Nigel has extensive experience of prosecuting & defending in high profile, serious and complex criminal cases. He has been regular deployed by both the Attorney General of England & Wales, and of Jersey, in recent years to deal with serious and complex international investigations and prosecutions of which he has a strong depth of experience. He has been a preferred Advocate of the Attorney-General (E&W) for the last decade.
Nigel was most recently concerned in successfully prosecuting a notorious international organized criminal, who is widely considered to be the biggest and wealthiest gangster ever known to the British authorities. He was, at one time, “Interpol target One” and described as Europe’s biggest drugs baron. Although previously tried in Britain, he had never previously been convicted by a British Court and jury of his involvement serious crime. Nigel advised upon and led a complex and extensive post charge international investigation and prosecution working closely with several jurisdictions and international agencies on sensitive issues; its success made headline news in the UK and Europe.
The conviction has been described in the national media as probably SOCA’s greatest success since its creation.
Nigel has substantial experience in international asset tracing, laundering and financial investigation. He has worked with senior figures in the major national/ international agencies UK, Europe wide and beyond on a wide range of sensitive issues in this regard. He has been invited by international agencies to advise upon issues of international cooperation/ investigation.
He has a wide range of experience in the prosecution of financial crime and complex fraud extending from prosecuting a £12 million international VAT & Excise fraud involving 30 conspirators and over 6 months of trials [R v Tahir & Ors], to a multi-million pound DTI corporate fraud [R v Price & Ors ], to a massive immigration fraud on an international scale [R v Mullan & Others ]. He has also acted for both sides in a number of multi-million pound POCA claims [eg R v Till & Ors (2006)].
Nigel has also built up substantial experience in wider serious crime. He successfully defended in the Lincoln Prison riots, described as the most extensive “prison riot” in British criminal justice history, [R v Nix & Ors (2005)], a very large violent disorder/murder case [R v Osman & Ors (2005)], a machete attack followed by an armed siege involving the police [2000], an infected needle attack on a train by a suspected HIV carrier [2003], a series of armed robberies [2003], and the largest drugs conspiracy prosecuted in Beds/Herts [R v Clipston & Ors (2006)]. He has prosecuted [R v Kaninda & Ors (2006)] and defended in armed robberies involving loaded firearms, and also the infanticide of 2 children under 2 years old caused by parental neglect, which involved complex fitness to plead issues [R v Miller & Miller (2006)].
Led by Richard Latham QC, he has also assisted in advising the DPP on the ECHR issues arising from a high profile Metropolitan Police Vice Unit investigation [R v Wadman & Ors (2005)].
Nigel’s considerable experience extends from the courts of first instance (civil and criminal), to judicial review proceedings in the Administrative Court, the Court of Appeal (civil and criminal) and the Supreme Court/ Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.
Key cases
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AG v Curtis Warren & Others (2011) UKPC 10:International investigation and successful prosecution of multi-defendant international conspiracy headed by a notorious international criminal once “Interpol Target One” and considered as the wealthiest and biggest criminal Britain has ever known. Headline National Media profile.
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Leading case on abuse of process.
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R v Obih [2009]: Instructed to prosecute the high profile murder of a Luton policeman. Led by Richard Latham QC.
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R v Considine [2007]: EWCA Crim 1166; (2008) 1 Cr App R (S) 41: Led by the Attorney-General before a fully constituted Court of Appeal in a leading case on the assessment of dangerousness.
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R v Mullan & Ors [2005]: Immigraton fraud on an international scale involving prosecution of nearly 30 Defendants.
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R v Price & Others [2007]: Multi-million pound DTI fraud involving several defendants.
- R v Tahir & Ors (2001): Successfully prosecuted a £12 million Excise & VAT fraud involving 30 defendants.
Contact Nigel Povoas
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7242 3555
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7242 2511
Email: clerks@7br.co.uk