Richard Beynon has extensive experience in all areas of criminal practice, acting for prosecution and defence. In more recent years he has seen a greater concentration on serious and complex prosecutions:
On behalf of the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office:
- The large-scale importation of controlled drugs;
- Fiscal offences where the loss of revenue and VAT has been substantial, such cases involving hydrocarbon oils (fuel laundering) and other significant quantities of excise goods such as tobacco and alcohol.
- MTIC fraud
- Money laundering [for the CPS as well as RCPO]
Such work involves the prosecution of well organised groups of individuals and the larger multi-handed cases [involving some 12 defendants on more than one instance]. It has included working for the Serious and Organised Crime Division of RCPO.
Recent and ongoing cases for RCPO :
Operations Bruise and Beckon : Money Laundering and Duty Evasion. The main cases involved 12 defendants each. Including linked cases the Operations have resulted in 35 convictions.
Operation Vex: MTIC : 9 Defendants [Disclosure Counsel]
Operations Dedans and Domic: 10 Defendants: Large scale manufacture of Counterfeit Vodka and Tobacco
On behalf of the Health and Safety Executive:
- Cases involving Fatalities, and other serious life changing injuries. It has included the Prosecution of Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services Ltd.
On Behalf of the CPS:
- Sexual offences, including allegations of a historic nature;
- Serious offences of violence such as attempted murder, manslaughter;
- Assisted suicide;
- Serious and organised crime involving firearms, drugs, kidnap and blackmail; (Recently : Operation Dervish : 7 Defendants involved in Class A drug supply network).
- Fraud, committed diversely.
On behalf of BIS: Insolvency / Companies Act offences
- Considerable experience in dealing with matters of disclosure and confiscation (under the Criminal Justice Act / Drug Trafficking Act and POCA).
Publications
- Contributing editor to Fraud : Law, Practice and Procedure.
Interests
- Richard has a significant interest in flying, as the holder of a Private Pilot's Licence; He also enjoys sailing.
