Overview
Matthew prosecutes and defends across the Southeast of England, regularly appearing in the Crown Court, Magistrates' Courts, and Youth Court. He conducts trials on a wide range of matters involving serious allegations and complex litigation, from multi-defendant cases concerning serious violence, drug conspiracies, and witness intimidation to simple driving offences.
Matthew has been instructed as a led junior, has prosecuted contested POCA hearings, and has worked successfully with a range of prosecuting authorities, including the Insolvency Service and British Port Authorities. He is regularly instructed in private driving matters.
Prior to the Bar, Matthew led an advocacy charity in the healthcare sector and was an expert advisor to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In those roles, he worked closely with prisoners, individuals suffering from addictions, and those living with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and autism.
Matthew was awarded two prestigious scholarships by Middle Temple to pursue his legal studies and received the Falcon Chambers Advocacy Prize for his performance on the Bar course with the Inns of Court College of Advocacy.
Crime
Matthew is regularly instructed in matters at the Crown Court and Magistrates Courts.
• R v C – Crown Court – Trial
Matthew made successful legal submissions when representing a defendant that was forensically linked to the inside of a burgled property. The defendant was allegedly captured on CCTV taking cash from the property. However, the CCTV footage was not seized and the prosecution had to rely on the business owner’s account of what the CCTV showed. The Judge accepted Matthew’s submissions and directed the jury to treat this evidence “very carefully”. The defendant was ultimately acquitted.
• R v B – Crown Court – Re-trial
Matthew prosecuted the re-trial of a defendant that claimed to have a good reason for the possession of a bladed article in a public place. The defendant’s explanation was undermined by an independent witness. However, that witness had a cognitive impairment and failing eyesight. Matthew ensured the witness received a large-text version of her statement. He also adopted recommendations from the Advocate’s Gateway toolkits regarding communication. The witness gave clear and compelling evidence. The defendant was convicted.
• R v K – Magistrates Court – Plea Hearing
Matthew represented a defendant with complex mental health conditions against a charge of obstructing a police constable. In a pre-hearing conference with the prosecutor, Matthew disclosed the full extent of the defendant’s issues and identified steps the defendant had taken to improve his mental health. Since the date of the allegations, the defendant had been prescribed a new and effective course of medication. The prosecution was subsequently dropped after a review of the public interest.
• R v S – Crown Court – Basis of plea
Matthew’s client was found by police in a stolen car with a set of false number plates and three sets of car keys. He had a disqualification from driving and was seen driving the car. Several charges were pursued: handling stolen goods, driving whilst disqualified, driving without insurance, and possession of cannabis. A basis of plea was accepted by the prosecution. This maximised credit for a guilty plea. The sentencing judge accepted Matthew’s arguments about the seriousness of the offending and passed a Community Order with 90 hours of unpaid work.
Crime: Private Prosecution
Matthew is available for instruction by prosecuting authorities.
- British Port Authority v B
Matthew is instructed by a British Port Authority to pursue the prosecution of a defendant following his refusal to comply with a Special Direction under s54 of Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847. - Insolvency Service v E
Matthew is instructed in the prosecution of a defendant for his failure to comply with prohibitions imposed by the Insolvency Act 1986.
Crime: Road Traffic Offences
Matthew regularly receives privately funded instruction to defend in driving matters.
• R v P – Magistrates Court – Trial
Matthew’s client received a request for information about who was driving his car when it was caught speeding. Despite the client’s best efforts he was unable to recall whether it was him or his wife. He had spoken to his wife, analysed banking transactions, and requested more CCTV from the police. On the day of trial, Matthew made representations to the prosecution which led to the case being reviewed and ultimately withdrawn. Matthew’s client avoided a minimum one-year driving disqualification.
• R v W – Magistrates Court – Trial
Having been ‘cut-up’ on a roundabout, Matthew’s client followed the other driver – involving a short detour from his route – to speak to him about what happened. He caught up with the driver and was allegedly seen by an independent witness to lean into the car and assault him. Mobile phone footage showed the two men in a scuffle in which the complainant was taken to the ground. A thorough cross-examination revealed inconsistencies in the accounts of the complainant, his passenger, and the independent witness. The Magistrates could not be sure of guilt.
• R v A – Magistrates Court – Trial
Whilst representing a client who hit a cyclist, Matthew made representations to the prosecution about evidential weaknesses which led to the withdrawal of charges that carried the risk of a custodial sentence (failure to stop at the scene of an accident). The defendant pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention only. The sentence was limited to a small fine and 5 points.
• R v P – Magistrates Court – Plea and mitigation
Matthew acted for a gentleman who had accidentally struck a car in a supermarket car park and driven off. He pleaded guilty to three charges: driving without due care and attention, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and failing to report. In mitigation, Matthew drew to the court’s attention the impact a driving disqualification on the client’s disabled wife. He also deployed legal arguments to avoid driving disqualification. The client was sentenced to a small fine and 5 points.
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R v E – Magistrates Court – Plea and mitigation
Matthew defended a client who momentarily fell asleep at the wheel and hit a cyclist. The cyclist suffered serious injuries with long term effects. Matthew provided clear and robust advice to the client who pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. Thanks to credit for an early guilty plea, and effective personal mitigation at a sentence hearing, the defendant avoided a custodial sentence.
Crime: Youth Court
Matthew is a registered Youth Court practitioner.
• R v D & Q – Youth Court – Trial
Whilst representing two teenage boys at a trial for handling stolen goods, Matthew was able to exclude detrimental evidence at trial that had not been properly served. This included an assertion that one of the defendants had tried to avoid arrest – evidence that was relevant to the defendant’s knowledge of the goods. Matthew made a successful application of ‘no case to answer’.
• R v P – Youth Court – Sentence
Matthew’s client had a pre-sentence report that commented in highly negative terms about the defendant’s lack of accountability. Matthew provided information and re-assurance to the client which led to full instructions on the offending and his feelings of remorse. The sentencing judge remarked that he was particularly pleased the defendant had taken responsibility for his offending. Despite an extensive offending history, a marked escalation in offending, and many thousands of pounds of damage, the judge made a community order.
Crime: Other
Matthew defends and prosecutes in a wide range of matters.
• British Port Authority v A – Magistrates Court – Trial
Matthew was instructed by a British Port Authority to pursue the prosecution of a defendant following his refusal to comply with a Special Direction under s54 of Docks and Piers Clauses Act 1847. The defendant was convicted after a legal argument about the jurisdiction of the Harbour Master.
• Insolvency Service v B – Magistrates Court – Trial
Matthew was instructed in the prosecution of a defendant for his failure to comply with prohibitions imposed by the Insolvency Act 1986. The defendant was convicted after legal argument about an alleged human rights infringement and statutory interpretation of a potential defence to the offence of re-using a company name (the ‘third exception’).
• Metropolitan Police Service v D – Magistrates Court – Closure order application
In this private instruction Matthew represented a mobile phone repair shop that was alleged to be involved in handling stolen goods. Matthew successfully opposed a closure order application, persuading a District Judge that the imposition of such an order was not ‘necessary’. The client was able to re-open the business – his only source of income – immediately upon conclusion of the hearing.
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Local Authority v C – Magistrates Court – Breach of Education Order
Matthew defended the mother of a child who could not attend mainstream school due to complex education and health needs. The mother was alleged to have breached an order that mandated her to place her child into a local school. The defendant attended court on the day of trial with a wealth of evidence regarding the home-school provision that was in place for the child. The defendant was ultimately acquitted on appeal.
Education
- Inn’s of Court College of Advocacy, Bar Course (Very Competent)
- University of Law, Graduate Diploma in Law (Commendation)
- University of Leeds, Computing and Management BSc
- Chartered Institute of Business Accounting, Business Accounting Certificate
Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
Awards
- Butterfield Scholar, Western Circuit (2022)
- Falcon Chambers Advocacy Prize, Inns of Court College of Advocacy (2022)
- Honourable Mention, Willem C. 29th Vis International Moot (2022)
- Queen Mother’s Scholar, Middle Temple (2021)
- Diplock Scholar, Middle Temple (2019)
News
‘Church gardening’ excuse for carrying an axe around Southsea rejected by jury
Matthew Parris prosecuted a bladed article trial where the defendant argued he had a reasonable excuse for carrying an axe in public. An agitated...
A second and final opportunity to build better relationships
Having been told by a court that he could expect a prison sentence, Matthew’s client was afforded a second opportunity at completing a Building...
Protagonist and football fans convicted of a large violent disorder in Coventry – Mike Shaw led Matthew Parris for the Crown
A Warwick jury have this week convicted the chief protagonist of a large violent disorder, involving over twenty football fans. On 9th June 2020,...
2KBW welcomes a new member of Chambers
Chambers is delighted to announce that Matthew Parris has joined us as a tenant following successful completion of his pupillage. Many congratulations, Matthew!
Butterfield Scholar and pupil Matthew Parris called to The Bar
Under the supervision of Barry McElduff, pupil and Butterfield Scholar Matthew Parris was called to The Bar on 13th October 2022. He will be...
Crime Team
crime@2kbw.com
+44 20 7353 1746