Ben Holden
Solicitor (admitted 2002)
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Ben specialises in serious, heavyweight crime including, homicide, serious sexual offences, fraud and confiscation proceedings. He has a particular interest in cases with complex forensic issues, an international aspect and those involving proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He has developed an expertise in football related disorder and defending in applications for football banning orders.
He regularly acts for individuals funded by Legal Aid and also privately represents professionals who find themselves accused of criminal offences. Recently he has represented an oil executive charged with serious sexual offences, a banker charged with being drunk and disorderly, a music producer charged with driving matters where he successfully argued against being disqualified and a recruitment consultant being investigated for drugs offences.
Ben qualified in 2002 with Powell Spencer & Partners in Kilburn. Prior to undertaking a training contract with that firm he worked almost exclusively defending suspects at the police station, representing those accused of the whole gamut of criminal offences from minor offences to the most serious such as murder and conspiracies. On qualification Ben moved to a leading firm in Kentish Town and soon established a busy practice representing defendants in the Magistrates’ Court at procedural hearings, sentencing hearings and trials.
Ben is a member of LCCSA and Amnesty International and became a partner in 2009.
Notable Cases/Awards
Cases undertaken:
R v B – Warwick CC (2010) – Multi-handed conspiracy to supply cannabis where it was alleged that the 9 defendants were robbing cannabis factories around the UK , stealing the ‘crop’ and then supplying to others. Following trial, B was convicted but sentenced to a suspended sentence.
R v A – Woolwich CC (2010) - Multi-handed kidnap and false imprisonment involving torture of the victim.
R v Li – Southwark CC (2009) – The defendant faced a number of fraud and immigration offences following the duping of Chinese citizens whereupon the defendant and another posed a lawyers and assured Chinese citizens that they could get them British citizenship. They charged £20,000 per case but it was a large well organised fraud.
R v Chambers – Central Criminal Court (2009) - Allegation was murder, where the defendant stabbed the victim in a squat in East London. The case involved complex forensic and legal issues. The Crown accepted a plea to Manslaughter on the basis of Provocation on the second day of trial.
R v Hoskins – Inner London Crown Court (2010) – The defendant stood trial for possession of a number of firearms and possession with intent to supply cocaine and heroin.
R v F (a juvenile) (2008) – Multi-handed s.18 Wounding with Intent - The defendant was one of a group of ‘youths’ who severely beat the victim in the street causing substantial internal injuries. The case was discharged against the defendant following half time submissions made during the trial.
R v R (2008) – Central Criminal Court - Represented the defendant in robbery case of an elderly man in his home, where the defendant’s DNA was found on the cable ties used to tie up the complainant before he was tortured.
R v Pharaoh (2009) – Snaresbrook Crown Court – The defendant stood trial for serious sexual offences spanning a ten year period.
R v McNally (2008) – Canterbury Crown Court - The defendant required representation for confiscation proceedings following conviction for a drugs offence. The Crown sought to have the entire equity in the defendant’s home confiscated. Following lengthy defence preparation the Crown accepted payment of £8,000.
R v Morris (2008) – Birmingham Crown Court - The defendant was tried for murder and GBH along with two others following a violent attack on two men in their home.
R v Adlington (2008) – Kingston Crown Court – Client was charged with conspiracy to launder money. Following representations the Crown accepted pleas to substantive offences. Complex confiscation proceedings followed the criminal matter where the Crown sought in excess of £1 million. The defendant was ordered to pay less than £20,000.
R v Scott (2006)- Central Criminal Court - Allegation was murder during the course of a violent robbery of a Hatton Garden jeweller. This was a retrial for murder where the Jury originally failed to come to a verdict in relation to 3 defendants and acquitted one defendant. At the retrial client was convicted of manslaughter and the co-defendants were convicted of murder.
R v Feliciano (2005) – Inner London Crown Court - Allegation was one of gang rape of a 15 year old. There were 6 defendants in all, all but one who were juveniles. Client was acquitted on the direction of the Judge following legal submissions.
Prosecutor v Gbao – Special Court of Sierra Leone – Acted as Legal Assistant to Counsel between 2003 and 2006 at this international tribunal that was trying those alleged to be responsible for war crimes during the 1990’s.