Overview
With over 26 years’ experience in criminal law, Simon is a highly experienced advocate instructed in both prosecution and defence work.
Having qualified as a solicitor in 1997, Simon began his career as a criminal defence specialist in London before moving to Manchester in 2001 when he worked for Platt Halpern Solicitors as an assistant and then partner from 2005. After qualifying as a solicitor advocate in 2003, Simon has practised in the higher criminal courts, transferring to the bar in 2011. He has undertaken jury trials, and other work in the Crown Court for over 20 years, both prosecuting and defending serious crime.
Simon’s experience consists of serious and complex criminal offences including rape, historical sexual abuse, murder, fraud and major drug conspiracies. He is instructed as a led junior in cases of murder and complex Encrochat Operations.
Simon is recognised for his meticulous and thorough preparation , but also a calm and approachable manner, which immediately puts both professional and lay clients at ease, often in challenging circumstances.
He is a highly effective jury advocate with an excellent track record of results from either side of the court. His ability to navigate highly sensitive cases, often with young and vulnerable witnesses or defendants with mental health issues or other specialist needs is a distinguishing ability, sought by those that instruct him.
Criminal
Simon is highly experienced advocate and a specialist in Criminal Law undertaking a full range of prosecution and defence work. He is on the CPS Advocate Panel at Level 4 and also on the CPS Rape and Child Sexual Abuse Panel.
Whilst only called to the Bar in 2011, Simon qualified as a solicitor 1997. He then worked as a criminal law defence specialist in London and then Manchester. Qualifying as a solicitor advocate in 2003, he has practised in the higher criminal courts and has been conducting jury trials for over 15 years. Simon was a partner in the Manchester firm Platt Halpern from 2005 – 2011.
He is regularly instructed by both the defence and prosecution in a wide range of serious and complex criminal offences including rape, historical sexual abuse, murder, fraud and major drug conspiracies.
Simon is meticulous and thorough in his preparation of cases, but also very approachable and puts both professional and lay clients at ease. He is a highly effective jury advocate with an excellent track record of results from either side of the court. He has dealt with a number of very sensitive cases, often with young and vulnerable witnesses or defendants with mental health issues or other specialist needs.
Whilst mainly appearing in the higher criminal courts Simon also specialises in defending clients for motoring offences in the Magistrates Court.
Simon is registered under the Direct Access Scheme and can take instructions directly from members of the public.
Simon has been an advocacy assessor for the BPP Law School since 2012 and taught advanced criminal litigation at the Manchester Metropolitan University for five years.
Simon also regularly trains detectives in police forces around the country, including for the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, North Wales, Cheshire, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Humberside Police forces. Subjects include police interview techniques/procedure, the role of the defence and prosecution within the criminal justice system, bad character, hearsay, and giving evidence in court.
Simon also has significant regulatory experience, including appearing before the GMC in Fitness to Practice proceedings, and before the Traffic Commissioner in Public Enquiries concerning HGV/PSV licences.
SAMPLE OF RECENT CASES
– R v O & E 2020 – Successfully prosecuted two defendants charged with serious physical and sexual abuse of two young children. 13 day trial.
– R v C 2019 – Successfully prosecuted defendant charged with multiple serious robberies of vulnerable victims.
– R v K 2019 – Secured acquittal of defendant at trial charged with multiple knife assaults
– R v DC 2018 – Led by KC. Represented lead defendant in 3 month trial for historical physical abuse in 1970s and 1980s at a residential school in Cumbria.
– R v S 2017 – Prosecuted man charged with multiple serious sexual offences against young children in 2 separate, 2 week trials; some allegations historical and some recent. Multiple complainants, one 7 years old at trial. Defendant sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
– R v MT 2018 – Defended boy charged with serious sexual offences against a 10 year old child
– R v SJ 2018 – Solely represented defendant in 3 week trial charged with Conspiracy to Rob. Co-accused charged with murder. Both prosecution and co-accused represented by KC and Junior.
– R v KB 2018 – Defended at trial/re-trial defendant charged with multiple rape counts against 7 year old child – defendant ultimately acquitted.
– R v BMcG 2018 – Represented defendant (OCG Leader) in Conspiracy to Supply Drugs and separate s.18 GBH trial. Sentenced to 19 years imprisonment.
– R v NB 2018 – Defended at trial man charged with rape. Prosecuted by leading counsel.
– R v McG and others 2017 – Prosecuted multiple defendants charged with kidnap, s.18, and false imprisonment in 2 week trial.
– R v AB 2019 – Prosecuted at trial man charged with historical serious sexual offences against 3 separate children.
– R v QN 2017 – Defended at trial man accused of firearms offences.
– R v SH 2018 – Prosecuted at trial and subsequent re-trial defendant accused of multiple rape counts against complainant who alleged she was drugged and assaulted.
– R v LC 2017 – Represented vulnerable young defendant (ADHD/Autism) at trial for allegations of kidnap, false imprisonment and s.18 GHB by gang. Intermediary allowed for the defendant throughout the trial.
– R v OA 2018 – Represented young defendant at trial charged with grooming/sexual activity with a child/child abduction.
– R v PK 2017 – Represented former board director of Asda in fraud/theft case. Nearly £200k taken.
– R v KF 2018 – Prosecuted at trial defendant charged with serious assault and false imprisonment against former partner.
– R v GK 2019 – Represented lead defendant in multiple defendant conspiracy to import/supply/manufacture spice. Defendant was alleged to have conducted this operation partly from his prison cell.
– R v DR 2019 – Represented defendant charged with rape and the serious sexual offences against a 12 year old child.
– R v VC 2018/9 – Represented man charged with attempted rape and other serious sexual offences. Defendant has a brain injury due to road traffic accident. s.37/s.41 Hospital Order/Restriction made.
Police Misconduct
Whilst mainly appearing in the higher criminal courts Simon also specialises in defending clients for motoring offences in the Magistrates Court. Simon also now sits as a Deputy District Judge (Magistrates Court).
Simon is registered under the Direct Access Scheme and can take instructions directly from members of the public.
Simon has been an advocacy assessor for the BPP Law School since 2012 and taught advanced criminal litigation at the Manchester Metropolitan University for five years.
Simon also regularly trains detectives in police forces around the country, including for the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, North Wales, Cheshire, Cumbria, Devon and Cornwall, Humberside Police forces. Subjects include police interview techniques/procedure, the role of the defence and prosecution within the criminal justice system, bad character, hearsay, and court room skills.
Simon also has significant regulatory experience, including appearing before the General Medical Council (GMC) in Fitness to Practice proceedings, the Health and Care Professions Tribunal (HCPT) and before the Traffic Commissioner in Public Enquiries concerning HGV/PSV licences. He is also expanding his experience in police misconduct hearings.
Notable Cases
- R v Townson 2023 (and others – Operation Goodfella). Defending in multi-defendant conspiracy to defraud and money laundering trial.
- R v Ankers (2023). Successful prosecution of defendant charged with serious sexual assaults recorded on mobile phone.
- Health and Care Professions Council v DL. Represented psychologist in 7 day fitness to practice hearing.
- Operation Malange. Prosecution. Led in multi-defendant Encrochat drugs conspiracy.
- R V Anthony George 2022. Murder. Led by Kings Counsel. Leader contracted COVID during the case, so prosecuted several days of trial as sole advocate. Defendant convicted.
- R v Alothman 2022. Successful prosecution of defendant charged with rape of young student in Bolton.
- R v De-bruin. Prosecution of cyclist charged after fatal collision with a pedestrian.
- R v John Owen. 2022 Death by dangerous driving. Defence
- R v Ogun dare and Emmanuel 2020 – Successfully prosecuted two defendants in a 13 day trial, charged with serious physical and sexual abuse of two young children.
- R v C 2019 – Successfully prosecuted defendant charged with multiple serious robberies of vulnerable victims.
- R v K 2019 – Secured acquittal of defendant at trial charged with multiple knife assaults
- R v DC 2018 – Led by KC. Represented lead defendant in 3 month trial for historical physical abuse in 1970s and 1980s at a residential school in Cumbria.
- R v S 2017 – Prosecuted man charged with multiple serious sexual offences against young children in 2 separate, 2 week trials; some allegations historical and some recent. Multiple complainants, one 7 years old at trial. Defendant sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.
- R v MT 2018 – Defended boy charged with serious sexual offences against a 10 year old child
- R v SJ 2018 – Solely represented defendant in 3 week trial charged with Conspiracy to Rob. Co-accused charged with murder. Both prosecution and co-accused represented by KC and Junior.
- R v KB 2018 – Defended at trial/re-trial defendant charged with multiple rape counts against 7 year old child – defendant ultimately acquitted.
- R v BMcG 2018 – Represented defendant (OCG Leader) in Conspiracy to Supply Drugs and separate s.18 GBH trial. Sentenced to 19 years imprisonment.
- R v NB 2018 – Defended at trial man charged with rape. Prosecuted by leading counsel.
- R v McG and others 2017 – Prosecuted multiple defendants charged with kidnap, s.18, and false imprisonment in 2 week trial.
- R v AB 2019 – Prosecuted at trial man charged with historical serious sexual offences against 3 separate children.
- R v QN 2017 – Defended at trial man accused of firearms offences.
- R v SH 2018 – Prosecuted at trial and subsequent re-trial defendant accused of multiple rape counts against complainant who alleged she was drugged and assaulted.
- R v LC 2017 – Represented vulnerable young defendant (ADHD/Autism) at trial for allegations of kidnap, false imprisonment and s.18 GHB by gang. Intermediary allowed for the defendant throughout the trial.
- R v OA 2018 – Represented young defendant at trial charged with grooming/sexual activity with a child/child abduction.
- R v PK 2017 – Represented former board director of Asda in fraud/theft case. Nearly £200k taken.
- R v KF 2018 – Prosecuted at trial defendant charged with serious assault and false imprisonment against former partner.
- R v GK 2019 – Represented lead defendant in multiple defendant conspiracy to import/supply/manufacture spice. Defendant was alleged to have conducted this operation partly from his prison cell.
- R v DR 2019 – Represented defendant charged with rape and the serious sexual offences against a 12 year old child.
- R v VC 2018/9 – Represented man charged with attempted rape and other serious sexual offences. Defendant has a brain injury due to road traffic accident. s.37/s.41 Hospital Order/Restriction made.
Appointments
Deputy District Judge (Magistrates Court) (2002)
Prosecuting Panel Level 4
CPS Rape and Child Sexual Abuse Panel
CPS Serious Crime Panel Level 3
CPS Fraud Panel Level 3
Solicitors Higher Rights of Audience (Criminal Courts) 2003
Associations
Criminal Bar Association
Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Education
Government and Politics, Manchester University
Legal Practice Course, Manchester Metropolitan University
Common Professional Examination, Manchester Metropolitan University
Prescribed Information
Simon Blakebrough is a practising barrister, who is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Details of information held by the BSB about Simon Blakebrough can be found here.
Simon Blakebrough’s clerks will happily provide no obligation quotations for all legal services that he provides. Their contact details can be found here. It is most common for Simon Blakebrough to undertake Court and advisory work for a fixed fee or a brief fee plus refresher days. Simon Blakebrough accepts instructions on legal aid rates where those are available, details of which can be found here. Any advisory work is most commonly charged at an hourly rate, although fixed fees are available. Conditional Fee Agreements and Damages Based Agreements will be considered in cases with favourable prospects of success. Simon Blakebrough will typically return paperwork within 10 days, however professional commitments, complexity and volume of documentation can affect these approximate timescales.
Simon Blakebrough also undertakes Direct Access work. This work is undertaken on a contractual basis, as agreed between the client and Simon Blakebrough’s clerks. This is on fixed fee basis for a specific events such as a conference, advisory work, a hearing with additional hearing days (refreshers) or the drafting of specific documents. All work agreed to be undertaken by Simon Blakebrough with the fixed fee cost will be clearly outlined in the direct access contract signed by the client and will be payable in full prior to the commencement of the work.
