JOHN HURLOCK
Case reports and selected experience across his practice.
John represented MM in a substantial multi-defendant trial. The defence challenged whether the evidence proved one overarching agreement. The jury acquitted MM of conspiracy to import cocaine and conspiracy to export ketamine. MM had admitted involvement with cannabis and ketamine; the acquittals concern the two conspiracy counts.
John represented K, who was 16 at the time of the alleged offending, in a multi-defendant Class A drugs conspiracy. Supported by expert evidence and safeguarding findings, the defence challenged the decision to prosecute a child identified as a victim of criminal exploitation. The prosecution offered no evidence and a not-guilty verdict was entered.
John represented N in a large-scale Class A and Class B drugs prosecution. The defence reviewed covert recordings that the Crown had not relied on. In cross-examination, the officer conceded that the recordings did not connect N to either the Essex or Holland end of the conspiracy. N was acquitted following a retrial.
Following guilty pleas to drug trafficking offences and conspiracies, John contested the Crown’s claimed benefit of over £20.9 million. The court rejected the alleged hidden assets and determined the benefit at £350,000 — more than £20.6 million below the figure sought. This was a confiscation result following conviction, not an acquittal.
After guilty pleas to drug-supply conspiracies and acquiring criminal property, John successfully challenged the role alleged by the prosecution at a Newton hearing. His client was sentenced on the accepted defence basis. In subsequent contested confiscation proceedings involving UK and overseas property, vehicles and bank funds, no money or assets were confiscated. These results concern sentencing and confiscation, not an acquittal.
A defendant faced drug-supply and criminal-property charges. The defence presented records of abuse and expert evidence about modern slavery and exploitation. The jury returned unanimous not-guilty verdicts.
In a cocaine-supply case, John represented LM at trial and retrial. Legal argument secured the exclusion of EncroChat material; disclosure arguments also resulted in agreed facts favourable to the defence.
A trial involving drugs recovered from a home, phone messages and cell-site material. DB was unanimously acquitted of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.
John defended allegations including blackmail, supply of Class A drugs, threats to kill and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Following conviction in a lengthy drugs-conspiracy trial, John secured sentencing on a lesser role than the prosecution alleged. The Court of Appeal subsequently declined to increase the sentence on the Attorney General’s reference.
John represented B in a cocaine-supply conspiracy trial involving phone records, CCTV and financial evidence. The jury unanimously acquitted his client.
THE NEXT STEP
Email him directly about your case or call the clerks at 2 Bedford Row. Evening and weekend attendance is offered, with availability and fees confirmed when arranging instructions.
