Simon Kitchen

Call 1988

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Simon Kitchen

Call 1988

Simon Kitchen is a criminal barrister specialising in cases that require expert advocacy skills. He always defends and never prosecutes.

He brings his wealth of knowledge of criminal law to the English and Welsh bar where he has developed a speciality in all levels of crime. He is regularly instructed as either leading or junior counsel in all types of serious crime. His practice includes cases of murder, attempted murder, rape, drugs, fraud, firearms, modern slavery, successfully defending a range of clients.

Simon has a reputation for being a highly-skilled, personable, forceful and persuasive advocate, and has a reputation for being able to handle the most difficult and demanding clients.

Expertise

Simon has considerable experience in serious criminal cases including serious assault allegations, manslaughter and murder.

Notable Murder & Manslaughter cases

R v C & B

Central Criminal Court – Multi-handed murder trial, featured in a television documentary on the criminal justice system.

R v M

Multi-handed knife fight between rival Muslim gangs resulting in death and serious injuries (Snaresbrook Crown Court).

R v K

Attempted murder, where defendant was also the victim of an earlier gang related serious assault. (Worcester Crown Court).

Simon has conducted many cases involving allegations of modern slavery.

These matters have often involve gang related County Lines or Irish Traveller families.

Notable Modern Slavery cases

R v R

Irish traveller accused of keeping foreign workers in slavery and servitude. This was only the second trial under the new legislation in England. (Aylesbury Crown Court).

R v P

Bristol Crown Court – Multi-handed county lines case involving young couriers and dealers coerced into criminal activity.

Simon is an experienced defence barrister which an excellent understanding of sensitive and complex cases, and has successfully defended in all types of rape and sexual assault cases.

Notable Sexual Offences cases

R v S

Swansea Crown Court – Successfully defended in date rape drug case.

R v D

Wood Green Crown Court – Successfully defended allegation of rape made by Escort worker.

R v D & Ors

Central Criminal Court – Gang related rape of prostitutes in order to make them work for the gang.

Simon has vast experience of dealing with clients charge with the most serious sexual offences, and has successfully defended in all types of historical rape and sexual assault case.

Notable Historic Sexual Offences cases

R v O

Newport Crown Court – successfully represented the Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral again historical sexual assault allegations.

R v T

Leicester Crown Court – multi-complainant historical rape trial.

R v K

Maidstone Crown Court – multi-handed family incest case.

Simon is an accomplished barrister who has defended in numerous gang related and and/or organised crime cases, including drug offences, prostitution, extortion and people smuggling.

Notable Gangs & Organised Crime Groups cases

R v B

Newcastle Crown Court – Multi-handed conspiracy to import over 20 tons of cannabis.

R v Y

Liverpool Crown Court – Multi-handed conspiracy to supply heroin from London to the North of England.

R v K

Sheffield Crown Court – Multi Handed wheel conspiracy to supply large quantities drugs, linked to a notorious local murder in which one the defendants had obtained an unexpected acquittal, causing the police to redouble their efforts to break a far-reaching criminal enterprise.

R v M

Swansea Crown Court – Encrochat case, involving large scale supply of drugs from Liverpool to South Wales.

Simon has extensive experience in all types of firearms cases, including gang related cases, robbery and violent assault.

He has also represented defendants in licensing and quasi-civil proceedings relating to firearms.

Notable Firearms cases

R v M – Croydon Crown Court

a Multi-handed case involving a police-led investigation into the criminal acquisition and distribution of firearms.

R v JA

Wood Green Crown Court – Gang-related firearms and drugs case, where the defendant accidentally shot himself in the leg and tried to blame others. The case was notable as an improper approach was made to a juror by one of the senior investigating officers, causing the first trial to collapse.

R v MW

Kingston Crown Court – the successful case challenging the amendment to the Firearms Act, representing a Firearms Dealer alleged to have transferred a pistol to a gun club. It was a “test” case brought by the Met Police but closely watched by the Home Office and ACPO’s Firearms and Explosives Licensing Working Group (FELWG), defining the difference between a pistol and a rifle. AC Whiting (chair, ACPO FELWG) has now published guidance to all Firearms Licensing Managers as a result.

Simon has defended in many cases of causing death by dangerous or careless driving.

Notable Driving Offences cases

R v Y

St Albans Crown Court – Death by dangerous driving case, resulting in death of emergency worker on the hard shoulder of a motorway.

R v G

Guildford Crown Court – Death by dangerous driving of a road-side AA man.

Simon has extensive experience in POCA matters, frequently but not exclusively following on from other serious criminal matters.

Notable Proceeds of Crime Confiscation cases

R v S

Southwark Crown Court – High-value confiscation proceedings, following on from large-scale drug importations involving corrupt police officers.

R v P

Million pound confiscation proceedings, following on from company fraud.

Simon has represented many defendants alleged to be involved in money laundering, frequently linked to serious drugs matters, although not exclusively so.

Notable Money Laundering cases

R v W

R v W – Liverpool Crown Court – Multi-handed case involving the distribution of significant funds from online shares fraud.

R v A

Bristol Crown Court – distribution of large sums of money through casinos and other betting outlets, alleged to have originated from large scale drugs distributions.

Simon has extensive experience in all types of fraud trials, including carousel, mortgage, online, business and company frauds.

Notable Criminal Fraud cases

R v W

Sheffield Crown Court – Large-scale mortgage fraud, involving dishonest solicitors and estate agents.

R v McC

Exeter Crown Court – Large scale solar panel fraud.

R v D

Manchester Crown Court – Multi million pound carousel fraud.

Representing psychotherapists regarding professional complaints to the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) and regarding other complaints and disputes with other clinics and professional bodies, obtaining satisfactory outcomes without the need to progress to full formal hearings.

Simon has represented many cases involving members of the Irish Traveller community, involving roofing, driveway, patio and other building companies that consistently failed to comply with CPUT regulations and other consumer protection legislation. These cases have frequently also involved allegations of large scale fraud.

Notable Consumer Protection cases

R v D

Worcester Crown Court – Family run gardening company consistently breaching consumer regulations.

R v O’C

Bristol Crown Court – multi-handed roofing fraud.

R v O’B

Cardiff Crown Court – multi-handed building and roofing fraud.

Associations and Memberships

  • LLB

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • South Eastern Circuit
  • Western Circuit

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