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Education

Marylebone Grammar School, College of Estate Management

Practice

Principally in Criminal Law. Extensive experience defending in substantial fraud cases including “Britannia Park” (Nottingham Crown Court) considered to be the longest criminal trial in the England and Wales courts. Regularly instructed in serious crime cases, including serious violence and organised crime including rape, kidnapping, drug importation and supply, and money laundering.

Roger Offenbach is associated with the following areas of expertise:

Crime
General Fraud
White Collar Crime

Roger Offenbach is available for direct access cases.

Cases

Fraud and Financial Regulation

  • R v Moran and others - Leading for the one remaining defendant remaining on trial, three others have pleaded guilty.  This is an MTIC fraud involving a loss to the Revenue of approximately £54 million.
  • R v Darnell Laudat and others – Basildon CC moved for security reasons to Chelmsford CC - Leading for this defendant. This was a substantial and serious prosecution of some 10 defendants and involved kidnapping and credit card identity fraud. The defendant was alleged to be the internal controlling source of private banking information, recruiting others to provide the private information. The trial itself lasted nine weeks before the prosecution, due to disclosure problems, brought the prosecution to an end. There were substantial representations regarding disclosure. The defendant also faced a further indictment for credit card fraud and stolen identity. Submissions were made regarding autre fois acquit as there were linking transactions.
  • R v Broom, Worrall and Harold – This was an MTIC fraud. The amount of the loss to the Revenue was in the order of £10-£15 million. Leading for the defendant Harold. There were four other defendants. The trial lasted two months the court time being substantially reduced due to the use of live note and electronic presentation of exhibits.
  • R v Gottleib – Fraud on an insurance company.  Unusual fraud arising out of storm damage to the defendant’s home and an alleged false insurance claim involving unused temporary accommodation.  Extensive papers including disclosed insurance files.  Involved a great deal of disclosed material and unusual questions of admissibility of non-police interviews. Defendant a mature woman, head teacher and of good character.

Proceeds of Crime Act

  • R v Raymond Pack and others - Money laundering to be tried – Leading on this money laundering case, – Involves the proceeds of a VAT fraud, the money being laundered through property transactions. This case is complicated due to evidence to be called from the original VAT fraud which itself is the subject of an on-going appeal. The case will involve evidence of sound probes and identification of voices. The full extent of the papers to be served is not known yet.  We are told further material is to be served.

Crime

  • R v Aston and others –Leading for the first defendant on the indictment. This was a serious public order and GBH trial. There were fifteen defendants in all. 13 week trial. Eye witnesses all requiring extensive cross-examination. Issue of disclosure and complex matters of law were involved. This was a locally high profile and well publicised incident in the Aldershot and Farnborough area.
  • R v Sparshott – Supply of drugs by a solicitor into a prison. Four defendants.  Leading for the third defendant. Extensive arguments taken by me on law in relation to telephone recordings. Jury could not agree on first trial which took some six weeks and involved unusual evidence from a lip reader.
  • R v Buttery and Others – Kidnapping, blackmail and robbery of a security van. Leading for the third defendant. This was alleged to be an inside job involving the kidnapping of the security firm’s manager and the interception of one of their vans and taking cash.  This was a sophisticated and well planned offence.
  • R v Darnell Laudat and others – This was a further prosecution against this defendant for a kidnapping and assaults carried out in the City of London and ending with an armed police response. The kidnapping arose out of a property dispute and a business venture
  • R v Phillip Nolan – Defendant charged with a number of rapes, and indecent assaults of his step-daughter. It involved extensive cross-examination of the complainant and her mother, who was blind.  There was also disputed medical evidence.
  • R v Jermaine Brown and Others – Represented the first defendant on the indictment regarded as the ringleader. This was a kidnapping where a substantial ransom was demanded and was investigated by the specialist Met Police kidnapping team.
  • R v Aaron Watson and others – Represented the first defendant on the indictment. Four defendants in all. The trial involved pre-planned robberies of petrol filling stations using a firearm. The trial also involved “cut-throat” defences by two of the defendants involving allegations against Watson.
  • R v Agron Xhaabri – Multiple rapes, kidnapping and forcing into prostitution.  This was a sole defendant, foreign national who was said to have kidnapped and then repeatedly raped the complainant and then forced her to work for him as a prostitute for a period of about four months.  This was an early trial involving the use of hearsay evidence under the new provisions.  It led to an appeal on a novel point, the first of its kind to be heard by the Court of Appeal. The court constitution included the Lord Chief Justice.
  • R v Henderson – Importation of cocaine.  Professional importation.  This was a re-trial for a defendant who had originally received a 12 year sentence. The issue that led to the successful appeal was the abandonment in the first trial of the use of a recording of the man responsible for arranging the importation. This was used successfully in the re-trial.  It involved a novel point of law.
  • R v Tobor Okobia –Single defendant, although allegedly part of a group of four assailants. Involved initial threats and then taking the victim by force threatened with a gun, to his home and then seeking to break into the victim’s premises to secure a sum of money alleged to be about £5,000.
  • R v Austin – Multiple rapes, two defendants.  Represented the male defendant the co-defendant being the victim’s mother.  This was a deeply unpleasant case concerning a disadvantaged young woman.
  • R v Crosbie – Arson with intent to endanger life. The complexity of this trial turned on psychiatric evidence concerning the existence of a fugue state of mind. Defendant of good character.

Associated Work

Advising in applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Professional Memberships

  • Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association (POCLA)

Contact

T. 020 7067 1500

E. roffenbach@25bedfordrow.com