Simon Stirling

Introduction

As a committed criminal law practitioner for more than 30 years Simon has both the experience and expertise to ensure effective and persuasive representation in the whole range of criminal offences.

Background and expertise

Simon is a highly regarded and well-respected senior leading junior, specializing in serious criminal offences in particular murder and other serious violent offences, major drug trafficking and importations, multi-national frauds, confiscation of proceeds of crime and serious sexual offences, in particular rape, child abuse and people trafficking.

He is often commended for his advocacy, legal argument and case presentation and is highly regarded by bench, bar and by lay and professional clients. He is renowned for his careful and sensitive approach to client care and constantly strives to achieve the best outcome for his clients

Simon has extensive Appellate Court experience and frequently provides fresh advice, insight and representation post-conviction.

He is qualified to represent members of the public directly in accordance with the Bar Council’s Direct Access Scheme.

Notable cases

Homicide

R v OC, 2023

Acting for the defendant charged with murder in multi-handed drug-related gang attack in case lasting 5 weeks. Winchester CC

R v R 2022

Acting for the defendant charged with murder in a forensically complex case lasting 5 weeks. Acquitted of murder but convicted of manslaughter. Winchester CC

R v B, 2020

Death by careless driving in unusual circumstances which resulted in a non-custodial sentence. St. Albans Crown Court.

R v P, 2019

High profile murder of victim on Guildford train. Complex legal and tactical issues including issues of loss of control/psychiatric evidence. Central Criminal Court.

News report here

R v M, 2019

Unlawful act manslaughter arising out of campaign of robberies. Case involved complicated expert medical evidence on cause of death. Birmingham Crown Court.

R v M, 2019

Murder of brother in unusual circumstances over dispute of will. Luton Crown Court.

News report here

R v G, 2018

Gang-based drug related multi-handed murder. Trial lasted 6 weeks. Winchester Crown Court.

News report here

R v G, 2017

Led junior in multi handed murder. Defendant acquitted of murder. Central Criminal Court.

R v S, 2015

Historic allegation of attempted murder in gang-related shooting. Warwick Crown Court.

Serious sexual offences

R v V 2022

Leading junior acting for defendant in multi-handed human trafficking allegation.

R v B, 2019

Allegations of historic familial rape. Northampton Crown Court.

R v W, 2018

Allegations of campaign of rape against various women. Complex historic allegations involving contradictory evidence. Birmingham Crown Court.

R v X, 2018

Very young defendant charged with rape against young family member. Issues of mental health and emotional learning difficulties requiring particular expertise and sensitive witness handling.

R v D, 2018

Allegations of historic familial rape. Canterbury Crown Court.

R v B, 2018

Allegations of historic sexual assault by teacher on former pupils. Snaresbrook Crown Court.

R v N, 2017

Leading junior for the defence in multi-handed allegation of human trafficking concerning the trafficking of children for the purposes of child prostitution. One of the first cases under the Modern Slavery Act involving trafficking of children. Kingston Crown Court.

R v G, 2017

Historic allegation of child rape by stranger and associated indecent images, involving complex issues of technical, historic DNA evidence. Woolwich Crown Court.

Serious violence

R v A, 2022

Acting for defendant acquitted at close of prosecution case on numerous firearms charges including possession with intent to endanger life. Harrow CC.

R v S 2020

Leading junior for defendant in substantial conspiracy to rob high value goods from wealthy individuals in the West End of London lasting 6 weeks. Southwark CC.

R v S, 2019

Multi handed prison mutiny representing lifer. Woolwich Crown Court.

News report here

R v A and others, 2018

Conspiracy to commit GBH with intent. Wood Green Crown Court.

Drugs offences

R v M, 2023

Acting for defendant charged with substantial conspiracy to supply Class A drugs in Encro chat case. Acquitted by jury. Woolwich CC

R v M 2022

Acting for defendant charged with substantial conspiracy to supply Class B drugs arising out of various "cannabis factories”. Preston CC

R v A, 2019

10 Handed conspiracy to supply substantial quantities of class A drugs in undercover operation. Trial lasted five weeks. Nottingham Crown Court.

News report here

R v B, 2019

Conspiracy to supply class A drugs. Trial lasted three weeks. Sheffield Crown Court.

Fraud and Financial Crime

R v S and others, 2020

Multi-handed conspiracy to defraud Croydon Council by council employee. Croydon Crown Court.

News report here

R v K, 2019

Leading junior in multi-handed, multi million pound money laundering case. Trial lasted eight weeks. Southwark Crown Court.

R v L, 2018

Fraudulent evasion of income tax involving submission of false returns. Case involved consideration of many complex financial documents. Inner London Crown Court.

R v C, 2018

This was the first fraud of its kind to be litigated in the U.K.

The operation involved a 5-year conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and concerned the submission of hundreds of false claims to the Redundancy Payment Service (RPS). Croydon Court Crown.

News report here

R v B and others, 2017

Leading junior on sophisticated conspiracy to launder proceeds of crime arising out of the control of prostitution in Central London. Southwark Crown Court.

News report here

R v A and others, 2016

Leading junior for the defence in multi handed fraud and money laundering allegations relating to the abuse “on an industrial scale” of the foreign student visa system arising out of a Panorama investigation. Southwark Crown Court.