Jeremy Lasker

OVERVIEW

Hugely experienced in all aspects of criminal advocacy and with an enviable composure/ presence in court, Jeremy Lasker is a formidable expert in the art of jury advocacy and is respected both by his professional colleagues at the Bar and by Judges alike. In criminal cases he both prosecutes and defends and has for many years been assessed by the CPS as a Category 4 [highest level] prosecutor.

He is highly regarded both for his easy and approachable manner towards his professional clients and his ability to relate to and inspire confidence in the most difficult of lay clients.

In the field of criminal work, Jeremy receives instructions not only from the foremost criminal firms of solicitors based in the North West but has also accepted instructions from solicitors across the UK and he has appeared in substantial criminal trials as far afield as Carlisle Crown Court [defending a local politician charged with corruption] to Basildon Crown Court [defending a client charged with drugs importation]. His experience covers the heaviest of criminal cases and he has defended lay clients facing the full spectrum of criminal offences.

Jeremy is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and has been a Recorder of the Crown Court since 2004. Since 2010, he has been accredited by the Bar Council for direct access work.

Drug Conspiracies

This is a significant area of work. In substantial cases, Jeremy is happy to work as part of a larger team and has previously been instructed as Leading Counsel with a view to leading more Junior members of Lincoln House Chambers or instructed advocates from firms of solicitors.

R v Graeme Walker [Sheffield Crown Court 2013 – instructed by Steele Ford & Newton solicitors] Operation Anagram. A successful defence of the only Defendant acquitted following a submission of No Case to answer in a Serious & Organised Crime Agency prosecution based upon telephone evidence said to have established involvement in a substantial conspiracy to import drugs from India.

R v Tamoor Ahmed & 21 others [Preston Crown Court 2013 – instructed by Middleweeks, solicitors] Operation Oak. Defence of courier in the context of a massive nationwide Class ‘A’ drugs conspiracy

R v Greaves & other [Minshull St Crown Court instructed by Forbes Solicitors] – successful defence in a notorious drugs case which spanned 3 trials over a 12 month period, prosecuted by a team of 3 counsel. The case involved allegations of the manufacture & distribution of Class A drugs together with aspects of police corruption and disclosure of police informants. This was also the case in which a juror was later jailed for attempting to make contact with a Defendant. Another Defendant after conclusion of the trial was later shot dead by police officers.

R v Vohra & another [Preston Crown Court instructed by Forbes Solicitors] – successful defence of a well know local Blackburn figure area running a large car hire firm alleged to be a sham and the front for a class A drugs supply conspiracy.

R v Diprose & others [Preston Crown Court instructed by Steele Ford & Newton (incorporating JGT)] – Leading defence brief for target criminal in Class A & B drugs conspiracy.

R v Roberts & others [Basildon Crown Court instructed by Beswicks solicitors, Stoke on Trent] – Leading defence brief in drugs importation case.

R v Waters [Leicester Crown Court instructed by Beswicks solicitors] – defence of night club owner alleged to have allowed his premises to be used for drug taking.

Evasion of Duty

R v C [Minshull St Crown Court] – Substantial cigarette importation matter. Not Guilty verdicts following successful disclosure argument.

R v B [Preston Crown Court] – Instructed by Glaisyers Solicitors. Multi million pound cigarette importation case with several defendants. Mixed verdicts following 4 week trial.

Homicide

Jeremy has experience of defending clients facing charges of murder which have arisen in all circumstances:

Stabbings e.g. R v Davenport [Chester Crown Court instructed by Beswicks solicitors, Stoke on Trent]

Deaths arising out of sexual attacks e.g. R v Taylor [Stafford Crown Court instructed by Clyde Chappel & Botham solicitors]

Deaths in the course of violent disorders e.g. R v Hodgson [Stafford Crown Court instructed by Beswicks solicitors, Stoke on Trent]

Deaths in the course of robberies. e.g. R v Garrity [Preston Crown Court instructed by Jobling & Knape Solicitors, Lancaster] a 30 year old historic murder.

Deaths in the course of playground bullying e.g. R v Harrison [Stafford Crown Court instructed by Beswicks Solicitors Stoke on Trent]

Deaths arising out of domestic incidents e.g. R v Duerden [Burnley Crown Court instructed by Burnley CPS]

He has prosecuted and defended in many cases where death has resulted as a consequence of dangerous or careless driving. He has both defended and prosecuted in cases of Voluntary & Involuntary manslaughter such as deaths arising out of incidents often described as single punch manslaughters [e.g. R vJukes Preston Crown Court instructed by Whittle Robinson solicitors, Preston and R v Burns & Smith Preston Crown Court instructed by the CPS]

He successfully defended in the trial involving the youngest known victim to have died from Ecstasy in the UK. [R v Hodgson & another – Manchester Crown Court instructed by Holden & Wilsons]

Sexual Offences

The substantial increase in recent years of cases involving allegations of sexual abuse, often historic in nature, and the ever increasing complexity in the law in this area has led to the necessity of instructing counsel experienced in such fields.

Jeremy both prosecutes and defends in this area of law. Although no grading for defence counsel yet exists, Jeremy Lasker is classified as a Rape Expert by the CPS. He regularly appears in cases involving both multi count indictments together with multiple defendants and/or multiple complainants.

R v Imrich Bodor [Preston Crown Court instructed by Olliers solicitors] – Leading defence brief in a 10 week, multi-handed people trafficking case where the Defendant was convicted of people trafficking but acquitted of rape in circumstances in which it was alleged he had been selling exploited women for sex.

R v Lester [Manchester Crown Court, instructed by Tranters Solicitors] – Substantially successful defence of a husband alleged to have raped and violently assaulted his wife over a period of years.

R v Goldwyn Mather [Liverpool Crown Court instructed by Berry & Berry solicitors] – Leading defence brief on behalf of an alleged serial sex attacker.

R v Maughan [Preston Crown Court instructed by Forbes Solicitors] – Defence of a violent father charged with raping most of his 9 children over.

R v HUGHES & HUGHES [Preston Crown Court instructed by the CPS] – Successful Prosecution of 2brothers charged with the historic abuse of a number of young children.

Fraud Offences

Jeremy Lasker has had considerable expertise in this area of criminal work. For a period of time he was on the Serious Fraud Office panel of approved Counsel although in practice his experience is almost entirely in defence work. In this area he has been instructed as junior alone, as a led junior with Leading Counsel and as a Leading Junior himself. His experience is demonstrated by the following cases:

R v Grey & others [Manchester Crown Court instructed by Platt Halpern] – Known nationally as the “London City Bond Case” A leading Junior for the defence in a multi million pound diversion fraud prosecuted by Customs & Excise

R v Roden & others [Nottingham Crown Court instructed by Ralli solicitors] – Leading Junior in the successful defence of a multi million pound carousel fraud in which the Indictment was stayed following a successful Abuse of Process argument.

R v Hague & others “Operation Shepheard” [Birmingham Crown Court instructed by Beswicks solicitors] – Defence of a director of a missing trader company in a Customs Prosecution alleging MTIC Carousel fraud with loss to the Revenue in excess of £60 million.

R v Lipinski & others “Operation Emmersed” [West Midlands Fraud Centre instructed by Pannone solicitors] – Defence of a director of a buffer trading company in a Customs Prosecution alleging loss to the Revenue in excess of £20 million.

R v Hilditch [Manchester Crown Court instructed by Kemps solicitors] – Defence of an insurance company Director with alleged involvement in a substantial conspiracy involving fraudulent insurance and re-insurance companies.

Other Aspects of Work

In addition to jury advocacy before the Crown Court, Jeremy Lasker has had significant success as an Appellate lawyer arguing appeals in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.

He has in the past been instructed by solicitors acting on behalf of the Criminal Cases Review Commission and was successful in overturning a conviction for murder in a miscarriage of justice/ fresh evidence case e.g. R v Brannan & Murphy [LTL 2002] instructed by Stephensons Solicitors.

He has been involved in a number of other notable cases including R v Gibson [80 Cr App Rep 24] regarded as one of the leading authorities on joint responsibility between father & mother in child abuse cases.

Jeremy Lasker also undertakes Regulatory work on behalf of the General Medical Council which complements his skills as a Crown Court advocate.