Philip Farr
Philip Farr is a highly able criminal practitioner with significant experience across the full spectrum of serious crime. Philip both prosecutes and defends and is frequently instructed in cases of serious violence, including murder, and sexual offences. Regularly requested to act in cases involving young or vulnerable witnesses or defendants, Philip is noted both for his calm demeanour with witnesses and defendants alike, but also for his attention to detail and rigorous cross-examination. Philip has appeared in numerous cases where the allegations are of serious sexual misconduct, often including sensitive cases where the accused occupies a position of authority, or where the allegations are within the context of a familial relationship.
Philip accepts instructions both via legal aid and privately, and occasionally accepts instruction from private clients charged with Road Traffic offences, an area in which he has had considerable success.
Philip has been an approved external advocacy assessor to the Crown Prosecution Service since 2009.
Areas of practice
Qualifications
- Called to the Bar 2001
- LLB (Hons) – Durham University
- BVC – Nottingham Law School
- Direct Access qualified
Associations and memberships
• Middle Temple (Winston Churchill Scholar)
• Criminal Bar Association
• Grade 3 CPS prosecutor
Notable cases
R v Heinbergs [Operation Gatenby] – Led by Wayne Cleaver, prosecution on behalf of East of England CCU, Norwich Crown Court – unprovoked murder.
R v MASON & others [Operation Key] – Led by Wayne Cleaver, secured convictions of all defendants in a four weeks trial at St Albans. The case was the culmination of an under-cover investigation into people trafficking from SE Asia to the UK.
R v H [2018] – (defence): successful defence of a step-father accused of grooming, sexual activity with a child and multiple rape of his step-daughter.
R v E [2017] – (defence): successful defence of a client in his 20’s accused of serially raping and abusing his 3 step-siblings, all under the age of 13.
R v Storey [2017] – (defence: led junior): Murder
R v M [2016] – (defence): successful defence of client charged with the rape of woman met via a dating website. Involved complex medical issues relating to pscychosis, alcoholism and toxicology.
R v Dervish and Kenevan – (prosecution): successful prosecution of 2 defendants who neglected and stole approximately £300,000 from a complainant lacking mental capacity. The case was complicated by the death of the complainant prior to charge.
R v S [2015] – (defence: led junior): successful defence of client charged with conspiracy to rape and associated offences as part of an alleged familial paedophile ring.
R v H [2014] – (defence: led junior) successful defence of a 14 year old boy charged with rape and other offences against multiple complainants in the context of widespread abuse of vulnerable girls.
R v Bromley [2014] Reading Crown Court – (prosecution: led junior) successful prosecution of defendant for rape of a four year old child.
R v Adeniji [2012] Isleworth Crown Court – (defence): conspiracy to import over £100 million of class A drugs over a 3 year period.
R v Whitby [2012] Norwich Crown Court – (Defence: led by Andrew Shaw): Gang-related murder.
R v Chapman [2011] Norwich Crown Court – (Defence) 14-handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs across Norfolk.
R v McFarlane [2010] Central Criminal Court – (Defence: led junior): Murder committed by a defendant with a complex psychiatric history.
R v Doss [2010] Norwich Crown Court – (Defence) Successful defence of a lorry driver charged with conspiracy to import multiple loads of cannabis from Holland. The value of the conspiracy ran to several million pounds and involved hundreds of kilograms of cannabis.
R v Hallett[2011] EWHC 488 (Admin) High Court – Queen’s Bench Division: Successful appeal by way of case stated against a drink-driving conviction, clarifying the approach to be taken when determining whether or not a place is “public” for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act.