Richard English K.C.

Richard English K.C.

Call 2003 | Silk 2025

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Richard English K.C.

Call 2003 | Silk 2025

“Richard is personable and his attention to detail is great”.

Chambers & Partners 2024

“Richard English is a notable practitioner with a significant reputation for his work in cases involving mentally disordered defendants. He primarily practises on the defence side, but he is also called upon to prosecute in complex multi-handed cases”.

Chambers & Partners 2024

“He is an excellent junior barrister, he is extremely knowledgeable and able to explain the most difficult points to clients”.

Chambers & Partners 2025

“He provides full advice and has a wonderful courtroom manner.”

Chambers & Partners 2025

“Richard is a strong advocate who has a keen eye for detail and is meticulous in his preparation.”

Legal 500, 2026

“Richard English KC is a wonderful KC“.

Chambers & Partners 2026

Richard qualified as a solicitor in England in 1996, and in Ireland in 1997 where he practiced for two years. As a solicitor he was involved in a number of high-profile and complex cases amongst them – the London City Bond fraud and the Sally Clark appeal. He became a partner with Burton Copeland Solicitors in 2000. Richard was called to the bar in 2003; he was appointed King’s Counsel in 2025.

He is instructed to advise and represent in serious RASSO cases, homicide and violence against children.  Recent instructions include the successful defence of a man charged with the double murder of the rider and passenger of an electric bike and, a 14 year old boy tried, as a joint participant, in the fatal stabbing of another 14 year old in Manchester.

Many of his cases involve a defendant or complainant who experiences mental ill-health or is neuro-diverse.  He has studied at post graduate level, written about and lectured on this topic and is writing a book for practitioners aiming to demystify the intersection of mental health and crime so that whether in acute crisis or not, defendants who are mentally unwell are in a position to get the best possible outcome, whatever that may be.

He has appeared consistently in the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) since his first appearance, before the Lord Chief Justice in the successful appeal of Alkazraji [2004] 2 Cr App R (S) 55 after less than six months in practice. Since then a number of cases have been reported: Blackshaw, the Manchester riots appeal [2012] 1 Cr App R (S) 114) Lynch (Manslaughter [2015] 2 Cr App R (S) 73) and Brennand [2024] 1 Cr App R 14. In JH [2024] 1 Cr App R 5.

He is a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society and an associate member of the American Bar Association.

Expertise

Notable Murder & Manslaughter cases

R v WGU [2025]

14 year old boy charged as joint participant, acquitted of murder, convicted of manslaughter; AG’s application for leave to refer sentence to the Court of Appeal refused.

R v A [2025]

Charged as a joint participant in double murder, acquitted.

R v C [2025]

Not guilty of murder by reason of diminished responsibility.

R v S

Defending. Murder. Convicted of robbery.

R v A

Defending. Murder. Guilty plea. Junior alone.

R v S

Defending. Murder. Guilty plea. Led by Mukthar Hussain QC.

R v B

Defending. Murder. Defendant diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, charged with murder, he admitted manslaughter and received a hospital order with restrictions. Junior alone

R v T

Defending. Murder. Led by Paul Reid QC.

C R v L

Defending. Manslaughter. While in drink, the Defendant pushed his best friend who struck his head and died.

R v H

Defending, Manslaughter, led by James Pickup QC, D charged with others with causing the death of an 18-month old child. Robbery, drugs, firearms and assault.

R v S

Defending. Bournemouth Crown Court. Conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

R v E

Defending. Death by dangerous driving. Guilty plea. Community order imposed.

Richard is regularly instructed to represent those alleged to have committed the most serious sexual offences, which very often, are said to have happened many years before. Allegations of this type are invariably devastating to all involved; they require detailed preparation, patient, and when necessary robust advice, as well as thoughtful and sensitive consideration both in and out of court.

Notable Sexual Offences cases

R v B

Allegation of rape, defendant acquitted after trial on the basis of non-insane automatism.

R v S

Rape, 1977 cold case.

R v B

Allegations made that in 2017 and 2018 D sexually abused girls aged 13 and 14; the allegations included a series of violent rapes. D had autism and great care was required in taking his instructions and keeping him informed of the trial’s progress. Cross examination of the complainants was a difficult exercise requiring considerable skill and preparation. Not Guilty verdicts after 4 week+ trial.

R v D

Defending a man accused of raping five women over a ten-month period. Leading junior.

R v H

Defending one of a number accused of a campaign of rape and abuse against young women.

R v S

Defending. Historic allegations of serious sexual abuse.

R v I

Defending. Adult Defendant accused of befriending online and then having a sexual relationship with a 14 year old.

Notable Financial Crime/Fraud cases

R v B

Defending. Defendant was acquitted after a nine month trial brought by the SFO following the collapse of the Defendant’s investment business and a loss of £170m to investors. Led by Stephen Solley QC.

R v S

Defending. Defendant acquitted following trial in relation to his alleged involvement in a Construction Industry Fraud Scheme. Led by Nick Johnson QC.

FSA v D

Defending. Advised the Defendant in relation to proceedings taken under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

R v P

Defending. Defendant pleaded guilty to fraud, having taken in the region of £100,000 from his Mother’s estate over which he had power of attorney.

Defending. Conspiracy to defraud Nat West Bank of £20m. Led by Paul Reid QC.

Richard has a particular interest and expertise in offences involving mentally disordered defendants. He is instructed because of his skill, patience and understanding of those who are particularly vulnerable when faced with the ordeal of appearing in court. He also appears in Mental Health Review Tribunals. He is a member of the Mental Health Lawyers Association, and in 2017 he was awarded a Post-Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Law from the University of Northumbria.

Notable Offences Involving Defendants with Mental Health Problems cases

R v R

A very serious allegation with a life threatening injury caused by a knife. Complicated by the fact that the Defendant was the Father of the Victim. Psychiatric and Psychological reports obtained which allowed the court draw back from what otherwise would have been a substantial custodial sentence.

R v B

Defending. Rape. 16-year old defendant unfit to stand trial. Jury not sure in relation to one allegation.
Hospital order with restrictions made.

R v J

Defending. Rape.11-year old defendant unfit to stand trial. Jury not sure in relation to one allegation. Supervision order made.

R v G

Defending. Rape. Defendant diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia, accused of a campaign of rape.

R v A

Defending. Arson. Defendant, while trying to take her own life, set fire to herself and in the process a block of flats causing extensive damage to the flats and serious injury to herself. Hospital order with restrictions.

R v P

Defending. Death by Dangerous Driving. Defendant found not guilty by reason of insanity. Absolute Discharge.

R v D

Defending. Attempted Murder. Defendant diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and Autism Spectrum Disorder, alleged to have tried to kill a former partner. Plea to a lesser offence accepted. Hospital Order without restrictions made.

R v E

Defending. Defendant diagnosed as suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Accused of perverting the course of justice by making a false allegation of rape.

R v J

Defending. Defendant diagnosed with persistent delusional disorder. Accused of arson and possession of weapons. Hospital order with restrictions.

R v P

Defending. Defendant diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia was accused of attempting to murder a neighbour.

R v B

Defending. Murder. Defendant diagnosed as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, charged with murder, he admitted manslaughter and received a hospital order with restriction. Junior alone.

Notable Appeals cases

R v WGU

Unreported, 2026, AG reference, leave refused.

R v Jones

2026 EWCA Crim 421. Life sentence, minimum period reduced by five and a half years.

R v Hope

2025 EWCA Crim 855

R v Watson

2025 EWCA Crim 563; AG’s reference.

R v Nelson

Unreported, 2025; successful appeal against sentence.

R v Brennand

2023 EWCA Crim 1384, 2024 1 Cr App R 14

R v JH

2023 EWCA Crim 795, 2024 1 Cr App R 5.

R v D

2022 EWCA Crim 1206; appeal against sentence, sentence reduced.

R v Robinson

2022 EWCA Crim 735; re-opening an appeal, sentence reduced.

R v Gillis

2022 EWCA Crim 77; AG’s reference, refused.

Associations and Memberships

  • MA, History, Trinity College Dublin
  • Solicitor, England and Wales
  • Solicitor, Ireland
  • PgDip, Mental Health Law

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
  • Northern Circuit
  • Mental Health Lawyers Association
  • Associate member of the American Bar Association

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