Jaime Hamilton KC

Criminal

During his career Jaime has undertaken a wide range of criminal work on behalf of both prosecution and defence at first instance and onto appellate level. 

In Silk he has defended in cases arising from gang related disputes which have resulted in homicides. He has prosecuted a series of cases that were all linked to a major gang war in Salford. He also prosecuted one of the main cases arising from the Encrochat investigations. 

Prior to taking Silk, he appeared on behalf of the defendant in many cases involving the importation and distribution of drugs, including a conspiracy to import £19 million worth of ecstasy.

Over time he developed a practice whereby he was frequently instructed in cases of serious sexual offending, where he excelled in the focussed and sympathetic cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses. This particular area of practice has led to him provide training and lectures to the world renowned forensic expert courses provided by St Mary’s Sexual Assault Referral Clinic. He was led in a case which involved serious sexual offences in respect of seven different victims spanning a thirty year period. 

Since taking Silk, he has appeared on behalf of the defendant in a “grooming gang” trial in Manchester. He has also represented and advised a number of defendants charged with sex offences where they have been funding their case privately. Due to his extensive experience in cases involving sexual offending he was instructed to prosecute a woman who had made a series of false allegations of rape. 

Notable cases

Notable cases in Silk

R v PC and others

Represented the lead defendant in a “grooming gang” case. The two victims were particularly vulnerable. Instructed as the only KC in the case with the responsibility of dealing with cross-examination on matters of credibility on behalf of all defendants in the case.

R v MJ and others

Represented one of four defendants charged with murder arising out of a widescale public order incident. Case involved the correctness of identification by a police witness from CCTV. 

R v JM and others

Defending one of eight defendants charged with a joint enterprise murder that occurred when a planned robbery of a known gangster went wrong. The case involved complex legal issues relating to the law on joint enterprise. 

R v WB

Leading for a defendant in a murder. The Prosecution accepted a plea to manslaughter based on diminished responsibility as the defendant suffered from a delusional disorder. The case involved the killing of the defendant’s grandmother, whom he believed to be a witch.

Operation Rattlesnake

Prosecuted a number of defendants for conspiracy to murder. The case was directly related to the murder of Paul Massey and involved a defendant who was already serving a whole life order. One of the first multi-handed cases to be prosecuted in Manchester during the COVID pandemic.  

R v JA and another

Defended a man charged with gross negligence manslaughter. Trial involved the detailed cross-examination of expert witnesses. 

Operation Chairs

Prosecuted a trial involving conspiracy to commit section 18 and firearms offences. One of the very first trials in the UK to deploy evidence obtained from Encrochat devices. The case was closely linked to a widespread gang related dispute.

R v JK and another

Represented a serving police Sargeant charged with offences of perverting the course of justice in connection with the arrest and prosecution of a member of the public. There was a successful submission of no case on behalf of the defendant.  

R v EW

Instructed to prosecute a young woman charged with perverting the course of justice by the fabrication of allegations of rape in the context of grooming. Had conduct of the case for over two years, including an aborted trial. The case gained national prominence and was the subject of a number of documentaries.

 https://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/19921888.ellie-williams-trial-everything-happened-day-1/

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/accused-the-fake-grooming-scandal

R v BJ and others

Defended one of a number of young defendants charged with conspiracy to murder. The case concerned a revenge attack for a previous murder. The prosecution deployed “drill rap” music as part of their gang narrative. The case was reported on internationally. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/16/world/europe/uk-ademola-adedeji-murder-conspiracy-gangs.html

R v KO

A case involving a brutal axe murder. The main issue in the case was one of diminished responsibility. 

R v AC and others

Prosecuting a widescale fraud involving financial and legal professionals. Case ultimately involved detailed legal arguments on costs. 

R v JF and others

Prosecuting ten young defendants for the murder of another teen where there was no direct evidence of the involvement of any of the defendants. 

R v ER and another

Defending a serving officer charged with perverting the course of justice and assaulting a vulnerable girl in a care home. 

Operation Dryer

The prosecution of 14 defendants charged with offences relating to conspiracy to murder, importation of drugs and firearms offences. All arising from the Encrochat material. The main defendant was sentenced to 43 years imprisonment. The case featured prominently in a documentary about the NCA operation. 

https://www.channel4.com/programmes/operation-dark-phone-murder-by-text

R v RD

The prosecution of 3 teenage defendants charged with the murder of a 14 year old boy in Manchester. 

R v JM and others

Defending a woman charged with murder where the two co-accused were her son and her daughter. The murder was recorded by the defendants on a mobile telephone. 

Advisory work in Silk

KC

Advising in conference and in writing a major entity in the legal sector on their money laundering policies.

MBC W

Advising a Local Authority in respect of a discrete issue on disclosure that had arisen in child care proceedings.

SWG

Advising a limited company with regard to issues of potential criminality arising out of an employment dispute.

Notable cases as a junior

R v JH and 7 others

Prosecution of two conspiracies to murder that arose out of an ongoing war between two criminal gangs. The case concerned a drive by shooting and an attack on a house which led to a 7 year old boy receiving serious injuries. The eight week trial featured cell site evidence and vehicle recognition experts.

R v MH

A multiple million pound VAT fraud involving reclaiming tax on contracts for the staging and televising of MMA fights. 

R v D and another

Led by Nicholas Clarke KC defending a young mother accused of murdering her newborn baby. The case concerned extensive expert evidence, both as to the cause of death, to the issue of diminished responsibility and to the capability of the vulnerable defendant to participate in the

trial. The defence case involved advancing issues relating to the controlling and coercive behaviour of the co-accused towards this defendant with a psychological assessment of the impact of “gaslighting” upon her capacity to act independently. The Prosecution case was defeated by a successful submission of no case to answer which they then sought to appeal. The procedure adopted by the Prosecution was defective. When proceedings reached the Court of Appeal the preparation was split between Nicholas and Jaime, with Nicholas preparing and presenting the arguments on the substantive law and Jaime dealing with the procedural point.

The Appeal was determined on the procedural aspect without the defence even being called upon to address the substantive issue.

R v F&B

Appeared as the first of two juniors being led by Paul Greaney KC in the Prosecution of two men charged with two gangland “hits”. One of the deceased was a major gangland figure in the North West and the case attracted national media attention. Jaime was involved at an early stage and was solely responsible for advising the CPS on evidential issues and the prospects of success. The case involved extensive cell site material and was largely circumstantial. It is believed that this was the first prosecution case to utilise the evidence gathered from a fitness tracker that was worn by one of the defendants. This successful Prosecution led to the imposition of a whole life term for the gunman.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p09dj3ym

R v KT

Defending a man charged with serious sexual offences against very young children. Once he was remanded into custody, the defendant suffered a significant brain injury which caused lifelong cognitive impairment. The defendant was assisted throughout trial by an intermediary. The trial involved the pre-recorded cross-examination of very young witnesses according to a ground rules hearing guided by a further intermediary assisting the children. The youngest of the children was cross-examined with just nine questions. The defendant was acquitted.

R v SF and others

Prosecuting a used car dealer who had defrauded over 30 customers out of the proceeds of the sale of their cars. The main defendant was represented by a KC. The defendant had attempted to use the corporate structure and insolvency to hide his offending. Advised the CPS from the pre-charge stage through to conviction.

R v P and P

Three trials concerning intra-familial sexual abuse in the eighties and nineties between adopted and fostered siblings. There were extensive social service records which formed the basis for cross -examination of very vulnerable complainants which was achieved through extensive use of the relevant toolkits and agreed facts.

R v T

Defending a man already serving life for rape in a further allegation of sexual abuse stemming from the same family relationship. The defendant claimed to have no recollection of his life prior to starting to serve his life sentence. Cross-examination and addressing the jury required extreme skill and care.

R v GE

Prosecuting the attempted murder of a young mother who was walking in the street one morning when she was attacked out of the blue by a stranger. The defendant was tracked down based upon expert clothing comparison with CCTV footage. The defendant was sentenced to life imprisonment.

R v JS and others

Represented the lead defendant in a multi-handed importation of drugs from Europe. Advised the defendant from the stage of his arrest in Amsterdam and return to this country pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant.. Also instructed in High Court proceedings relating to custody time limits. The case involved use of material obtained from a listening device in a vehicle and evidence obtained from overseas.There was a significant challenge to RIPA authorities in a preparatory hearing. Further instructed in both an appeal in respect of a Serious and Organised Crime Prevention Order and enforcement proceedings in POCA.

Appointments

• Leader of the Northern Circuit (2023)
• King’s Counsel (2019)

Education

LLB, UCW Aberystwyth

Awards

• Barrister of the Year, Manchester Legal Awards, 2020
• Pryce-Calcott Award (UCW)
• Raymond Bax Scholar (Gray’s)

Prescribed Information

Jaime Hamilton KC is a practising barrister, regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Details of information held by the BSB about Jaime Hamilton KC can be found here.

Jaime Hamilton KC clerks will provide no obligation quotations for all legal services that he offers. Jaime Hamilton KC accepts instructions on legal aid rates where those are available, details of which can be found here.  For other work, Jaime Hamilton KC usually charges a brief fee plus refresher fees for court hearings, with advisory, conference and other preparation work charged at an hourly rate. Jaime Hamilton KC aims to return paperwork within 14-21 working days, however his professional commitments, complexity and volume of documentation can affect these approximate timescales.

Related events

• Crime at Nine seminar series
• Northern Circuit Pupil Networking Event at Nine Chambers

  30/10/2025