Patrick Dennis
‘Patrick is a formidable and tenacious prosecutor. Patrick is meticulously fair and impressive on his feet.’
Legal 500 (2024)
YEAR OF CALL 2006
Overview
Patrick started his career defending and prosecuting in equal measure across all areas of criminal law.
In recent years Patrick has specialised in prosecuting serious violence including murder. Patrick also specialises in prosecuting cases that involve serious and organised crime where the evidence is complex and voluminous. Patrick is regularly instructed as leading junior in such cases.
Patrick is regularly sought out to provide pre charge advice in challenging, complex cases that require detailed, careful analysis and direction from the outset. Patrick is also regularly requested to provide specialist advice in relation to disclosure issues, particularly those involving legal professional privilege.
Notable Cases
R v RN and UC (Guildford Crown Court, 2024) – Leading junior in a two handed murder case. The defendants were youths and the victims were drug users with an extensive criminal history. The fatal incident occurred following a drug deal that went awry. The case involved complex issues of bad character and joint enterprise. The case was made significantly more challenging by led junior counsel becoming unavoidably unavailable after the first week of trial. I continued the case alone against two teams of silks and experienced juniors. The defendants were both convicted after trial.
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R v JR and Others (Lewes Crown Court, 2023) – Leading junior in a complex 13 handed conspiracy to supply multiple KG quantities of cocaine across Sussex and others areas. The case involved significant amounts of EncroChat, surveillance and phone evidence. All 13 defendants were convicted either by pleading Guilty or after trial. The case involved some of those in high up roles in the organised crime groups responsible, including a defendant who was directing matters from his prison cell.
R v HB and Others (Norwich Crown Court, 2023) – Led by Will Hughes KC in a murder arising out of an attempted robbery. The case had a drugs and gang related background. The rival drug dealer the defendants were attempting to rob called the victim for help. The defendants then chased the victim and stabbed him to death.
R v AD (Maidstone Crown Court, 2023) – Junior alone in an attempted murder where the defendant twice ran over two soldiers who were in fancy dress after attending a charity event. One of the victims sustained life changing injuries and had every bone in his face broken. The case involved complex reconstruction expert evidence. The defendant was sentenced to 27 years imprisonment with a 3 year extended licence period
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R v CL and Others (Canterbury Crown Court, 2023) – Leading junior where four youths were accused of stabbing two other youths after an Instagram arranged fight in a multi-storey car park. The fight was arranged following a previous incident where the defendants had chased the victims outside McDonalds. The two victims received life changing injuries. The case involved the presentation of significant amounts of CCTV and phone evidence.
R v SD and AP (Maidstone Crown Court, 2022) – Leading junior in a case involving a series of ATM ram raids by professional criminals doing their upmost to cover their tracks. Patrick was awarded a Kent Police Commendation in relation to the case.
R v SD and AP (Maidstone Crown Court, 2022) – Leading junior where the defendant was accused of attempting to murder her partner by pushing him out of a 30 foot high flat window. The case involved a lengthy domestic violence history in which the parties had made multiple allegations and counter allegations. The defendant was accused of subjecting her partner to a series of violence incidents which escalated in seriousness.
R v FM (Central Crown Court, 2021) – Leading junior for the prosecution in a complex conspiracy to commit GBH, attempted murder and wounding with intent case. The case involved two stabbings in two counties, a previous knife attack on one of the complainants and an extensive body of prison phone calls which an expert witness was required to interpret.
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R v BR and others (Canterbury Crown Court, 2021) – Leading junior for the prosecution in a £2 million Bitcoin money laundering case. It was alleged the defendants participated in a money laundering arrangement where criminally obtained cash was laundered through Bitcoin ATMs which were stationed throughout the country. The cash would then be collected and squirreled out of the country through airports, ports and third party bank accounts. This was one of the first Bitcoin money laundering prosecutions.
R v OA and others (Maidstone Crown Court, 2021) – Led by Richard Barraclough QC in a murder arising out of a dispute between rival drugs gangs. This case involved significant amounts of SnapChat material which provided evidence of the build up to the murder. It also involved significant legal arguments in relation to the admissibility of gang related material. As prosecution junior I was required to conduct many of the legal arguments, present the CCTV evidence and cross examine the third defendant who was accused of perverting the course of justice.
R v DD and others (Maidstone Crown Court, 2021) – Prosecution of 5 defendants in a complex drugs conspiracy. The defendants were running a cocaine home delivery service. There was a 4 day Newton hearing after the principal defendant served a basis of plea seeking to minimise his role. The Newton hearing was resolved against the defendant.
R v AG and others (Woolwich Crown Court, 2020) – ATM ram raid case in which a series of well planned, sophisticated offences took place resulting in a significant amount of money being stolen. The case involved complex phone and surveillance evidence.
R v DP (Maidstone Crown Court, 2019) – Led by Philip Bennetts QC in a murder where the defendant was accused of stabbing the victim in a caravan park near Faversham. The defendant had killed twice before in Romania. The case involved a complex bad character application. It also involved organising eye witnesses from abroad made more difficult by a series of delays in the trial caused by the defendant. As prosecution junior I was required to present the CCTV evidence which was a significant part of the case against the defendant.
Operation Splinter (Croydon Crown Court, 2018) – Leading junior for the prosecution in a Flying Squad case in which two defendants were convicted of conspiracy to cause explosions and conspiracy to steal after a six week trial. A further defendant had previously pleaded Guilty. This was a complex case in which the defendants blew up eight ATM machines across the South East of England stealing in excess of £150, 000. The case involved complex phone and cell site, ANPR and surveillance evidence.
R v NJ (Maidstone Crown Court, 2018) – The defendant was accused of repeatedly raping his step daughter over several years. Acquitted on all counts after trial.
R v KB (Reading Crown Court, 2018) – The defendant was acquitted of manslaughter after trial following a late night incident in Windsor Town Centre.
R v MA and others (Inner London Crown Court, 2017) – MA was accused of raping a 14 year old girl as well as forcing her to perform sexual acts on him and his friends. Acquitted on all counts after trial.
R v DA (Central Criminal Court, 2017) – Lorry driver accused of causing the death of a cyclist by careless driving, acquitted after trial.
R v JB (Snaresbrook Crown Court, 2017) – Three week mortgage fraud trial involving cut throat defence. Co-defendant convicted unanimously of conspiracy to defraud. JB acquitted of conspiracy to defraud and although convicted by majority of the lesser offence of fraudulent trading he received a suspended sentence.
R v BDR and others (Kingston Crown Court, 2016) – 23 year old client of good character acquitted of attempted murder and three alternative counts after a 14 days trial.
NEWS STORIES
Defendants sentenced in youth murder case prosecuted by Patrick Dennis and Jessica Tate
FCsewAmi9bell2024-05-23T07:57:15+00:00May 23rd, 2024|
Patrick Dennis and Jessica Tate prosecute double stabbing murder
FCsewAmi9bell2024-04-02T10:31:33+00:00April 2nd, 2024|
William Hughes KC and Patrick Dennis Prosecute County Lines Murder
FCsewAmi9bell2023-11-07T12:57:43+00:00September 12th, 2023|
Patrick Dennis prosecutes double attempted murder case
FCsewAmi9bell2023-11-07T12:58:29+00:00August 2nd, 2023|
Patrick Dennis and Jessica Tate prosecute in high value ram raiding case
FCsewAmi9bell2023-11-07T19:16:24+00:00November 17th, 2022|