Richard Dawson

Crime

Richard is a road traffic specialist, with more than 15 years of experience representing those accused accused with driving offences, Richard particularly deals with offences arising from serious road accidents. His wealth of knowledge and skill in this highly specialised area is best demonstrated by his track record of successfully defending drivers charged with causing death and/or catastrophic injury.

Richard is regularly instructed in professional discipline matters and frequently appears before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.

With a background in regulatory matters, Richard receives consistent instruction in cases commenced by the General Medical Council, Trading Standards, the Health and Safety Executive, the Environment Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (formerly VOSA).

His work includes being routinely instructed in licensing cases, advising on matters for which a licence is required and representing applicants, local authorities and interested parties, at all levels, through Committee to Court.

Additionally, Richard represents those charged with the most serious crimes, including murder, serious assaults, serious road accidents resulting in death or catastrophic injury, rape, sexual offences, drugs matters, fraud and financial offences.

Richard is frequently asked to represent private client individuals. He has successfully represented professionals in a variety of committee, tribunal and Court forums, including solicitors, accountants, medical professionals, professional sports personalities and high-net-worth individuals, and is licensed to provide legal advice and representation to members of the public.

Road Traffic Offences

Accidents resulting in death

• R v Shields – causing death by careless driving – Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v McWilliam – causing death by dangerous driving – Defence Counsel – tragic case – 68 year old learnt to drive in order to give his disabled wife some freedom – lost control due to inexperience, having driven less than 1,000 miles after passing test – pleaded guilty – avoided an immediate sentence of imprisonment – privately funded
• R v Dear – causing death by careless driving – Defence Counsel – lorry driver – acquitted – privately funded case
• R v Hilton – causing death by dangerous driving – Defence Counsel – acquitted – privately funded case
• R v Cox – double fatality, causing death by careless driving – Defence Counsel – head on collision with husband & wife on a motorbike – Cox unconsciously steered across into the opposing carriageway and tragically into collision, as a result of choking on a throat lozenge – successfully argued automatism on the basis of cough syncope – acquitted – privately funded case Reported: The Mirror
• R v Hodgson – causing death by careless driving – Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v Smith – causing death by careless driving – Defence Counsel – tragic case on the motorway, resulting in the death of a teenage student – lorry never actually collided with or indeed touched the car driven by the deceased – the deceased lost control in the course of overtaking the lorry, which was itself overtaking another slower moving vehicle – acquitted – privately funded case
• R v Creasey – causing death by careless driving – Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v O’Loughlin – causing death by careless driving – Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v Ward – causing death by careless driving whilst under the influence of alcohol – Defence Counsel – in excess of 3 times legal driving limit – privately funded case
• R v Christie – causing death by careless driving – Defence Counsel – deceased was 83 years old – acquitted by unanimous verdict – privately funded case

Accidents resulting in catastrophic injury

• R v Hellewell – dangerous driving – Defence Counsel – privately funded case (ongoing)
• R v Kala – causing serious injury by dangerous driving – Defence Counsel – Kala lost control in the rain when overtaking on a section of wet road incorporating tram tracks; part of the Sheffield Supertram network – acquitted
• R v Bedward – causing serious injury by dangerous driving – Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v Makin – careless driving – Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v Lonsdale – dangerous driving – Defence Counsel – multi-car pile up resulting in catastrophic life changing injuries – Lonsdale fainted and drove into head-on collision – successfully argued automatism on the basis of cough syncope – Prosecution dropped the case – £4 million reserve – acquitted – privately funded case Reported: The Northern Echo
• R v Day – careless driving – Defence Counsel – Complainant motorcyclist & pillion sustained extremely serious injuries – £2 million reserve – acquitted – privately funded case
• R v Potter – careless driving – Defence Counsel – motorcar collided with teenage pedestrians crossing a dual carriageway – life changing injuries sustained; by both; rest of life care necessary for one of the pair – £3 million reserve – acquitted – privately funded case
• R v Harper – careless driving – Defence Counsel – defending a paraplegic, himself previously injured in a motorcycle accident, who knocked a cyclist off his bike – privately funded case
• R v Semeniuk – careless driving – Defence Counsel – acquitted of failing to give way to a motorcyclist – able to demonstrate that the Complainant motorcyclist was the author of his own misfortune (he lost a leg in the accident) in that he had attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre when he should not have – privately funded case
• R v Melia – careless driving – Defence Counsel – HGV driver found blameless in relation to accident causing life changing injuries to young children – Court upheld a submission of no case to answer after demonstrated that car braked heavily and without warning, resulting in the collision – privately funded case
• R v Nicholson – careless driving – Defence Counsel – retired Consultant Surgeon acquitted when District Judge upheld a submission of no case to answer and stopped the case – privately funded case
• R v Brooks – careless driving – Defence Counsel – Prosecution offered no evidence after cross-examination of the Complainant pedestrian – privately funded case
• R v Lamb – careless driving – Defence Counsel – HGV driver acquitted of fault in relation to accident when baby caused serious injury – privately funded case

Murder

• R v Wriggley – attempt murder – Defence Counsel
• R v Mitchenson & Another – Operation Monarch – murder & arson – Defence Counsel – charged with the murder of a convicted sex offender, who had been seriously assaulted and partially strangled, before being dowsed with white spirit and set on fire – cut-throat defence – acquitted (co-Defendant convicted – life sentence with a 30 year minimum period to serve)
• R v Hyland & Another – attempt murder & robbery – Defence Counsel
• R v Grocock & Others – murder – junior Defence Counsel
• R v Hanrahan & Another – murder – junior Defence Counsel

Serious violence & public disorder

• R v Johnson – s.18, GBH – Defence Counsel
• R v Browitt – s.18, GBH – Defence Counsel
• R v Laird – child cruelty & s.20, GBH – Prosecution Counsel – allegations of multiple serious assaults on son
• R v Zubar – violent disorder – Defence Counsel – 10-handed violent disorder arising out of Asian extended family dispute – acquitted
• R v Buckley – causing serious harm to a child – Defence Counsel – starved daughter almost to death
• R v Johnson – s.18, GBH – Defence Counsel
• R v McMinn – s.18, GBH – Prosecution Counsel
• R v Campbell – s.18, GBH – Defence Counsel
• R v Marsh – s.20, GBH – Defence Counsel – assault on the rugby field – privately funded case
• R v Farooq & Others – s.18, GBH – Defence Counsel – large-scale violence and public disorder arising out of a turf war in the Midlands – acquitted.
• R v Glaze & Others – armed robbery – Defence Counsel – car jacking – acquitted
• R v Brogan – child cruelty & assault – Defence Counsel – allegations of serious assaults committed over many years against his natural son – acquitted
• R v Bakewell – s.18, GBH – Defence Counsel – domestic violence
• R v Kenrick & Others – aggravated burglary – Defence Counsel – use of lump hammer to cause serious injury – acquitted
• R v Wynne – burglary with intent to inflict GBH & s.18, GBH – Prosecution Counsel – successfully prosecuted man who had stabbed his own brother

Rape & serious sexual offences

• R v Farrar – indecent images – Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v Moni – sexual grooming – Defence Counsel
• R v Butterworth – historic sexual abuse – Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v Bennett – buggery – Defence Counsel – single historic allegation; 53 years ago – acquitted
• R v McKell – sexual assault of a child under 13 – Defence Counsel – multiple allegations; multiple Complainants
• R v McCann – historic sexual abuse – Defence Counsel – war veteran alleged to have sexually abused step-daughter
• R v Singleton – historic rape & sexual abuse – Defence Counsel – multiple allegations; 30 years ago; allegedly commencing when his niece was only 4 years old
• R v Skelton – attempt rape & sexual assault – Defence Counsel – acquitted of attempt rape
• R v Box – sexual assault of a child under 13 – Defence Counsel – multiple allegations of sexual assault of granddaughter
• R v Hodgson – rape & sexual assault – Defence Counsel – multiple allegations of raping and sexually abusing a teenage boy
• R v Hilton – sexual assault of a child under 13 – Defence Counsel
• R v Mohan – historic rape of a child under 13 – Defence Counsel – allegations of historic sexual abuse of his natural daughter – acquitted R v Lord – attempt rape & assault by penetration – Defence Counsel – alleged sexual assaults as against his estranged wife
• R v Saeedi – multiple rapes – Defence Counsel – acquitted
• R v Butterworth – historic sexual abuse – junior Defence Counsel – privately funded case
• R v Stanley – multiple rapes – Defence Counsel – multiple allegations of sexual assault; multiple complainants – acquitted
• R v Higgins – historic familial sexual abuse – Defence Counsel – charged with allegations of historic sexual misconduct against his half-sister from when he was aged 13 and she was only 7 years old – acquitted of attempting to rape her and of repeatedly indecently assaulting her
• R v Gabryszewski – rape – Defence Counsel – successfully defended a Polish national who spoke no English

Drugs & money laundering

• R v Deaffern – Certificate of Inadequacy (Drug Trafficking Act 1994) – Defence Counsel
• R v Shelton – Certificate of Inadequacy (Criminal Justice Act 1988) – Defence Counsel
• R v Freeman-Olugbenga & Others – Operation Hook – drugs importation – Defence Counsel – acquitted
• R v Marra & Others – Operation Moth – conspiracy to supply cocaine – Defence Counsel
• R v Kara – money laundering – Defence Counsel – allegations of cuckoo smurfing
• R v Coppell & Others – conspiracy to supply Class A drugs & money laundering – Defence Counsel
• R v Dolan & Others – conspiracy to supply cocaine – Defence Counsel R v McCallin – drug importation – Defence Counsel – HGV driver importing cannabis by the lorry load from Europe
• R v Riley & Others – Operation Barometer – Defence Counsel – major conspiracy to supply cocaine across the North West
• R v Whitworth & Others – Defence Counsel – conspiracy to supply cocaine from the Midlands to the North West – involved the importation of hundreds of kilograms of Benzocaine from China
• R v Banks & Others – Operation Oak – Defence Counsel – conspiracy to supply Class A drugs involving in excess of 30 Defendants
• R v Tang & Others – Operation Delmas – junior Defence Counsel – conspiracy to supply wholesale quantities of Class A drugs from London to the North West & money laundering
• R v Hayhurst & Others – Operation Beath – Defence Counsel – money launderer charged in connection with international conspiracy to import/supply drugs – potential value in excess of £100 million
• R v Healy & Others – Operation Rigging – Defence Counsel – large scale conspiracy to supply drugs
• R v Gregory & Others – Operation Perryville – Defence Counsel – 26 Defendants charged out of undercover drugs operation

Fraud & serious dishonesty

• R v Donaghy & Another – mortgage fraud – Defence Counsel
• R v Conway – benefit fraud – Defence Counsel – failed to declare that her landlord had gifted her a house
• R v Creaven & Others – Operation Fennel – Defence Counsel – car ringing – conspiracy to convert criminal property
• R v Davenport – theft – Defence Counsel – breach of trust case – executor of a will; stole sister’s inheritance
• R v Ogunleye & Others – conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration – Defence Counsel – sham marriages between EU & Nigerian nationals
• R v Thompson & Others – fraud – junior Defence Counsel – million pound conspiracy to defraud elderly people throughout the UK – case against Thompson eventually dropped at trial
• R v Parsons – fraud – junior Defence Counsel – conspiracy to defraud multiple banking institutions – digital interception of credit card details from freestanding ATM units – technology employed never before seen in use in UK – stated to have the potential to cripple UK financial institutions R v Holt & Others – Operation Rochefort – Defence Counsel – 14 handed set-top box fraud – represented only Defendant against whom the case was eventually dropped

Testimonials

Richard Dawson is a well-regarded junior with a notable criminal practice.  He is particularly sought after for his expertise in dangerous driving cases, and he also handles matters relating to organised crime and drugs offences.”  Chambers & Partners 2024 – Crime

“Richard’s regulatory specialism focuses on transport law and it is an area where he is developing a national reputation as being a leading expert.  He regularly appears before the Traffic Commissioner where he represents haulage companies, transport managers, and drivers, and his success rate is outstanding.”  The Legal 500 2024 – Business & Regulatory Crime (Inc H&S)

Richard Dawson is a renowned lawyer and an accomplished advocate, who is regularly involved in cases of the utmost gravity, sensitivity and complexity.

Richard is an expert trial lawyer, specialising in road traffic law, regulatory and professional discipline matters, and serious crime

Richard is consistently and highly recommended by the legal directories for his expertise.

The 2024 Edition of The Legal 500 describes Richard as:

“an incredibly hard working barrister.  His drafting of legal arguments and written submissions is particularly impressive, and in relation to advocacy, he is a confident, persuasive, and seriously impressive court room presence” and “notable for his transport expertise.”

In the 2024 Edition of Chambers & Partners Richard is described as:

“a well-regarded junior with a notable criminal practice.  He is particularly sought after for his expertise in dangerous driving cases, and he also handles matters relating to organised crime and drugs offences” and “[His] technical ability and advocacy are excellent.  He is just very easy to work with and very good with experts” and “[His] in-depth knowledge is brilliant.  He just knows what to do and instils confidence in me.”

In the 2023 Edition of The Legal 500 he is described as:

“Richard is a fantastic advocate.  On his feet in a trial is as strong as many counsel a great deal more senior.  What really makes him stand out is the ability to get to grips with and apply technical and complex expert evidence, such as collision reconstruction, medical, tachographs data etc.  This enables him to challenge prosecution experts and present defence evidence in a fluent and concise way, which translates to the jury and bench” and “has an impressive practice and has been active in multiple injury and death by dangerous driving cases.”

In the 2023 Edition of Chambers & Partners he is described as:

“Richard’s written and oral advocacy skills are excellent” and “He is a brilliant barrister to work with” and “He is superb on serious motoring matters.”

In describing Richard in the 2022 Edition, contributors noted:

“He has good attention to detail and he establishes a rapport with clients” and “He gets his strategy and approach spot on.  He is an excellent all-rounder” and “He is brilliant with clients – he is personable and down to earth.  He is extremely thorough, a very engaging trial lawyer and the juries really buy into him.”

In the 2022 Edition of The Legal 500 he is described as:

“an extremely experienced barrister who has a keen eye for the detail.  He works very well under pressure and engages with the jury in a way I’ve not seen with any other barrister” and “The jury sit up and listen when he is on his feet and his likeable, understandable approach means all can follow the issues he raises.”

In the 2021 Edition it was said of Richard:

“His diligence, preparation and communication help put clients at ease.”

In the 2020 Edition it was noted:

“the set houses practitioners with more niche specialisms, such as Richard Dawson who handles some of the most serious and legally complex motoring cases.”

In the 2019 Edition, in describing Richard, a contributor noted:

“Clients trust his advice.”

In the 2018 Edition Richard was described as:

“An intelligent and subtle cross-examiner.”

Memberships

• Association of Regulatory & Disciplinary Lawyers
• Criminal Bar Association
• Fraud Lawyers’ Association
• Northern Circuit
• Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

Education

• The Crossley Heath School, Halifax
• BSc (Hons.) Environmental Geology – University of Sheffield Postgraduate Diploma in Law
• Manchester Metropolitan University Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice at the Bar
• Manchester Metropolitan University