Anthony Williams
Year of Call: 2012
Inner Temple
Tony joined Central Chambers in April 2018.
Crime
Tony has 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 and offences against public order (including civil applications for injunctions and criminal behaviour orders);
- Drugs offences;
- Sex offences;
- Dishonesty (including theft, fraud and burglary); and
- Road traffic offences.
Tony is well-known for his attention to detail, his meticulous preparation skills, and his tenacity as an advocate on behalf of his clients. He has developed a reputation for his technical legal knowledge and is frequently instructed in cases involving complex points of law.
Tony has a particular interest in cases involving use or misuse of police powers. He also has experience of conducting protest cases involving expert evidence and the exercise of human rights.
Tony welcomes instructions in all criminal cases at all levels.
Regulatory
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 fitness to practise investigations and Medical Practitioners Tribunal proceedings, including Interim Orders Tribunal hearings, MPT Review Hearings and Restoration Hearings. This makes him perfectly suited to represent doctors, nurses or other healthcare professionals before their regulatory bodies.
Tony also represents taxi drivers and operators before local authority Licensing Panels, Magistrates’ Courts and the Crown Court in relation to licensing appeals and regulatory prosecutions (e.g. plying for hire).
Other Experience
Before starting his career at the Bar, Tony worked as a freelance County Court advocate in civil proceedings, a debt 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
- Criminal Bar Association
- Crown Prosecution Service Advocate Panel – Level 2 Prosecutor
- Northern Circuit
- The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
Education
2011 –2012: Nottingham Trent University
BPTC – Very Competent
2007 –2010: Bangor University
LLB Law (Hons) – First Class
Notable Cases
Crime
Operation Dreadnaught (2019-2022)
Being led as junior counsel in a case involving allegations of large-scale trafficking of Class A drugs.
R v NB (2021)
Defendant faced two counts of harassment causing fear of violence and witness intimidation. The prosecution case was dependent on digital evidence from the complainant’s phone, but police had failed to secure or retain sufficient material. After carefully drafting a defence statement and an abuse of process argument pointing to specific requests for disclosure with which the complainant refused to co-operate, the Crown were forced to offer no evidence on both counts.
R v SB (2020)
Defendant pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury. Successfully persuaded the Crown Court to impose a suspended sentence of two years despite all authority pointing to immediate custody.
R v DI (2020) (Court of Appeal)
Successfully appealed against the unlawful terms of a Restraining Order made by the Crown Court.
R v SR (2019)
Successfully defended an anti-fracking activist against an allegation of wilfully obstructing the highway, in a case involving a dispute as to the boundary between the highway and private land.
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:
Jon Wilkin, Professional Rugby League Player - Road Traffic Client (2019)
I arrived at court nervous and anxious, Tony immediately put me at ease. He was logical, realistic and charismatic. He guided me through the hearing with skill and empathy resulting in a not guilty verdict. I couldn’t be happier with how he performed in court and most importantly the fact he got me the judgement I deserved. Thanks Tony.
David Rose (Partner at Rose & Dunn)
Recently, he managed a difficult client and obtained a fantastic result. Very impressive.
Road Traffic client (2019)
I thought Tony was outstanding in his explanation of what was going to happen and was in total control, inside the court he was again outstanding, and I felt from his explanations to the court I couldn’t have been better represented.
Magistrates' Court client (2018)
I was represented at Leeds Magistrates Court today 03/12/18 by Tony Williams, I found him to be highly professional and honest with me, my personal opinion is that Tony did an outstanding job for me today in court and I am more than satisfied.
Articles by Tony Williams include:
Abuse of Process and the Magistrates’ Court – An Expanded Jurisdiction?
Tony Williams successfully appeals Restraining Order
The Coronavirus: Interim CPS Case Guidance – The Pandemic and the Public Interest
Sentencing for Assaults on Emergency Workers
DNA Evidence and Tsekiri: When is there a case to answer?
Imprisonment for Council Tax – Criminalising Poverty?
Assaults on Emergency Workers – a practical overview of the new offences and defences
The Criminal Procedure (Amendment No.2) Rules 2018 – What’s Changing?
