB. Defending a chief inspector accused of falsifying expenses claims.
R v PC HN. Defending an officer charged with misconduct in public office, accused of falsely informing a rape victim that no further action was being taken with regard to the rape investigation.
R v PC ML. Defending an officer charged with six counts of sexual activity with a child.
R v DC FM. Defending a Detective Constable charged with misconduct in public office, having set up a “Crimestoppers” website using sensitive information to assist victims of crime.
R v PC MR. Defending an officer charged with making indecent photographs of children.
R v PC CP. Defending a policewoman accused of assaulting her own children.
R v PC IT. Defending an officer charged with dangerous driving during an emergency. The accident caused life-changing injuries to a colleague as well ass seriously injuring a member of the public.

Prosecution

Mr Compton has prosecuted the full range of criminal offences including allegations of murder, manslaughter, serious sexual offences and frauds.

Prosecuting authorities in cases of a complex and difficult nature regularly instruct Mr Compton, particularly those involving sensitive disclosure issues. He is especially experienced in preparing and making public interest immunity applications both on an ex parte and inter partes basis.

Mr Compton is consulted by the Crown Prosecution Service to advise on complex and grave cases, often pre-charge, whilst investigations are still on-going. He is also consistently instructed to prosecute cases involving very young defendants alleged to have committed serious sexual offences or crimes of violence against other youths and/or adult victims. Additionally Mr. Compton has delivered seminars to the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism of the Crown Prosecution Service concerning recent developments in the law relating to Gross Negligence Manslaughter.

Additionally Mr Compton has acted in a range of regulatory disciplines including health and safety offences, matters before the Nursing and Midwifery Council, prosecuting on behalf of Trading Standards Departments of Local Authorities and prosecuting enforcement notice cases and firearms appeals in the Crown Court.

Notable Cases

R v Deco-pak Ltd. Prosecuting a 10 week corporate manslaughter trial in Bradford Crown Court following the death of an employee, crushed by robotic machinery at the company premises. Company convicted.
R v Reece McHutcherson and others. Prosecuting four defendants for murder, conspiracy to supply drugs and conspiracy to pervert he course of justice. Following a killing in the course of dispute between drug users and ‘County Lines’ dealers, the defendants, from prison, sought to intimidate witnesses and persuade others to provide the police with false accounts, incriminating others. McHutcherson was convicted of murder, three defendants were convicted of conspiracy to supply class A drugs and three defendants were convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
R v Stanciu and Toppesfield Ltd. Prosecuting an employee of a sub-contractor and principle contractor. The case concerned the death of a roadworker crushed by a road-sweeper working on a major reconstruction of a roundabout. Stanciu convicted of causing death by careless driving. Toppesfield Ltd convicted of offences contrary to s2 and s3 Health and Safety at Work Act 1972.
R v Kamal Bains. Gross negligence manslaughter trial before Males J, following the deaths of 2 young children in a house fire. Prosecuting owner of a property management company for a failure to install smoke alarms in numerous properties he ran. Defendant convicted of offences contrary to Health and Safety at Work Act 1972 and sentenced on the basis his failures were directly causative of the deaths.
R v Bradley Blundell. Prosecuting Bradley Blundell for an unprovoked shooting of a stranger at a petrol station in Essex. Blundell fled the jurisdiction avoiding a first trial at which his accomplice was acquitted. Following his extradition Blundell sought to influence a prosecution witness who then became a co-defendant charged with conspiracy to murder. At trial Blundell blamed his accomplice. Blundell convicted of murder. Both Blundell and co-defendant convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
R v Scott Ainge. Three month trial in Liverpool Crown Court. Prosecuting a senior CPS lawyer, before Steyn J alleged to have stalked his ex-wife (now a Deputy District Judge) and abused his position to obtain information about her new partner from the CPS Case Management System. Highly sensitive case spanning a two year period involving complex investigation into the relationship of the CPS and judiciary following unfounded allegations by the defendant. Defendant convicted of multiple breaches of the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
R v Padmanabha. Prosecuting defendant for the murder of her disabled daughter. The child had a unique genetic abnormality affecting the composition and structure of her bones. In a loss of temper the defendant shook her child causing catastrophic brain injuries and fractures to the ribs and skull. Extremely complex scientific evidence involving 9 experts. Tried before McGowan J.
R v Richard Pearson. Prosecuting, the proprietor of SP Fireworks, following a huge explosion and fire at his warehouse in Staffordshire. Following a six week trial, at Stafford Crown Court, Pearson was unanimously convicted of two counts of gross negligence manslaughter and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. An employee of Pearson’s and a customer, were both killed in the explosion, which was caused by a combination of gross overstocking of fireworks and explosives and unsafe working practices instigated at Pearson’s request. He was found to have flouted safety procedures and to have misled Trading Standards Inspectors prior to the explosions. In addition to the two fatalities others were injured and millions of pounds of damage was caused to neighbouring buildings on the Tilcon Avenue Industrial Estate.
R v C. Prosecuting drug runner for stabbing of two drug users trying to rob him of the drugs he was carrying.
R v Kenny Cornwall. Prosecuting a 16 year old drug dealer charged with murdering a crack and heroin addict in Braintree Essex.
R v Alan Turnbull & Others. Prosecuting a gross negligence manslaughter arising from the dismantling of steel structures at the Swan Hunter Shipyard on Tyneside. Two individuals and a company were convicted of gross negligence manslaughter and health and safety offences.
R v H & T. Prosecuting two parents charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm and neglect of a 6-week old baby. Both defendants blamed each other for the infliction of serious injuries. Both were convicted of all charges faced.
R v DW. Prosecuting a defendant charged with sexual assault and attempted rape on his 10 year old daughter.
R v G. Prosecuting a 15 year old charged with serious sexual assaults on a 13 year old girl.
R v Nicholas Weston. Prosecuting allegations of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The defendant, whilst drunk crashed his van into a ditch killing a rear passenger and seriously injuring another.
R v David Morris & Others. Prosecuting a multi-handed £20million counterfeit clothing case on behalf of Essex County Council Trading Standards Department.
R v Emma Ruffell. Prosecuting a prostitute accused of a near fatal stabbing of one of her elderly clients.
R v Christopher Bosworth. Prosecuting an Anglican Catholic priest for historic sexual offences committed on patients and mentally unwell individuals, whilst the defendant was a community psychiatric nurse in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
R v Steven Adams & Adams Home Centre Ltd. Junior Counsel prosecuting health and safety offences arising from an oxygen leak at a company specializing in decanting explosive gasses into cylinders. As a consequence of the leak a catastrophic fire developed killing one employee, in part because of the inadequate provision of exits, risk assessments and safety procedures in the event of a fire.
R v Rayner & Rayner. Successfully prosecuting a Ponzi fraud operated by husband and wife defendants in which they secured over £1.7 million of investment from investors based on a purported hedge-betting system with Betfair. The defendants, in fact, invested very little, using the purported investments to subsidise a lavish lifestyle including multiple vehicles, plastic surgery, private school fees and numerous foreign holidays.
R v Thomas Coleman. Prosecuting death by dangerous allegation arising from the defendant driving into a stationary car, killing the occupant, whilst using his mobile phone.
R v Mavis Offei. Prosecuting carer charged with assaulting a terminally ill woman in a registered care home.

Regulatory

Allan both defends in and prosecutes a range of regulatory offences including; health & safety offences, matters in the Nursing & Midwifery Council, trading standards offences, prosecutions by the Environment Agency, enforcement notice cases and firearms appeals in the Crown Court.

Allan regularly acts for police officers, public officials and journalists charged with criminal offences, with particular emphasis on offences of misconduct in public office, often involving the unauthorised disclosure of sensitive information to third parties. He also frequently represents police officers in misconduct proceedings in the police disciplinary tribunals.

Serious Sexual Offences

Mr Compton has huge experience in defending and prosecuting cases involving serious sexual offences. Prior to taking silk he was an accredited serious sexual offence prosecutor and was regularly instructed by the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Unit (RASSO) at the Crown Prosecution Service.

In particular Mr Compton is often asked to review cases of historic sexual abuse and advise from a very early stage, often prior to any charges being brought.

In addition to representing adult defendants Mr Compton has also defended and prosecuted many young defendants charged with sexual offences. He is widely respected for his tactful, courteous yet effective cross-examination of complainants and young defendants.

Cases involving the allegation of serious sexual offences regularly involve third party summonses and disclosure applications from bodies other than the CPS, such as Social Services and schools. Mr Compton has extensive experience in preparing and making such applications particularly in cases that are historic in nature.

Mr Compton has been involved in a number of cases alleging the establishment and operation of escort agencies and brothels, often operating on a national scale. In a number of these cases he has successfully applied to stay prosecutions as a consequence of police malpractice or non-disclosure issues. He has also acted in cases in people trafficking cases with both domestic and international dimensions.

Notable serious sexual offences cases

R v John Green & Others

Defending in 13 handed allegation of controlling prostitution and facilitating breaches of immigration law via what were alleged to be the two biggest brothels in the United Kingdom. Listed for a four-month trial. The case was stayed following a successful abuse of process argument based on the submission that the local police had encouraged the operation of the brothels as a method of controlling street prostitution.

R v Jason Shelley & Others

Defending a businessman accused of running a network of prostitutes across the United Kingdom via a series of bogus escort agencies. It was alleged he had made in excess of £5million profit. The defence employed an innovative defence securing LSC funding for a defence test purchase operation into the activities of a co-defendant. After two trials the case was stayed as an abuse of process following serious non-disclosure by the prosecution following service, by the defence of the results of the test purchase operation.

R v CT

Successfully defending a 16 year old charged with multiple sexual assaults on a three and a half year old child, being cared for by his mother, a registered child-minder. The case involved cross-examination of a four-year old child. Of the charges he faced, some were discharged following an application to dismiss, others following a submission of no case to answer and the remaining counts resulted in acquittal by a jury.

R v Christopher Bosworth

Prosecuting an Anglican Catholic priest for historic sexual offences committed on patients and mentally unwell individuals, whilst the defendant was a community psychiatric nurse in the 1980’s and early 1990’s.

R v SD

Defending man charged with attempted rape and other serious sexual offences on grandchildren.

R v AD

Defending man charged with a series of rapes of his girlfriend whilst she was asleep.

R v Stuart Mansfield

Defending a businessman accused of controlling prostitution using escort agencies in Essex and Suffolk. He received a suspended sentence.

R v MB

Defending a deputy head teacher charged with sexually assaulting a learning support assistant whilst on a school trip.

R v Sean Bailey

Defending a man charged with multiple rapes and sexual assaults on five victims (some committed whilst on bail).

R v David Howard & Others

Defending in a conspiracy to run a network of brothels in West London.

R v AK

Defending a 19 year old charged with rape of another male in a park in Southend.

R v Nicholas Creane

Defending a male facing multiple rape and sexual assault allegations made by two 12 year old victims.

R v JG

Defending a 16 year old charged with raping an 18 year old girl in Colchester High Street.

R v GH

Defending a youth charged with a number of sexual assaults and rapes from the age of 13 to 16, in a series of trials.

R v RP

Defending a 12 year old boy both in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal, charged with multiple indecent assaults on a series of adult female victims.

R v John Rowland

Prosecuting a defendant charged with historic sexual assaults on his two daughters dating back to the 1960’s and 1970’s.

R v DW

Prosecuting a defendant charged with sexual assault and attempted rape on his 10 year old daughter.

R v DS

Successfully defending a man charged with 18 counts of rape and sexual assault relating to 5 different complainants. The allegations were all historic in nature allegedly committed on young children whilst the defendant himself was a teenager.

R v P

Prosecuting a defendant who committed multiple rapes and indecent assaults on his disabled stepdaughter over a ten-year period, causing her to become pregnant.

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Practice Areas

Notable appeals cases

Notable confiscation cases

Notable Cases:

Notable Cases

Notable environmental cases

Notable fraud cases

Notable health & safety cases

Notable Cases:

Notable Cases

Notable Cases

Notable serious sexual offences cases

Not Guilty Verdicts in Woolwich Shooting Trial

Acquittals in Croydon drive-by shooting case

£2.15 million fine for company following corporate manslaughter conviction

Company Director Convicted of Gross Negligence Manslaughter

Practice Areas

Practice Areas

People

2 Bedford Row