YEAR OF CALL: 2017

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Criminal law
• Civil law
• Family Law
• Regulatory Law

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

• BPTC BPP Law School, Manchester
• LLB (Hons), Newcastle University

APPOINTMENTS

• CPS RASSO Panel member
• CPS Grade 3 Prosecutor
• County Court Advocate – LPC Law
• Master of Moots – BPC Law School and The Eldon Society

MEMBERSHIPS

• Middle Temple
• North Eastern Circuit

ABOUT BENJAMIN

Benjamin enjoys a varied practice in Criminal and Civil law. Since completing his pupillage in 2020, Benjamin has quickly become a highly capable and effective advocate which is evidenced by his rapid rise to become a Grade 3 Prosecutor. His approachable style with clients and ability to quickly grasp the issues in his cases has resulted in Benjamin developing a strong practice in cases of complexity in all practice areas.

Criminal Law

Benjamin both prosecutes and defends in a wide range of offences of violence, sexual offences, firearms and drug offences within the Crown Court from PTPH through to trial and sentence.

Example Criminal Cases

R v P 2025

Linked to the below but the POCA proceedings. Representing P who was alleged to have played a leading role within a county lines drug dealing enterprise. The Crown pursued a confiscation order in the region of £400,000 in Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings, alleging that P was hiding assets. After a day of evidence, Benjamin successfully persuaded the Court to order a much reduced confiscation order of £20,000.

R v P 2024

Benjamin defended P in relation to drug charges before the Crown Court. This was part of a wider county lines drug operation and the Crown placed P as playing a leading role within the drugs enterprise. P pleaded guilty and Benjamin was able to successfully persuade the Court that on the evidence before it, P played a role more akin to that of a significant role thus reducing the sentence from one of 8 years 6 months to 4 years 9 months. The POCA proceedings are still ongoing.

R v S and others 2024

Benjamin Donnell defended on a multi handed 7 week trial in relation to a conspiracy to grown cannabis valued in the multi millions of pounds. This was a sophisticated conspiracy to grow cannabis across multiple sites in the Hull area. The lead defendant, used a fake property business to facilitate the production and sale of cannabis on an industrial scale. The page count ran into the many thousands and Benjamin successfully acquitted on a weapons count on the indictment. The Crown alleged the defendant played a significant role within the conspiracy; setting up the grows and playing a management function. Benjamin successfully mitigated the defendant's sentence so that he received a sentence of 3 years imprisonment.

R v S and Others 2024

Benjamin prosecuted four Vietnamese nationals in relation to a multimillion pound industrial scale cannabis grow found in the Lincolnshire country side. The disclosure and page count was vast and all four defendants raised issues of modern slavery/human trafficking. The trial lasted for 8 days. Benjamin worked closely with the serious crime team at Humberside Police and the investigation has revealed links to a much wider network of people smugglers, cannabis factories, brothels and modern day slavery across the UK. Benjamin continued to liaise and provide advice to the CPS and serious crime team in relation to this investigation. The Officer in the case and his Detective Inspector have asked that Benjamin continue to be involved in the investigation into this much wider criminal network and intend to instruct me to prosecute this conspiracy when it is ready to come to court.

R v B 2022

Prosecuting B at trial. She was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on a 10 year old boy. A complicating factor of this trial was that B had learning difficulties and required an intermediary. Benjamin utilised the ‘Planning to Question Someone with a Learning Disability’ toolkit when cross-examining B to ensure it was robust but appropriate. Benjamin called the young Complainant and his 10 year old friend to give evidence via video-link and reminded himself of the appropriate toolkit to ensure he elicited the best evidence from these child witnesses in an age appropriate manner. After a 5 day trial B was convicted and sentenced.

R v U 2022

Prosecuting U in the Crown Court for domestic burglary. On Benjamin’s advice, the Crown amended the indictment so that the charge was robbery; an offence that was easier for the Crown to prove but carried a higher starting point for sentence than burglary. After a 4 day trial, Benjamin successfully obtained a guilty verdict and U was sentenced accordingly.

R v J 2022

Defending in a trial in the Crown Court involving allegations of animal cruelty, stalking and harassment. The Crown relied upon forensic evidence linking the defendant to the killing of the Complainant’s cat. Benjamin successfully secured acquittals on all counts for his client.

R v E 2022

Defending a Lithuanian national in a multi handed multi million pound conspiracy to steal high worth vehicles, break them down and sell the component parts on. The evidence was of such complexity that the Prosecution team comprised of both leading and junior counsel. After a trial in the Crown Court spanning three weeks, Benjamin successfully secured not guilty verdicts on all counts for his client.

Civil Law

Benjamin represents both Claimants and Defendants in a wide range of matters from road traffic accidents to housing, personal injury, civil torts and breach of contract. Prior to commencing pupillage Benjamin spent two years as a County Court Advocate with LPC Law attending hearings across the North relating to housing matters. Benjamin accepts instructions to provide written advice to clients and can quickly analyse a case, provide advice as to prospects of success and settlement as well as draft pleadings.

Benjamin has also represented clients in committal proceedings where his extensive knowledge of both criminal and civil law proves particularly beneficial.

Example Civil Cases

T v V 2023

Defending T in an ongoing contractual dispute in relation to a horse. Benjamin has thus far advised as to appropriate settlement terms and represented T at a hearing that should have been the trial but turned into an interim hearing at the request of the Claimant. Benjamin successfully restricted the ambit of further expert evidence to ensure that T’s case remains as strong as possible.

G v S 2021

Defending S in committal proceedings at Leeds County Court. S was alleged to be in contempt of court for breaching an undertaking not to harass G. Benjamin successfully cross-examined G and obtained judgment in favour of his client.

G v F 2020

Defending F in a multi-track trial at York County Court in which the Claimant was claiming damages for alleged harassment by F. Benjamin successfully challenged the Claimant’s evidence and the allegations were found to not be proven.

Other Interests

During his leisure time, Benjamin is a keen horse rider and intends to participate in equestrian events in the future. He is also extremely sociable and attends social events with friends as well as events organised by the North-Eastern Circuit.