Colin Banham
Crime Colin has over 17 years’ experience both defending and prosecuting in the criminal courts. He has been instructed as a leading Junior, led Junior and acting alone in serious and complex criminal allegations. He regularly defends and prosecutes cases including aggravated burglary, grievous bodily harm with intent, violent disorder, drugs conspiracies, robbery and large-scale fraud.
Colin is graded by the CPS as a Level 4 Prosecutor and is a member of the Specialist Panels for Fraud (including fiscal fraud) and Serious Year of Call: 1999 Crime (including terrorism).
Clerks Colin has extensive experience in serious road traffic offences. He is regularly instructed by insurers to represent defendants, particularly in Senior Practice Manager cases involving serious injury with underlying civil litigation. He accepts Andrew Trotter private instructions in all forms of motoring offences either directly or by referral. Chief Executive & Director of Clerking RECENT CASES Tony McDaid R v RS, DB & KM (2016): Instructed by the NCA in a multi-handed Contact a Clerk conspiracy to supply Class A drugs amounting to £50.4m. The case Tel: +44 (0) 845 210 5555 was conducted against a silk and two leading juniors. Fax: +44 (0) 121 606 1501 [email protected] R v KS-R (2016): Case involving allegations of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
R v CP (2016): Successfully defending a middle-aged lady alleged to have defrauded a pension scheme.
R v ZN (2016): Defending a male alleged to have conspired to import a large amount of Khat into the UK.
R v AB, PB & AE (2016): Prosecuting an allegation of conspiracy to supply cannabis amounting to almost £500,000. All three defendants were convicted after a contested trial.
R v AJ (2016): Prosecuting a trial relating to the armed robbery of a co- operative store where the defendant had attempted to fabricate an alibi immediately after carrying out the offence.
R v JS (& Others) (2015): Six-handed conspiracy involving the large- scale supply of heroin and crack cocaine by organised criminal networks from London to Hampshire and Kent. R v SM (2015) - Fatal road traffic collision involving the defendant's convertible motor vehicle and the deceased's motorcycle. Allegation that the defendant careless when she pulled out of side road into path of motorcycle. Defendant received significant injuries, including severe burns to her face, neck and arms.
R v GB (2015) - Death by dangerous driving. The defendant’s motor vehicle collided with a HGV tractor unit and trailer, forcing itto leave the road to the nearside and collide with a concrete support pillar to an over bridge. A fire started within the tractor unit, which resulted in an explosion. The driver remained within the tractor unit cab and subsequently died.
R v AM (2015) - Representing defendant charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Collision between a motor vehicle and a HGV at a slip road leading onto the A38. After protracted negotiations, the Crown accepted a plea to careless driving. The defendant received a fine and penalty points.
R v C (& Others) (2014-2015): Instructed as leading Counsel for the Crown in a nine-handed conspiracy to steal.
R v CM (& Others) (2014): Multi-handed car-ringing conspiracy.
R v JN (& Others) (2014): Successfully defended in a multi-handed trial relating to the sale of large amounts of controlled drugs through several websites purporting to sell 'legal highs'. It was alleged that the drugs sold over the course of the conspiracy amounted to £3.6m. The trial came after local police raided eleven addresses across Bolton, Bury, North Manchester and Salford.
NOTABLE CASES
R v Agbugba-Cansie & Others (Murder)
R v Da Silva (Murder)
R v C (Leading Junior in nine-handed Conspiracy to Burgle, Conspiracy to Steal)
R v James (Conspiracy to Murder)
R v G (Fraudulent Trading)
R v Montilla & Others (Money Laundering case leading to the landmark House of Lords authority)
R v Tallo & Miah (Conspiracy to Handle Stolen Goods)
R v Gerald & Others (Seven-handed Conspiracy to Burgle)
R v Smith (Conspiracy to Defraud)
R v Vu & Others (Aggravated Burglary & Rape)
R v Owusu & Others (Aggravated Burglary)
R v Kemokai & Others (Kidnap & s.18 GBH)
Reported Cases (Court of Appeal unless otherwise indicated)
R v Berry [2012] EWCA Crim 543: Appeal Against Sentence – Suspended Sentence – Parity – Whether length of sentence excessive.
R v Garjo [2011] EWCA Crim 1169: Appeal Against Conviction – Summing up – Failure in judicial function – Unsafe verdict.
R v Macauley [2011] EWCA Crim 436: Appeal Against Conviction – DNA evidence – Unsafe verdict.
R v A, J, T [2010] EWCA Crim 2616: Appeal Against Conviction – Reliability of evidence – Bad character – Inconsistent verdicts.
R v Agbugba-Cansie & Others [2010] EWCA Crim 1775: Appeal Against Conviction and Sentence – Murder – Bad character – Sentence in the interest of public protection – Whether length of sentence excessive.