Notable Cases

SMW secured a highly favourable suspended sentence for a young man facing serious drug offences by demonstrating his limited, directed role and advancing robust mitigation, avoiding immediate custody.

SMW secured a highly favourable five-year sentence for a young client in a serious Class A drug case, so mitigated that the CPS considered appealing for being unduly lenient.

The magistrates’ court stayed proceedings as an abuse of process after Hackney Council brought a second prosecution despite having given unequivocal assurances in 2011 that enforcement action would be closed.

SMW secured a major reduction in a confiscation claim against a businessman, cutting the Crown’s alleged £8 million benefit to a £1.9 million order and nearly halving the available amount. All third-party interests were upheld, the corporate veil remained intact, and key assets were excluded after detailed submissions and robust negotiation.

Client accused of road-rage related s18 GBH has lesser pleas accepted after representations, and receives a suspended sentenced.

SMW secured a reduced sentence for a client involved in a high-value Class A drug conspiracy by successfully advancing a lesser role argument and strong mitigation despite Category 1 quantities.

Our client was found not guilty of assaulting an officer after the court accepted that he acted reasonably and proportionately in self-defence of his partner, who was subjected to excessive and unlawful force during a Mental Health Act incident.

Our client, who was charged with attempted burglary and threatening behaviour, had both charges discontinued after our representations demonstrated that he was suffering from psychosis at the time of the alleged offences, meaning the evidential test for attempted burglary was not met and prosecution was not in the public interest.

Our client, charged with a Section 4 Public Order offence arising from an altercation at a football match, was formally acquitted after our representations demonstrated he had acted in self-defence, leading the CPS to offer no evidence and discontinue the case.

SMW achieved a substantially reduced sentence for a vulnerable client who offended during a severe mental health crisis. After presenting comprehensive psychiatric evidence, the court imposed a two-year term despite far higher guideline starting points.

Sonn Macmillan Walker successfully represented a client initially charged with s18 GBH, persuading the Crown to accept a lesser s20 wounding charge by demonstrating the client had no knowledge of the co-defendant’s intent to inflict serious harm. As a result, the more serious charge was left to lie on file, and the client received a suspended sentence instead of immediate custody.

Our client was acquitted of rape after the defence exposed evidential gaps, inconsistencies, and expert findings supporting consensual sex and undermining the complainant’s account. The case highlighted disclosure failures by the prosecution, leading to a full acquittal and defence costs awarded.