Richard Onslow

Call 1982
Email richard.onslow@3pb.co.uk
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Richard Onslow is ranked as a leading junior by Chambers and Partners Directory 2012: 'Richard Onslow’s broad practice includes sexual offences cases, police matters and drugs work. He has a “very robust” manner and is “good with difficult lay clients”, according to sources.'

Richard Onslow began his career at the Bar in London, practising on the South Eastern and Western Circuits. He has dealt with cases before a variety of tribunals, ranging from the Magistrates’ Courts to the Privy Council, including Courts Martial and the Stewards of the Jockey Club.

As prosecution Counsel he has been briefed as a Leading Junior since 1995 in serious and often multi handed criminal cases, including conspiracies to supply drugs, and to incite criminal damage, Human Trafficking, Rape, and Kidnap.

He has defended as a Junior and since the mid 1990s as a Leading Junior, in most fields of criminal work, including homicide, violence, child cruelty, sexual offences, drug importation and supply, dishonesty, blackmail, Merchant Shipping offences, and assorted common law offences.

He undertakes police disciplinary cases and inquests.

Notable Cases - Prosecution

Operation Clarion (2012)
Leading Junior in prosecution of substantial conspiracy to supply class A drugs

R v Smith (2010)
Prosecution of Gross Negligence Manslaughter of elderly woman

Operation Anteater (2006)
- Leading Junior in prosecution of wide ranging 3 handed Conspiracy to Traffic attractive girls from Brazil for Sexual Exploitation.

Operation Anyway (2001)
- Prosecution of £1m VAT fraud

Operation Arnish (2004)
- Prosecution of series of Supplies of Class A drugs arising from undercover investigation.

Operation Basking (2007)
- Leading Junior in prosecution of multi handed conspiracy to steal contents (including a lot of brandy) of goods vehicles

Operation Elm (2004)
- Leading Junior in prosecution of 2 police officers for Rape and Misconduct.

Operation Roadie (2003)
- Leading Junior in prosecution of 15 handed Conspiracy to Import and Supply tons of cannabis.

Operation Rowan (2000)
- Prosecution of Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs arising from undercover investigation

Operation Washington (1997)
- Leading Junior prosecuting multi handed ALF and Anarchist conspiracy to incite criminal damage.

R v Guerrine and others (1995)
- Prosecution of the girls who robbed Elizabeth Hurley, just after she wore That Dress.

R v Luck (2002)
- Prosecution of matron of care home for historic child abuse

Notable Cases - Defence

R v Robie (2011)
- Appeal to Privy Council against conviction for Murder

R v Marks (2000)
- Defence of skipper of Pleasure Boat charged with Merchant Shipping Act offences said to have occurred in Poole and Swanage harbours

R v Scannell (2008)
- Leading Junior defending police officer accused of Misconduct

Operation Benzol (2006)
- Leading Junior defending skipper of yacht in Conspiracy to Import large quantity of cannabis into Brighton Marina.

Operation Crossbow (2008)
- Leading Junior representing unfit defendant first on indictment with seven fit defendants in historical child abuse case

Operation Elmer (2008)
- Leading Junior defending in multi handed Vietnamese cannabis growing conspiracy

Operation Fabric (2004)
- Leading Junior defending in organised football violence conspiracy.

Operation Salamander (2005)
- Leading Junior defending in Conspiracy to supply large amounts of Class A drugs

Operation Silver Eel (2006)
- Leading Junior defending in Conspiracy to Cheat Revenue in Hydrocarbon Fuel Oil Rebate Fraud by ancient family of Poole fishermen netting a lot of money

R v Briers (2003)
- Led Junior in defence of Manslaughter by Gross Negligence

R v Dyer (2001)
- Defending the Tesco Bomber

Disciplinary and Inquests

Hants Constabulary v PCS (2009)
- Representing Police officer in disciplinary proceedings

In Re: M.S. (2009) -
Oxford Coroner's Court: representing interests of Police Inspector in inquest into circumstances of death following release from custody

Notable Cases

Hants Constabulary v PCS (2009)
- representing Police officer in disciplinary proceedings