Adrian Chaplin

Criminal Barrister

Year of Call
1990

adrian.chaplin@walnuthouse.co.uk

Driving Deaths and Motor Manslaughter

Overview

Adrian has extensive experience in dealing with these sensitive and distressing cases. He prosecutes and defends in this area of work. He has particular experience of cases involving medical defences and older drivers. He is regularly instructed under the cover of legal expenses insurance. He is very familiar with the issues that arise in assisting those involved in these life-changing cases.

R v M and T (Exeter CC)
This case went to the Supreme Court as R v Taylor [2016] UKSC 6. Prosecuting at first instance and in the CACD. A case in which aggravated vehicle taking involving death was alleged. UKSC brought law in this area into line with that established for other offences in R v Hughes.

R v S (Exeter CC).
Defending an 89-year-old man accused of causing death by dangerous driving. The case involved issues of fitness to stand trial and automatism.

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Corporate Manslaughter, Health and Safety and Regulatory Offences:

Overview

With a background of prosecuting health and safety cases, Adrian also defends in cases of corporate manslaughter and other serious regulatory breaches.

R v M Ltd (Truro CC)
Defending in a case of corporate manslaughter and health and safety breaches arising from a death by electrocution.

R v GQ Ltd (Truro CC)
Defending an Environment Agency prosecution in connection with a waste transfer site.

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Murder, Manslaughter and Non-fatal Violence

Overview

Adrian has prosecuted and defended in cases involving murder, manslaughter and non-fatal violence.

R v S & E (Lewes Crown Court)
Prosecuting a case of murder arising from drug-debt enforcement.

R v B (Plymouth Crown Court)
Advising prosecution on a case of attempted murder arising from a domestic violence setting.

R v J (Plymouth and Truro Crown court)
Defending Section 18 GBH and child cruelty involving factitious and induced child illness.

R v B & B (Truro Crown Court)
Defending in a Section 18 GBH, husband and wife defendants, licensed premises setting in Camborne.

R v K and others (Exeter Crown Court)
Prosecuting a multi-handed armed robbery at a holiday camp in Dawlish.

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Fraud, Commercial Crime, Confiscation and other Dishonesty Offences:

Overview

Adrian has many years of experience of prosecuting and defending complex cases of fraud, commercial crime and associated confiscation proceedings.

R v P (Truro CC)
Defending an accountant in a high value fraud case involving asset tracing.

R v W (Exeter CC)
Prosecuting blackmail arising from an alleged boiler room fraud.

R v McG (Exeter CC)
Defending £500k fraud allegations in a solar energy venture capital case.

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Parole Board, Prison Adjudications, Inquests and Enquiries and Police Disciplinary:

Overview

Adrian has regularly acted in Article 2 inquests and has experience of Police Misconduct hearings acting for Professional Standards, accused officers and as legal adviser to adjudicating panels.

Inquest into the death of EB (Aberdare Coroner’s Court)
Acted for 32 prison officers employed by G4S.

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Drugs offences

Overview

Adrian has prosecuted heavyweight drug supply and conspiracy cases. He has advised on charges and case building from an early stage. He has experience of associated confiscation proceedings and applications for Serious Crime Prevention Orders. He has also been instructed for the defence in a “County Lines” case involving issues under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Operation Spean (Exeter Crown Court)
Prosecuting a 17 defendant Class A drugs conspiracy

Operation Malago (Plymouth Crown Court)
Prosecuting a 10 defendant mephedrone importation conspiracy.

Operation Cesta (Exeter Crown Court)
Prosecuting a multi defendant industrial scale cannabis cultivation case with international aspects including issues of people trafficking.

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Biographical and Other Information

Recorder
Recorder (Crown Court); CPS Grade 4 prosecutor; Western Circuit member; Criminal Bar Association member (CBA Secretary 2009 to 2010).
Academic
1988 BA(Hons) Law – Cambridge University; 2001 MA International Peace & Security, King’s College, London.

Criminal Law team members

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Lee Bremridge

Year Of Call : 2003; Head of Chambers

Lee Bremridge is Head of Chambers at Walnut House and a criminal barrister experienced in all areas of complex and serious crime. Lee is known for dealing with serious cases, defending and prosecuting in equal measure.

lee.bremridge@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Simon Laws KC

Year Of Call : 1991

In May 2021, Simon Laws KC was instructed to represent the victims in a trial in The Hague in which the former President of Kosovo and three others are being tried for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The proceedings are ongoing and Mr Laws is therefore currently unable to accept other instructions.

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Paul Cavin KC

Year Of Call : 1995; Door Tenant

Paul is a Door Tenant of Walnut House, with family connections to the South West. He is also Head of Chambers at 2 Harcourt Buildings in London. Paul specialises in homicide, fraud, corporate crime – particularly bribery and corruption but also money laundering, cyber crime, and proceeds of crime.
He is regularly instructed by the CPS and the SFO and was on the Attorney General’s Criminal List for many years. Before his call to the bar he trained as a solicitor at a city firm (where he gained experience in all aspects of commercial law before qualifying in the commercial litigation/fraud group). He is a member of the Private Prosecutors’ Association and the Fraud Lawyers Association.

paul.cavin@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Adrian Chaplin

Year Of Call : 1990

Adrian is a highly effective and sought-after advocate with extensive experience of heavy-weight and sensitive cases before a broad range of courts and tribunals.
He advises in criminal, misconduct, regulatory and coroner’s court work. He is experienced in appeal cases and judicial review.

adrian.chaplin@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Simon Burns

Year Of Call : 1992

Simon Burns is a specialist in criminal law undertaking prosecution and defence work.

simon.burns@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Peter Coombe

Year Of Call : 1993

Peter is regularly instructed in cases of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder and other cases of serious violence.

peter.coombe@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Heather Hope

Year Of Call : 1993

Heather was called in 1993 and after having practiced in a leading criminal set in London for 22yrs, moved to the South West in 2015. Heather has prosecuted and defended in large-scale drug cases, gang violence and firearms cases along with rape and serious sexual offences. Heather has also defended and prosecuted as a led junior in murder trials at the Central Criminal Court and as leading junior counsel in numerous trials more recently. Grade 4 and RASSO panel Counsel.

heather.hope@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Mary McCarthy

Year Of Call : 1994

Mary is regularly instructed in cases of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, rape and fraud.

“She’s an extremely good advocate, brilliant at cross-examination and very good tactically; she knows how to destroy the opposition.”
Chambers and Partners 2018

mary.mccarthy@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Kelly Scrivener

Year Of Call : 2001

Kelly appears for both the Prosecution and Defence in all matters before the Crown Court and the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).

kelly.scrivener@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Bathsheba Cassel

Year Of Call : 2005

Bathsheba is a criminal barrister with a wealth of experience across all areas of complex and serious crime.

bathsheba.cassel@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Joss Ticehurst

Year Of Call : 2006

Joss Ticehurst is instructed to defend and prosecute in cases involving the most serious criminal offences in the Crown Court, particularly those relating to allegations of rape, attempted murder, multi-defendant cases involving drugs and murder, and multi-defendant cases of fraud and drug conspiracies.

joss.ticehurst@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Dan Pawson-Pounds

Year Of Call : 2007; Head of Crime / Deputy HoC

Dan has wide experience in all aspects of criminal law, quasi-criminal regulatory law, corporate investigations and international war crimes. He specialises in business crime, criminal law, terrorism and private prosecutions, both in court and in an advisory role.

Legal 500 2025 – Leading Junior Tier 1
Chambers & Partners 2025 – Band 3
Recorder (Crown Court) 2023

dan.pawson-pounds@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Will Parkhill

Year Of Call : 2015

Defends serious crime.

will.parkhill@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Brian FitzHerbert

Year Of Call : 2008

Brian prosecutes and defends in all areas of criminal law. His practice encompasses murder, manslaughter, sexual offences, serious violence and organised crime. He is a Grade Four advocate on the Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel and is also on the RASSO and Serious Crime Panels.

brian.fitzherbert@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Felicity Payne

Year Of Call : 2010

Felicity is a common law barrister with an established and varied practice in all aspects of criminal and civil law. Felicity is thorough, practical and robust in her approach, whilst remaining personable.

felicity.payne@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Frederick Hookway

Year Of Call : 2011 (Door Tenant)

Frederick is a door tenant at Walnut House and lives in the South West. We are happy to accept instructions on his behalf for any matters that are relevant to the Western Circuit. His main Chambers is 5 King’s Bench Walk in London and his full profile can be found through their site.

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Evie Dean

Year Of Call : 2019

Evie accepts instructions in both criminal and family law. She regularly appears in the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts where she prosecutes and defends in all stages of proceedings. She also acts for parents in both private and care proceedings from application stage through to contested interim and final hearings.

Since joining Walnut House after successfully completing a twelve-month pupillage in chambers, Evie has continued to enjoy a busy and varied practice. She has been complimented on her pragmatic and personable manner with her clients.

evie.dean@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Zoe Kuyken

Year Of Call : 2021

Zoe joined chambers after successfully completing a 12 month pupillage in 2022.

Zoe accepts instructions in criminal and family law.

zoe.kuyken@walnuthouse.co.uk View Profile

Azzam Bhatti

Year Of Call : 2017

Azzam has a mixed Civil, Criminal and Family practice at Walnut House.

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Lee Bremridge (2003; Head of Chambers)
Simon Laws KC (1991)
Paul Cavin KC (1995; Door Tenant)
Adrian Chaplin (1990)
Simon Burns (1992)
Peter Coombe (1993)
Heather Hope (1993)
Mary McCarthy (1994)
Kelly Scrivener (2001)
Bathsheba Cassel (2005)
Joss Ticehurst (2006)
Dan Pawson-Pounds (2007; Head of Crime / Deputy HoC)
Will Parkhill (2015)
Brian FitzHerbert (2008)
Felicity Payne (2010)
Frederick Hookway (2011 (Door Tenant))
Evie Dean (2019)
Zoe Kuyken (2021)
Azzam Bhatti (2017)