Tony Williams

Year of Call: 2012

Inner Temple

Tony joined Central Chambers in April 2018.

Crime

Since joining Chambers, Tony has obtained substantial experience of appearing in the Magistrates’ Courts, Youth Courts, the County Court and the Crown Court dealing with a wide range of criminal allegations, including:

• Assault and domestic violence;
• Anti-social behaviour (including applications for injunctions and criminal behaviour orders);
• Drugs offences;
• Sex offences;
• Dishonesty (including theft, fraud and burglary); and
• Road traffic offences.

Tony has a particular interest in cases involving use of police powers and allegations of police misconduct. He also has experience of conducting complex protest cases involving the exercise of human rights.

In light of his experience of dealing with welfare benefits prior to joining the Bar, Tony is well-equipped in cases involving allegations of benefit fraud.

Tony welcomes instructions in all criminal cases.

Regulatory

Tony has experience of appearing before local authority Licensing Panels, Magistrates’ Courts and the Crown Court in relation to licensing appeals and regulatory prosecutions by local authorities.

In addition, Tony has previously worked as a paralegal in the General Medical Council’s in-house legal team. As a result, he acquired a detailed understanding of the conduct of fitness to practise investigations and Medical Practitioners Tribunal proceedings including Interim Orders Tribunal hearings, MPT Review Hearings and Restoration Hearings.

Other Experience

Before starting his career at the Bar, Tony obtained experience as a freelance County Court advocate in civil proceedings, a full-time caseworker at a Citizens Advice Bureau, and as a paralegal in the General Medical Council’s in-house legal team.

Tony therefore brings a wealth of experience with him to the Bar in fields including contract, commercial, debt recovery, housing (including rent & mortgage possession proceedings), insolvency, personal injury, welfare benefits, enforcement proceedings, and costs.

Tony was raised on Anglesey in North Wales and is a fluent Welsh speaker.

To instruct Tony, please contact his clerks.

Memberships and Appointments

• The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
• Northern Circuit
• Criminal Bar Association
• CPS Advocate Panel – Level 1

Education

2011 –2012:       Nottingham Trent University

BPTC – Very Competent

2007 –2010:        Bangor University

LLB Law (Hons) – First Class

Notable Cases

Crime

Operation Dreadnaught (2019)

Being led as junior counsel in a case involving allegations of large-scale trafficking of Class A drugs.

R v BW (2020)

Successfully persuaded the Crown to discontinue a case involving a direction given by police under section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 to restrict an anti-fascist protest.

R v SR (2019)

Successfully defended an anti-fracking activist against an allegation of wilfully obstructing the highway, in a case involving evidence as to the boundary between the highway and private land.

R v DW (2019)

Defendant sentenced for a third-strike burglary among other offences. Successfully persuaded the Judge to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of 3 years’ custody.

R v ES (2019)

Defendant charged with s18 wounding with intent and possession of a bladed article (among other allegations). Following repeated requests for disclosure, received details of an anonymous call describing the knife being held by the complainant themselves. The Crown ultimately offered no evidence on the above charges.

R v KK (2019)

Successfully defended client accused of criminal damage to a car based solely on forensic evidence. Blood containing their DNA was found on the headlight, but no DNA found anywhere else on the vehicle and no evidence that the persons responsible were bleeding at the time of committing the offence. Defendant was acquitted.

R v OW (2019) (link to Daily Post)

Defendant pleaded guilty to multiple counts of fraud totalling in excess of £100,000.00. Sentencing guidelines indicated an immediate custodial sentence of 3-4 years. Following mitigation, the Defendant received a 2-year custodial sentence suspended for 2 years.

R v CT (2019)

Defendant accused of threats to kill and two assaults (facing a 2-year custodial sentence). Complainant did not attend at trial. Successfully argued that the Prosecution should not be permitted to rely on body worn footage as res gestae evidence in the complainant’s absence. The Prosecution were forced to offer no evidence and the Defendant was acquitted of all charges.

Regulatory

York City Council v AH (2019)

Defendant was a private hire taxi driver facing allegations of unlawfully plying for hire. Informant was a rival hackney carriage driver who had attempted to incite the Defendant into offending. Following cross-examination of the informant, successfully applied to exclude their evidence as having been obtained in circumstances of entrapment. Prosecution was forced to offer no evidence and Defendant was acquitted.

Salford City Council v CA (2018)

Represented the operator of a local taxi licensing firm before the Licensing Regulatory Panel of Salford City Council. Successfully persuaded the Panel that the operator remained a fit and proper person to hold an operator’s licence, allowing the firm to continue its business.

What Tony’s clients say:

Articles by Tony Williams include:

Sentencing for Assaults on Emergency Workers

DNA Evidence and Tsekiri: When is there a case to answer?

Vigilantes and Entrapment

Imprisonment for Council Tax – Criminalising Poverty?

Assaults on Emergency Workers – a practical overview of the new offences and defences

Defeating Res Gestae

Had Enough of Experts?

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2018 – What’s Changing?