Year of Call: 1996
Clerk: Nigel East

Peter qualified as a solicitor in 1976 before being called to the Bar in 1996. With over 30 years experience, he now specialises in criminal law litigation.

Whilst Peter’s practice is predominantly defence work he is a grade four prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service. His work includes crimes of violence, fraud and economic crime, sexual offences and regulatory matters. He has specific experience of working with the Health and Safety Executive. He is a panel member for VHCC work, is a Grade 4 CPS prosecutor and is on the panel of approved advocates for prosecuting rape cases.

Described by Chambers UK as” a great junior counsel who is up to the challenge of dealing with serious criminal matters; he’s meticulous and very good with clients", examples of Peter’s most recent notable cases include R v Howley(PG) (2006) Cr App R 50 which established in the Court of Appeal the precise application of new law concerning hearsay evidence enacted in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. He also successfully prosecuted a defendant charged with two offences of manslaughter and three offences contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (R v Tongue – Cardiff Crown Court 2000). More recently (2012), Peter worked on the case of R v Barry Bowyer where he succeeded in prosecuting a man charged with murder.  He was instructed to prosecute the case without leading counsel (or with the assistance of a second junior) and after a 12 day trial secured a unanimous conviction.  The defendant received a sentence of life imprisonment with a requirement that he serve 30 years before being considered for parole. 

Peter was educated at Merthyr Tydfil County Grammar School before going on to study at the University of Hull and College of Law, Chester.