• Thomas Acworth

      Thomas Acworth acts for vulnerable defendant in arms dealing conspiracy

      3PB crime barrister Thomas Acworth represented DB, a vulnerable man with serious health issues, who was charged with conspiracy to transfer prohibited weapons and conspiracy to transfer ammunition. Together with others, DB was said to have converted legal, blank-firing pistols into operational, lethal handguns. The handguns were then supplied to other organised criminal groups around the country. Some were used in gangland shootings. At sentence, HHJ Real accepted Thomas’ ‘focused and realistic’ submissions about DB’s role...

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    • Crime law newsletter

      Crime law newsletter - out now!

      Welcome to 3PB's crime law newsletter, bringing you news and analysis from our team. Oliver Hirsch analyses the case of R v AFU [2023] EWCA Crim 23; Holly Fagan reviews the latest sentencing guidelines; Rebecca McKnight considers the origins, injuries, and challenges of non-fatal strangulation; and Jonathan Underhill sets out a sentencing guide for intentional non-fatal strangulation cases.

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      Thomas Acworth and Thomas Evans successfully defend clients charged with drugs offences after Operation Eternal

      Two of 3PB's crime and regulatory barristers Thomas Acworth and Thomas Evans (picture left to right) successfully represented two people arrested whilst fleeing their North London property along with a third male. In excess of 11kg of cocaine and more than £40,000 in cash was seized at the house. The execution of the search warrant of their property was part of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Eternal, a major operation launched in April 2020 to target...

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      Thomas Acworth's client acquitted of rape

      3PB criminal barrister Thomas Acworth (pictured) saw his client, X, acquitted of rape. X was accused of raping another student after they had been clubbing together.  Following the production of text message and telephone evidence, which undermined the complainant’s credibility, the Crown decided to offer no evidence against X on the first day of his trial. Thomas was instructed by Paige Schooley of Tang, Bentley & Jackson. To instruct Thomas, please email his clerk, Practice...

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    • Thomas Acworth

      Thomas Acworth’s client acquitted of aiding murderer after three month trial

      3PB's crime barrister Thomas Acworth, pictured here, led Laura Hollingbery of 2 KBW in the defence of AM, a vulnerable 18-year-old, in a lengthy murder trial heard before Mr. Justice Martin Spencer at Winchester Crown Court. Thomas was instructed by Kate Harrington of law firm Penfold & McPherson. The trial concerned the killing of Frantisek Olah, a 31-year-old father of two, who was stabbed over 20 times at his home address in Basingstoke. AM was...

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    • Thomas Acworth

      Thomas Acworth successful in firearms appeal by way of case stated

      3PB's crime and regulatory barrister Thomas Acworth, pictured here, appeared for the successful appellant the Chief Constable in the Administrative Court, before Sir Ross Cranston, in the case of Chief Constable of Surrey Police v Nelson Smith. At first instance, the Crown Court upheld the Chief Constable’s decision to refuse Mr. Smith’s application for a firearm certificate on the basis that he was a risk to public safety and the peace. The Crown Court then...

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    • Chambers and Partners 2023

      3PB Criminal Law team achieves the TOP TIER in both legal directories again

      3PB offers its congratulations to its Criminal Law team for again reaching the top tier in the latest editions (2023) of the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories. The team has increased its number of juniors ranked in the Western Circuit by Chambers and Partners to 10 (+2 on last year), and now achieves 12 rankings in the Legal 500 (+2 on last year). 3PB’s criminal law team ‘offers an impressive array of criminal practitioners’ and...

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    • Simon Astill

      3PB excels with 73 rankings in Chambers and Partners 2023

      3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) has been awarded a record number of rankings in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners with a total of 73 accolades for its barristers. The national heavyweight chambers achieves its rankings in London, South Eastern, Western and the Midlands - in 18 categories of law. Earlier this year, 3PB also celebrated its first ranking in Chambers and Partners High Net Worth guide. Click here to view the full results...

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    • Simon Astill

      3PB triumphs in latest Legal 500 ratings of the UK's best barristers  

      3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), the UK's third largest chambers, is delighted to report its best rankings yet - totalling 130 - in the Legal 500 2023’s edition published last night, up 12% on last year’s 116. The set has achieved its rankings across 5 large UK regions - or Circuits (London, South Eastern, Western, Midlands and Chester and Wales) - in 21 categories of law. Earlier this year, 3PB also celebrated its first rankings...

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    • Criminal barristers Gemma White - Thomas Acworth

      Gemma White and Thomas Acworth secure extended sentences for youths convicted of causing GBH with intent

      In May, 3PB criminal law barristers Gemma White and Thomas Acworth (pictured here) secured the convictions of three youths who used a log to inflict extremely serious, life threatening and life changing injuries upon a care worker.  The care worker had challenged the youths for bullying another child.  They were sentenced on 30 June 2022. The two ringleaders (brothers, aged 14 and 16) were found to be dangerous offenders.  The youths were sentenced each to...

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    • Thomas Acworth Gemma White

      Gemma White, leading Thomas Acworth, secure convictions in multi-handed youth trial for causing GBH

      3PB barrister Gemma White, pictured here, leading Thomas Acworth, also pictured, secured convictions in multi-handed youth trial for causing GBH. On Thursday 12th May 2022 a jury at Hove Crown Court returned guilty verdicts against three young defendants following a complex and sensitive three week trial, arising out of a sustained and frenzied assault on a 46 year old care worker in a park in Worthing on Easter Sunday 2021. Two teenage boys, aged 14...

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    • Thomas Acworth

      Thomas Acworth’s client acquitted of causing death by careless driving

      3PB’s specialist crime barrister Thomas Acworth, pictured here, recently acted for a lorry driver, who was accused of killing an elderly motorist in road traffic collision. The driver was reversing his flat-bed lorry into a building site when the deceased’s vehicle collided with him.  The Crown alleged that he had not checked his mirrors prior to carrying out the manoeuvre.   The deceased suffered two brain haemorrhages. Having analysed the medical evidence in detail, Thomas decided...

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