Call: 2001

Criminal defence (both private and publicly funded) with a particular focus on serious and organised crime including murder, serious violence, large scale drug supply/importations, firearms and money laundering.

Mathew Dance is particularly experienced at defending in serious multi handed cases and at dealing with all the issues that these cases typically raise.

He defended in the first prosecution under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (importing young Eastern European girls into the UK for exploitation in the sex trade) and secured an acquittal of the most serious charges on a submission brought at the close of the prosecution case (see Dimitrov below).

He has an interest in defending in health and safety cases and is a member of the chambers team specialising in this area.

Cases of Note
Martinez – A 7-handed trial lasting 8 weeks at Southwark. Importation of cocaine into the UK. The case had an international element to it involving defendants from Columbia. The police mounted a covert operation on the defendants that took place over many months. A number of the defendants' homes and vehicles were bugged and conversations recorded. Acquitted.

Oztas – 7-handed trial involving the facilitation of illegal immigrants into the UK. His was the only defendant to be acquitted. The case was extremely high profile with huge media coverage. The case had to be transferred from Maidstone Crown Court to Middlesex Guildhall due to all the publicity and risk that a jury panel in the local area could not remain impartial. The defendants were described as providing a 5 star luxury service in to the UK via light aircraft.

Low – Very unusual case. Perverting the course of justice at Harrow Crown Court. The defendant was alleged to have engineered his way onto his friends jury panel at the Wood Green Crown Court. Acquitted.

Islam –  Trial at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) lasting 5 weeks. The case was multi-handed. Charges of Attempted Murder, Section 18 GBH and violent disorder. Junior for the first defendant on the indictment. The case involved a group attack on two complainants. This resulted in the principal complainant being axed in the head causing his skull to split in two. The complainant was left with permanent injuries. The case for the prosecution relied heavily on DNA evidence and the presence of blood spatters. The defendant did not accept the conclusions drawn by the experts. Careful and detailed cross-examination required.

Ali -  3 handed trial. Snaresbrook Crown Court. 6 weeks. Attempted murder. 3 men accused of running the complainants van off the road and then engaging in a vicious attack. Baseball bats and knifes were used. Cross-examination of expert evidence in particular DNA and cell site analysis.

Kasongo –  A nationwide DWP fraud involving millions of pounds. The defendant was said to part of a sophisticated network involved in the intercepting of Giros from Royal mail, the professional manipulation  and cashing of them. This case involved a large undercover operation led by the DWP.

Alexandre – Multi handed large scale DWP fraud.

Okito – A multi handed trial involving a DWP fraud. Nationwide undercover operation.

Dimitrov –  Trial at Southwark. First prosecution under the Sexual Offence Act 2003 involving the exploitation of young girls from Russia in the sex trade in the UK.  The charges involved the controlling and movement of prostitutes within the UK. The case was very high profile with a huge amount of media attention. A number of documentaries were made and books written detailing the facts of this case. The defendant was acquitted of the most serious allegations as a result of a successful half time submission.

Baskaya  – Multi-handed case involving the facilitation of illegal immigrants into the UK.

Dixon – This was a high profile case involving the importation of large quantities of cocaine in to the UK. There were 7 defendants. The case involved a corrupt customs officer who waved those carrying the drugs passed customs. The prosecution case hinged on undercover surveillance carried out over many months and the telephone billing of all the defendants.

Hawkins – Multi-handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs. The case involved a covert surveillance carried out on a number of addresses across the Thames Valley area. Breach of codes of practice under PACE and admissibility of interviews had to be considered.

Aytac – A 7-handed case involving a number of conspiracies to import large quantities of heroin. The case involved the evidence from a number of defendants who turned QE.

Gashi – 12-handed case involving cannabis factories. This case was in the North East (Teesside Crown Court) and involved 10 properties. Represented the principal defendant.

Baskaya –   14-handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs and convert criminal property. The primary evidence came form a "super grass" who himself had been convicted of importing heroin. He was described by the police as supplying the UK with up to a third of its Heroin between 2004- 2007.

Gozra – Represented the defendant first on the indictment. Armed robbery at the Woolwich Building society. The prosecution case was reliant on cell site analysis the results of which were contested by the defence and the experts instructed by them. Cross-examination of experts played a large part in this case.

• Criminal Bar Association
• Lincoln's Inn
• Inner Temple