Mark Stevens

Mark is a highly regarded criminal defence specialist. Mark is approachable , dependable and fearless in his desire to seek the best interests of his clients.

Instructed in cases covering all aspects of the law, and with specific expertise in homicide, serious violence, sexual offences , organised crime , drug importation and complex fraud and money laundering matters.

Renowned for his engaging court style, both as an attractive and natural jury advocate, Mark has established a strong track record, both as a leading junior, a led junior and acting alone, in matters of great weight and complexity.

He is highly committed to the defence of those he represents, combining an approachable, thorough and dependable style, which has resulted in a number of successful appearances at all levels including in the Criminal Court of Appeal.

To meet the wide variety of criminal cases he defends in, Mark is adept at changing his approach, combining both a delicacy of touch when required with potentially vulnerable witnesses, with the fearless tenacity of a skilful cross-examiner when a more hard-hitting style is appropriate.

Mark is an advocate of great integrity, he consistently maintains the highest professional standards, and by doing so, has earned the respect of the judiciary, his colleagues and clients alike.

R v Roble & 5 Others - Gang based murder in Woolwich. The first case to have defendants acquitted of counts following changes in the law brought about by R v Joggee.
R v Trigg – Murder and manslaughter case involving two different victims. Their deaths 5 years apart. The case involved complex issues of causation
R v Odigie – Murder case involving death of a mother during a christening. All the Defendants were youths and were said to affiliated with gangs
R v Ibe – Murder case involving issues of diminished responsibility
R v Wheal – Murder case involving issues of diminished responsibility
R v Joel Alexander – Manslaughter case. The victim was a gay man who died in Trafalgar Square. The case involved complex areas of causation
R v Joshua Dobby - High profile case of a drug addict who killed an aspiring child actor and his aunt during a police chase whilst out on licence. Pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter. Following sentence , her Majesty's Attorney General under section 36 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 applied for leave to refer to the Court of Criminal Appeal against sentence on the ground that it was unduly lenient. Dobby, R v (Rev 1), Court of Appeal - Criminal Division, May 24, 2017 [2017] EWCA Crim 775
R v Obee – Death by dangerous driving case. Young Defendant accused of causing the death of his friend and seriously injuring his girlfriend and brother. The case involved a number of areas of expert evidence
R v Frazier-Brown – Death by careless driving. 56 year old female Defendant of good character

Serious violence

R v Olisa – Attempted murder case involving an allegation of an attempted murder of one prisoner on another whilst both on remand
R v Roble – Attempted murder case involving no victim. The matter was caught on CCTV
R v Joshua Gardener – High profile case often referred to as the zombie knife case. It received significant press coverage
R v Owherho – Aggravated burglary case involving a number of Defendants with issues ranging from cell site evidence to bad character matters
R v Sadler - This defendant was charged along with 36 others on an indictment containing 144 counts of conspiracy to rob. The case was a VHCC and there were over 30,000 pages which had to be considered. The case involved a number of different areas of law such as cell site evidence, duress, cut throat defences amongst others.

Drugs

R v Fisher – Mark led a junior in this conspiracy to supply class A drugs in Teeside Crown Court. The case involved complex areas of telephone evidence and probes
R v Adenekan – County lines drugs conspiracy case involving allegations of class A drug supply and kidnapping when ‘workers’ didn’t fall into line
R v Whitten – Huge conspiracy involving class A drugs worth over a million pounds
R v Abela – 8 million pounds cannabis conspiracy described as the biggest cannabis conspiracy prosecution in the United Kingdom
R v Matthews – Large cannabis conspiracy involving multiple grows in multiple properties throughout the Lancaster area

Sex

R v Suter - Representing a defendant on an indictment containing 11 counts of rape with three different complainants
R v Richards – Historic case involving allegations of a father raping his children 30 years previously
R v McKechnie – Historic case involving allegations of rape against then very young girls.
R v Lloyd – Allegation of rape made by the Defendant’s 14 year old daughter
R v Thompson – Allegation of rape made by a young male cousin of the male Defendant

Appeal cases

R v ZTR – The case involved an appellant assisting investigations and assisting police whilst serving a period of life imprisonment. Arguments were put forward that this should result in a reduction of sentence. The matter is currently subject to judicial review proceedings
R v Q – The case involved the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act
AG v Dobby – Attorney General unsuccessful in their appeal to argue that client’s sentence was unduly lenient
R v Ibe – Successfully appealing a life tariff of 25 years persuading the Court of Appeal to reduce it to 17 years
R v Hawkins – Successfully appealing a conviction for aggravated burglary after argument relating to a ruling during the original trial

R v Lumbumgu - Mark led a junior tenant in this multi handed fraud case involving over £500,000 fraudulent activities relating to charities. The case involved careful consideration of a considerable number of financial documents.
R v Kabata – Fraud case alleging millions of pounds worth of fraud.
R v Ali – Car and number plates fraud. 8 week trial in Birmingham with the alleged fraud amassing close to £700,000.
R v Mahmood – Cigarette fraud case involving just under a million pounds worth of alleged fraudulent activity.
R v Adejmi - £350,000 money laundering trial.