Insights from a Leading Criminal Barrister

Sexual Assault defences

Sexual Assault defences

Quentin Hunt, a sexual offences Barrister, examines the elements of the offence of sexual assault and the defences available when a person is charged with such an offence.

Not guilty in careless driving allegation

Not guilty in careless driving allegation

Quentin Hunt is a criminal Barrister who is an expert in defending professional and high profile individuals in Road Traffic cases.

Planning Enforcement- vacation of guilty pleas and subsequent Not Guilty verdict

Planning Enforcement- vacation of guilty pleas and subsequent Not Guilty verdict

Quentin was approached to represent Mr AK and Mr AR, two relatives who owned a rental property in the Borough of Newham. At that stage the two gentlemen had already entered Guilty pleas to failure to comply with a planning enforcement notice contrary to s179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Quentin secures acquittal for Accountant in Driving allegations

Quentin secures acquittal for Accountant in Driving allegations

Quentin represented Miss ND, a chartered accountant who faced an allegation of Careless Driving and failure to stop at the scene of an accident.

Success in reopening Newton Hearing and suspended sentence in Trading Standards Prosecution

Success in reopening Newton Hearing and suspended sentence in Trading Standards Prosecution

Quentin was approached by Mr AS who was before the Harrow Crown Court for sentence in respect of a trading standards prosecution.

Quentin achieves caution for client in data protection breach following representations to the ICO

Quentin achieves caution for client in data protection breach following representations to the ICO

Quentin represented Miss DC, who was subject to an investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office in respect of a breach of section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1988.

Criminal liability under Section 31 National Minimum Wage Act 1998

Criminal liability under Section 31 National Minimum Wage Act 1998

Quentin reviews aspects of National Minimum Wage Act 1998 which put into place various sanctions for non compliance with the legislation, the most serious of which is criminal prosecution.

Quentin secures acquittal for client in large scale ‘Boiler Room’ fraud case

Quentin secures acquittal for client in large scale ‘Boiler Room’ fraud case

Quentin represented MM, a professional man of previous good character, who was alleged to be at the centre of a large scale conspiracy to defraud relating to the operation of a ‘Boiler Room’ commodities selling operation in the heart of the City of London.

Discharge for client in planning enforcement prosecution

Discharge for client in planning enforcement prosecution

Quentin was briefed to represent Mr HC, an individual who was accused of breaching a planning enforcement notice contrary to s179 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Quentin achieves huge reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act order

Quentin achieves huge reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act order

Quentin Hunt appeared before Southwark Crown Court representing a limited company in respect of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (“POCA”) proceedings for breach of a planning enforcement notice under s179 of the Town and County Planning Act 1990.

Success in Shotgun Licence revocation appeal

Success in Shotgun Licence revocation appeal

Quentin represented Mr TC, an ex-army officer whose shotgun and firearms licences were revoked by the Metropolitan Police following a series of incidents which gave them concern about the holder’s suitability to continue to hold a licence.

Success in Special Reasons Appeal for Solicitor in Drink Driving case

Success in Special Reasons Appeal for Solicitor in Drink Driving case

Quentin was instructed to appeal a period of driving disqualification imposed upon Mr RK, a Partner at a firm of Solicitors who had been sentenced following a guilty plea to a charge of driving with excess alcohol.

Quentin wins abuse of process application in landmark planning enforcement case

Quentin wins abuse of process application in landmark planning enforcement case

Quentin was briefed by Sanders and co solicitors in respect of the representation of a limited company which was being prosecuted by Brentwood Borough Council prosecution for failure to comply with a planning enforcement notice contrary to s179 Town and Country Planning Act 1990

Self driving cars and the law - more problems than answers

Self driving cars and the law - more problems than answers

The UK Government has announced its intention to trial driverless cars on Britain’s roads by the end of 2019. But, says Criminal Barrister Quentin Hunt, the question of legislating for the safe use of autonomous vehicles combines legal, philosophical and economic problems in a way that the law has not had to deal with in living memory.

Forgery, Using a False Instrument, Possessing a False Instrument

Forgery, Using a False Instrument, Possessing a False Instrument

Quentin has represented individuals who have ranged from master forgers who have created millions of pounds’ worth of forged currencies through to those who have changed dates on official documents for seemingly pointless motives. Find out more about the law in regards to forgery and false instruments.

Success for FTSE 100 company in s20 Environmental notice appeal

Success for FTSE 100 company in s20 Environmental notice appeal

Quentin was instructed on behalf of a multi-national UK Publically Listed Company to appeal a notice served upon them under s20 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

 Quentin secures reduction in excessive sentence in Court of Appeal ruling

Quentin secures reduction in excessive sentence in Court of Appeal ruling

Quentin secures reduction in excessive sentence in Court of Appeal ruling

GDPR six months on

GDPR six months on

This week marks the six-month anniversary since the General Data Protection Regulations took effect. Quentin takes a look back over this time to see whats changed.

Planning Enforcement notices - Time limits, lawful use and planning permission

Planning Enforcement notices - Time limits, lawful use and planning permission

Quentin explains the complex and often confusing interrelationship of planning enforcement law and criminal law and how it can impact upon any criminal prosecution by Local Planning Authorities (LPAs).

s172 Planning enforcement notices

s172 Planning enforcement notices

UPDATED. What do you do if I have been served with a planning enforcement notice? What are the consequences of non compliance with a planning enforcement notice? Quentin reveals all.

Not Guilty Verdicts in large scale Fraud and Trademark case

Not Guilty Verdicts in large scale Fraud and Trademark case

Quentin achieves Not Guilty Verdicts in large scale Fraud and Trademark case. As a result of Quentin's hard work the prosecution made the decision to drop all charges against all of Quentin’s clients.

What Are The Requirements Of The New HMO Regulations

What Are The Requirements Of The New HMO Regulations

It is an offence to let a HMO without a licence. If you do so, the Local Housing Authority will have two options. The first will be to impose a civil penalty of up to £30,000 under section 249A of the Housing Act 2004. The other option open to the Local Housing Authority is to pursue a prosecution against you under section 72 of the Housing Act 2004.

Success in Vacation of Plea application

Success in Vacation of Plea application

If you have entered a plea of Guilty and feel that you were not truly admitting your guilt or that there was a problem in the procedure leading up to the entering of the plea you may have ground to vacate your guilty plea.

Success in significant financial reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act case

Success in significant financial reduction in Proceeds of Crime Act case

Quentin put forward a good defence to the claim by the prosecution leading to the prosecution entering into negotiation with the defence and eventually brokering a settlement on behalf of his client of £141,000, an enormous reduction from the £1.12M initially claimed.

Quentin achieves Not Guilty result in ‘cut throat’ car crash case

Quentin achieves Not Guilty result in ‘cut throat’ car crash case

Quentin robustly defended his client and conducted vigorous cross examination of the co-defendant highlighting her excess speed, poor driving and inconsistent accounts. The Court heard all the evidence and delivered a verdict of Not Guilty for Quentin’s client and a Guilty verdict in respect of the other driver.

Quentin successfully defends Limited Company in driving case

Quentin successfully defends Limited Company in driving case

Quentin found himself representing a large limited company with 3,500 employees which was accused of the offence of failure to provide driver’s details under s172 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

Not guilty verdict for woman accused of assaulting her police officer husband

Not guilty verdict for woman accused of assaulting her police officer husband

As a professional person, CK could not afford a criminal conviction as it would likely result in her losing her livelihood. As a result of Quentin's intervention, the prosecution took time to review the matter and came to a decision not to continue the prosecution.

Quentin secures immediate release of man facing Harassment charges

Quentin secures immediate release of man facing Harassment charges

Learn how Quentin was able to enter a revised plea with the resulting sentence being that his client was released from custody that day to go home with his family. Both FA and his family were delighted with the result.

Perverting the course of justice

Perverting the course of justice

Defendants who are otherwise law abiding people get caught out telling stupid lies to the Police and Courts without realising the dire consequences of getting caught.

New Test of Dishonesty

New Test of Dishonesty

In the New Test of Dishonesty the defendant can no longer use his own standards or what he understands the standards of society to be as a defence.