Insights from a Leading Criminal Barrister

Forgery, Using a False Instrument, Possessing a False Instrument

Forgery, Using a False Instrument, Possessing a False Instrument

Quentin has represented individuals who have ranged from master forgers who have created millions of pounds’ worth of forged currencies through to those who have changed dates on official documents for seemingly pointless motives. Find out more about the law in regards to forgery and false instruments.

Success for FTSE 100 company in s20 Environmental notice appeal

Success for FTSE 100 company in s20 Environmental notice appeal

Quentin was instructed on behalf of a multi-national UK Publically Listed Company to appeal a notice served upon them under s20 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

 Quentin secures reduction in excessive sentence in Court of Appeal ruling

Quentin secures reduction in excessive sentence in Court of Appeal ruling

Quentin secures reduction in excessive sentence in Court of Appeal ruling

GDPR six months on

GDPR six months on

This week marks the six-month anniversary since the General Data Protection Regulations took effect. Quentin takes a look back over this time to see whats changed.

Planning Enforcement notices - Time limits, lawful use and planning permission

Planning Enforcement notices - Time limits, lawful use and planning permission

Quentin explains the complex and often confusing interrelationship of planning enforcement law and criminal law and how it can impact upon any criminal prosecution by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs).

s172 Planning enforcement notices

s172 Planning enforcement notices

UPDATED. What do you do if I have been served with a planning enforcement notice? What are the consequences of non compliance with a planning enforcement notice? Quentin reveals all.

Not Guilty Verdicts in large scale Fraud and Trademark case

Not Guilty Verdicts in large scale Fraud and Trademark case

Quentin achieves Not Guilty Verdicts in large scale Fraud and Trademark case. As a result of Quentin's hard work the prosecution made the decision to drop all charges against all of Quentin’s clients.

What Are The Requirements Of The New HMO Regulations

What Are The Requirements Of The New HMO Regulations

It is an offence to let a HMO without a licence. If you do so, the Local Housing Authority will have two options. The first will be to impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 under section 249A of the Housing Act 2004. The other option open to the Local Housing Authority is to pursue a prosecution against you under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004.

Success in Vacation of Plea application

Success in Vacation of Plea application

If you have entered a plea of Guilty and feel that you were not truly admitting your guilt or that there was a problem in the procedure leading up to the entering of the plea you may have ground to vacate your guilty plea.

Success in significant financial reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act case

Success in significant financial reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act case

Quentin put forward a good defence to the claim by the prosecution leading to the prosecution entering into negotiation with the defence and eventually brokering a settlement on behalf of his client of £141,000, an enormous reduction from the £1.12M initially claimed.

Quentin achieves Not Guilty result in ‘cut throat’ car crash case

Quentin achieves Not Guilty result in ‘cut throat’ car crash case

Quentin robustly defended his client and conducted vigorous cross examination of the co-defendant highlighting her excess speed, poor driving and inconsistent accounts. The Court heard all the evidence and delivered a verdict of Not Guilty for Quentin’s client and a Guilty verdict in respect of the other driver.

Quentin successfully defends Limited Company in driving case

Quentin successfully defends Limited Company in driving case

Quentin found himself representing a large limited company with 3,500 employees which was accused of the offence of failure to provide driver’s details under s172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

Not guilty verdict for woman accused of assaulting her police officer husband

Not guilty verdict for woman accused of assaulting her police officer husband

As a professional person, CK could not afford a criminal conviction as it would likely result in her losing her livelihood. As a result of Quentin's intervention, the prosecution took time to review the matter and came to a decision not to continue the prosecution.

Quentin secures immediate release of man facing Harassment charges

Quentin secures immediate release of man facing Harassment charges

Learn how Quentin was able to enter a revised plea with the resulting sentence being that his client was released from custody that day to go home with his family. Both FA and his family were delighted with the result.

Perverting the course of justice

Perverting the course of justice

Defendants who are otherwise law abiding people get caught out telling stupid lies to the Police and Courts without realising the dire consequences of getting caught.

New Test of Dishonesty

New Test of Dishonesty

In the New Test of Dishonesty the defendant can no longer use his own standards or what he understands the standards of society to be as a defence.

Striking a balance - Malicious Communication Act and free speech

Striking a balance - Malicious Communication Act and free speech

To what extent is someone protected over adverse comment that could be said to be free speech? Barrister Quent Hunt gives his views.

Unexplained Wealth Orders explained

Unexplained Wealth Orders explained

The Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) is a tool designed to help enforcement agencies tackle the longstanding issue of unexplained wealth in the UK. This has been recently highlighted in the media in recent press articles and fictionalised television series such as McMafia.

Are you GDPR ready? Take the quiz

Are you GDPR ready? Take the quiz

GDPR comes into effect on 25 May 2018. Test your understanding of your GDPR and Data Protection responsibilities

Breach of s33 Environmental Protection Act 1990

Breach of s33 Environmental Protection Act 1990

Section 33 is one of the most prosecuted offences under the of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, it covers all manner of depositing of waste from small scale ‘fly tipping’ to industrial scale waste disposal.

Dramatic rise in recorded rape cases explained

Dramatic rise in recorded rape cases explained

As the black cab rapist John Worboys case continues to navigate the legal system, Quentin takes a look at the way in which significant changes in police and Crown Prosecution Service guidance have had a dramatic impact on the number of recorded cases.

Breach of Planning Enforcement notice Town and Country Planning Act 1990- Proceeds of Crime Act implications

Breach of Planning Enforcement notice Town and Country Planning Act 1990- Proceeds of Crime Act implications

Many Defendants are unaware that an order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 may be made if they are convicted of ‘regulatory’ offences such as those under s179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 2002

Success in Shotgun Licence Appeal

Success in Shotgun Licence Appeal

As a result of the strong arguments put forward by Quentin at an appeal hearing at Birmingham Crown Court the Police indicated that they were not going to resist the appeal. The appeal was therefore successful.

Quentin achieves variation in Serious Crime Prevention Order

Quentin achieves variation in Serious Crime Prevention Order

Persons who are the subject of a SCPO often find the terms of the order too onerous or they may wish to have the terms varied to enable them to fulfil a business or life ambition

Unanimous acquittal in Fraud and Perverting the Course of Justice trial

Unanimous acquittal in Fraud and Perverting the Course of Justice trial

Quentin Hunt is an experienced jury advocate who specialises in effective cross examination of witnesses and the tactical deployment of defence evidence at trial.

Court of Appeal reduces sentence by half in Fraud case success

Court of Appeal reduces sentence by half in Fraud case success

Following oral submissions by Quentin the appeal was allowed by the Court. The sentence of 24 months imprisonment was reduced by half to one of 12 months. This meant that VP was eligible for release on a home detention curfew tag the week after the hearing in the Court of Appeal.

Quentin sets legal precedent at the High Court in Planning Enforcement Guilty Plea hearing

Quentin sets legal precedent at the High Court in Planning Enforcement Guilty Plea hearing

Quentin analysed their case and discovered that there was a material problem with the procedure that had been followed at the guilty plea hearing in the Magistrates Court. As a result of Quentin’s representation the matter was therefore remitted to the City of Westminster Magistrates Court where the defendants indicated Not Guilty pleas and elected for the matter to be sent to the Southwark Crown Court for trial.

Quentin achieves non custodial sentence in Dangerous Driving case

Quentin achieves non custodial sentence in Dangerous Driving case

DL had previously been advised that he could expect an immediate custodial sentence of around 15 months. DL and his family were delighted that he managed to avoid an immediate custodial sentence.

A Guide to Boiler Room Fraud

A Guide to Boiler Room Fraud

Quentin looks at common characteristics between 'boiler room' fraud cases and provides some important insights about the operation of the law in this area

Quentin secures dramatic reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act Confiscation Order

Quentin secures dramatic reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act Confiscation Order

Quentin Hunt uses his many years of experience in dealing with complicated confiscation proceedings to save his client over saving of over £750,000