Overview
Matthew prosecutes and defends, appearing regularly in the Crown Court, Magistrates’ Courts, and Youth Court. His practice spans serious and complex litigation such as multi‑defendant trials involving violence and drug conspiracies. He also accepts instruction in more straightforward matters, from witness intimidation to driving offences.
He has been instructed as a led junior, has prosecuted contested Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearings, and has worked successfully with a range of prosecuting authorities, including the Insolvency Service and British Port Authorities. He is also frequently instructed in private road traffic cases.
Before coming to the Bar, Matthew led an advocacy charity in the healthcare sector and served as an expert adviser to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In those roles, he worked closely with people living with addictions, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and autism — experience that informs the way he works with clients.
Matthew was awarded two prestigious Middle Temple scholarships 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: General
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 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.
• 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.
Crime: Serious Crime
Matthew is on the CPS Serious Crime Panel (Level 2). He has appeared as a led junior and junior alone in cases involving particularly serious and complex crime.
• R v F & Ors – Crown Court
Led junior prosecuting the joint possession of a firearm, with intent to endanger life, in which a sub-machine gun was discharged on the streets of London. The case involved calling expert evidence on DNA, firearms and cell-site data.
• R v T & Ors – Crown Court
Led junior prosecuting county-lines operation in Brighton in which the defendants had, at an earlier time, been victims of modern slavery. The case involved careful consideration of the 4-stage modern slavery test and hearsay applications to adduce the evidence of a 13-year-old modern-slavery victim.
• R v J & Ors – Crown Court
Led junior prosecuting an organised crime group’s conspiracy to supply cocaine, operating at the interface of importation, generating a multi-million-pound revenue. A substantial amount of the evidence having been derived from covert surveillance.
• R v V – Crown Court
Led junior prosecuting a baby-shaking case in which a 2-month-old baby suffered grievous bodily harm.
• R v N & Ors – Crown Court
Led junior prosecuting a nationwide conspiracy to supply anabolic steroids.
• R v G & Ors – Crown Court
Prosecuted a multi-handed heroin and cocaine drugs conspiracy as junior alone.
• R v W & Ors – Crown Court
Prosecuted a multi-handed violent disorder as junior alone.
Crime: Specialist Prosecution
Matthew is available for instruction by government agencies and private bodies that prosecute.
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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 legal argument about the jurisdiction of the Harbour Master.
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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’).
Crime: Road Traffic Offences
Matthew regularly receives privately funded instruction to defend in driving matters.
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R v W – Magistrates Court – Trial – ‘Road Rage’ incident
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.
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R v P – Magistrates Court – Trial – Speeding and ‘Totting-up’
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 for ‘totting-up’.
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R v E – Magistrates Court – Plea and mitigation – Causing serious injury
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.
• R v A – Magistrates Court – Driving without due care
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 – Mitigation – Failing to stop and report
Matthew acted for a gentleman who had accidentally struck a car in a supermarket car park and driven off. He had 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.
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.
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) Highest score in bar course cohort for legal submission advocacy
- Honourable Mention, Willem C. 29th Vis International Moot (2022)
- Queen Mother’s Scholar, Middle Temple (2021)
- Diplock Scholar, Middle Temple (2019)
News
2KBW CPS Serious Crime Panel Grade 2 appointments
Congratulations to Matthew Parris, Laura Hollingbery, Edward Warren and Josh Happé who have received their CPS Serious Crime Panel Grade 2 accreditations.
‘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