Call to bar

2004

Practice

Criminal law, prison and public law

Personal

Matthew has a mixed practice comprising criminal defence and prison law work, which is complemented by a growing public law practice. He works extensively in the crown court defending in relation to a wide variety of offences and responding to applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

His prison law practice largely concerns parole and recall hearings for lifers; however he has a busy paper-based practice with a strong public law emphasis. Matthew advises and acts regularly in relation to applications for judicial review over such matters as parole refusals, delayed oral hearings, adjudication decisions, categorisation decisions and denial of coursework. He has also advised on judicial review in matters arising from criminal prosecutions.

Matthew also provides CPD-accredited presentations on a variety of subjects involving prisoners rights. Please contact Wayne Digby for more information or to request a presentation.

Representative Cases

R (Smith) v Secretary of State and the Parole (2008) – All ER (D) 70 (Dec) - Judicial review resulting in declarations under Article 5 (4) ECHR against both Defendants in respect of a delayed oral hearing and a failure to provide the Claimant with relevant behavioural coursework. Held, inter alia, that the Parole Board has a duty to case manage oral hearings.
R v White (2008) – EWCA Crim 2321
R v Grocock (2008) – EWCA Crim 2147
R v Welford (2008) – All ER (D) 79 (Nov) - Appeal against sentence out-of-time resulting in the IPP sentence being overturned. The Appellant had served his tariff and had recently been refused parole. Held, inter alia, that low-level sexual offending is unlikely to result in serious psychological harm.
R v Unsworth (2007/8) – Led defence junior. Defendant charged with fraud and theft. Trial listed 4 weeks.
R v Barratt & others (2006/7) - Led defence junior. Representing man charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and immigration offences. Case listed 3 months. VHCC contracted case.
R v Bridger (2006) – All ER (D) 404 (Nov)