Dominic Thomas

Barrister

Dominic is a specialist in criminal defence, including fraud and regulatory work. Dominic is regularly instructed to act in heavyweight criminal cases with a busy and successful practice in all areas of criminal law, both publicly and privately funded, particularly murder and manslaughter, complex fraud, major drugs cases, serious sexual offences and organised crime.

Having been instructed as sole junior or led junior for many years, he is now increasingly instructed as leading or sole junior counsel, often in multi-handed cases of complexity or sensitivity. He is a modern advocate: effective in Court, concerned to deliver down-to-earth client care, and attentive to crucial case management issues such as securing full disclosure and identifying the right experts ahead of trial.

Dominic frequently defends white-collar clients. He is trusted to defend those working within the criminal justice system and he is often recommended to clients by other barristers. He has been instructed to represent serving high-ranking police officers, barristers and solicitors charged with grave criminal offences.

Dominic is increasingly instructed in private work for trial or sentence, pre-charge or post-conviction. Dominic has long experience of providing advice and conducting criminal appeals to the Court of Appeal and to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in matters where he was not counsel instructed at first instance. Dominic is a founder member of the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association and is qualified to act on a public/direct access basis. He has completed his Vulnerable Witness training.

Dominic has acted before the Administrative Court (by way of case stated, application for injunctive relief and judicial review), the Police Disciplinary Tribunal and Police Appeal Tribunal, the Solicitor’s Disciplinary Tribunal, the Parole Board, the Coroner's Court, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, the Mental Health Tribunal, the Immigration Appeal Tribunal, the Companies Court and the Disciplinary Committee of the Jockey's Club. He has been instructed to defend proceedings brought by the Health & Safety Authority, the Office of the Immigration Commissioner and the Environment Agency. Dominic has acted and advised in proceedings for liquor and gaming licences and in proceedings before the General Medical Council Disciplinary Committee.

His cases are frequently reported in the national media. He has written articles for The Criminal Law and Justice Weekly and the Independent Lawyer. He has appeared on national television and in national newspapers as an expert in criminal law. He acts as a consultant to TV production companies and lobbying organisations.

Recent Testimonials

"He is a strong and able advocate." Chambers UK 2024, Crime
"When he stands up, silks listen to him because he has experience and gravitas." Chambers UK 2024, Crime
"Dominic is a scintillating advocate and formidable cross-examiner with a powerful presence in court. His legal submissions and jury speeches are a model of eloquence, precision and clarity. There is no finer jury advocate at the junior Bar." Legal 500 2024, Crime
"Dominic Thomas boasts a wealth of experience of both leading and acting as sole junior in serious homicide proceedings. He appears on behalf of the defence at both trial and on appeal." Chambers UK 2023, Crime
"Dominic is able to navigate his way through the most complex of cases with ease. His appealing personality makes him a sought-after jury advocate." Chambers UK 2023, Crime
"Dominic is an unbelievable advocate." Legal 500 2023, Crime
"He is strong across the board and ticks all the boxes." Chambers UK 2022
"A formidable intellect, an excellent lawyer, an original and persuasive advocate, as eloquent on paper as he is on his feet, Dominic couples all these stellar qualities with superb judgment based on a proper appreciation of the forensic fundamentals of a case, Dominic is completely focused on deploying all their considerable talents to get the right result for his client, Dominic is an outstanding barrister in every respect, a silk in all but name." Legal 500 2022, Crime
"He has a dry, witty manner in court and is a joy to watch." Chambers UK 2021
"He is a consummate trial advocate possessing both charisma and gravitas. Diligent, charming and easy to work with." Legal 500 2021
"Highly intelligent, with an original and persuasive style of advocacy." Legal 500 2020
"His strength is his striking flamboyant forensic skill." Legal 500 2018
"Wonderful jury advocate." Legal 500

Professional Memberships

Fraud Lawyers Association
Criminal Bar Association
Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association
Society of Visually Impaired Lawyers

Homicide and Serious Violence

R v Sokoli – An allegation of murder, attempted murder and aggravated burglary arising out of the break-in of a cannabis grow house.
R v G – The first trial heard during lockdown. A youth charged with the murder of his best friend by stabbing. Instructed as sole counsel.
R v Elliot – The defendant was a prominent local business charged with a vigilante murder after his daughter’s car was stolen. The case featured telephone, telematics, pathological and toxicology evidence.
R v Koka – An allegation of attempted murder arising out of a stabbing at a barber’s shop.
R v Moyse – The defendant was tried for murder, rape and arson. A case involving extensive expert psychiatric evidence.
R v Marshalleck – A murder case arising out of a shooting that occurred when two groups of men met in a confrontation. The case involved extensive legal argument as to third party bad character.
R v Musson – The defendant was charged with an explosives offence involving the placement of a live hand grenade in a public place. The case involved expert evidence as to DNA, CCTV, explosives and voice attribution.
R v Reilly - The defendant was charged with the murder of a man he had fought in the street after a family dispute. The case featured extensive CCTV and neuropathology evidence. Instructed as sole counsel.
R v Ingham - The defendant was charged with murdering her partner in her flat late at night. She presented as a profoundly troubled and withdrawn women with mental health issues and a serve and debilitating drink problem who had been subject to years of serious violence at the hands of a succession of abusive men
R v Braithwaite – The defendant was charged with murder. He was alleged to have stabbed man through the heart in front of several eyewitnesses as revenge for a slight against his sister.
R v Bourdon-Pierre – A manslaughter case involving a sudden outbreak of violence at a taxi rank in Hastings. The defendant was alleged to have punched a man causing him to fall and strike his head on the kerb.
R v Lasme – An allegation of attempted murder by stabbing on the street.
R v Ashes – An allegation of attempting to murder a police officer by stabbing on arrest.
R v JR - 17 year old accused of murdering a rough sleeper by drowning him in the River Cam. This trial featured extensive pathological evidence as to the cause of death, CCTV evidence and consideration of RIPA issues. The defendant was recorded covertly by police in the van carrying him to his first appearance at the Magistrates' Court.
R v Hunnisett - The defendant was alleged to have murdered a man in the course of a "mission" to rid the world of paedophiles.
R v Dally - Director of a large security company charged with conspiracy to cause GBH and conspiracy to blackmail a man in a revenge attack. The case was prosecuted by Queen's Counsel and featured extensive probe evidence.
R v Tulley - Allegation of attempted murder on the part of an estranged husband. Pyschological issues concerning alcoholism and previous abuse.
R v Mohammed - Allegation of attempted murder. Student accused of acting with others to commit an honour killing by stabbing.
R v Smith - The prosescution alleged that one alleged drug dealer was assassinated by other drug dealers. The shooting was sophisticated and planned, involving the use of a tracker on the deceased's vehicle and the employment of a high-powered superbike. The prosecution case involved a large mass of phone billing and cell site material. The case against the defendant in particular involved the consideration of and challenge to expert voice attribution evidence in respect of which there was extensive legal argument. The case also involved the consideration of digital photographic metadata.
R v O'Keefe - Football related violent disorder occurring outside a pub in Kings Cross involving supporters of Everton. Newcastle and Hull football clubs. The case involved extensive consideration of CCTV.
R v Thorley - Aggravated burglary in which the homeowner stabbed to death one of the defendants' associates.
R v Allen - One-punch manslaughter originally charged as murder. The case featured extensive video analysis and laser reconstruction evidence.
R v Hunnisett - Murder of retired vicar, retrial ordered by Court of Appeal 8 years after original conviction. Psychiatric evidence from some of UK's leading psychiatrists.
R v Taylor - St George's Day bar brawl. Violent Disorder in which a man lost his life. The case featured painstaking analysis of CCTV evidence.
R v IP - Death by dangerous driving. Driver, 18, alleged to have killed 17-year-old best friend in accident caused whilst texting. The case featured expert accident reconstruction evidence.
R v Symon - Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice arising out of large-scale football violence between Liverpool and Everton supporters on derby day. Allegations that police officers suppressed a witness statement of complaint. Representing Merseyside Matrix Cover police officer.

Firearms, drugs and other 'gang' offences.

R v Oztoycan - The defendant was charged as a result of the discovery of a large cache of drugs and a sawn-off shotgun. The case featured extensive telephone records from the defendant's phone and social media
R v Barlow – Allegation of multi-million pound drug production and supply involving intensive surveillance by the police.
R v Osborne - An allegation of significant international drug smuggling involving multiple border crossings using the cover of a DHL van. The case involved aspects of customs and international couriering procedure, as well as significant telephone and satnav evidence.
R v Javed – The defendant was charged with conspiring to possess a Glock handgun with intent to endanger life. The case involved consideration of attempts to source firearms on the dark web and a significant quantity of social media material.
R v Tsang - Large-scale conspiracy to supply class A drugs. The case against the defendant relied on observations and significant telephone evidence.
R v Gairns – Kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail and possession of an imitation firearm. Allegation of gangland score-settling involving the ransoming of a man taken off the street at gunpoint. The services of an intermediary were secured for the defendant despite objection on the part of the prosecution.
R v Quartey - Significant guns case involving the possession with intent of various firearms: a submachine gun, a double-barrelled shotgun and a handgun. A complex case involving the exploration of ID and surveillance evidence and evidence from DNA, gun shot residue and telephone experts.
R v Morrison - Large scale, multi-handed heroin supply, cannabis production and cigarette theft case.
R v Donnelly - Large scale, multi-handed drug conspiracy concerning the supply import purity cocaine and the production and supply of "industrial amounts" of amphetamine nationwide.
R v Beddoes - Widely reported case concerning a conspiracy to cause explosions to and then burgle ATMs in the Midlands, Cheshire and North-West. Dozens of ATMs were blown up. The first case of its kind anywhere in the UK.
R v Armanios - Possession with intent to supply very high purity cocaine and money-laundering allegations in case where Saudi Prince was a defence witness. The case featured expert evidence in relation to the parameters of the "Cozart" drugs test employed by the police.
R v Wignall - Large scale, multi-handed drug conspiracy concerning the sourcing and supply of Class A drugs through out the North of England.
R v Caprice - Armed robbery of 3 Thomson travel agencies featuring extensive cell site evidence.
R v Sirokovs - Gang alleged to have conspired to commit snap-lock burglaries in over 130 dwelling houses in 3 countries.
R v Henao - Conspiracy to import cocaine from Columbia to the UK valued at 1 billion euros. The conspiracy was alleged to have been captured in surveillance and telephone taps conducted at HMP Lowdham Grange. The case featured complex issues of disclosure and admissibility, RIPA issues, letters of request to foreign jurisdictions and experts in voice attribution and translation.
R v Sanderson - Oxford-based Director of UK's largest tablet press selling company charged with conspiracy to produce controlled drugs. Trial lasted 5 weeks and featured extensive phone, surveillance and drugs expert evidence.

Sexual Offences

R v LN – The defendant was alleged to have engaged in trafficking young women to the UK and then exploiting them as prostitutes. The case involved forensic examination of the defendant’s bank and credit card accounts.
R v KH - Allegation of one teenager raping two friends in a hotel room with two further friends present as witnesses.
R v RK - Allegation of 15 counts of rape and sexual assault on 5 different complaints. Reported as "The 50 shades of Grey Case", the defendant and a number of the complainants engaged in BDSM activity. The case involved the disclosure of a mass of social media material. The case centred around the use of safe words and the limits of consent.
R v SD - Allegation of marital rape and sexual assault.
R v GG - Historic allegation of rape and sexual assault of the defendant's two nieces.
R v MJ - Allegation of two footballers raping a woman they had met in a Brighton nightclub.

Recently Reported Cases

Mohammed – the CCRC’s 750^th reference to the Court of Appeal. Historic sexual offences.
Daniels – the appeal of a murder conviction that set out when it is proper for counsel to withdraw from a case.
R v Winchester Crown Court, Divisional Court, RCJ - Judicial Review. A surety can only be taken in respect of surrender to custody not any other purpose reported.

Fraud & Financial Litigation

R v Murphy – a large-scale company tax fraud for the director of a publishing company. The case involved extensive consideration of legal professional privilege.
R v Kennedy – the first significant Bitcoin fraud prosecution in England & Wales. Very significant expert evidence in respect of cryptocurrency and extensive disclosure issues.
R v Alford – a boiler room fraud arising out of the sale of home audits from a Swansea call centre.
R v Rainbow - An allegation of very large-scale diesel fraud. The case featured significant disclosure difficulties on the part of HM Customs & Excise widely reported in the national press and television.
R v Konestske – An allegation of fraudulent trading made against a company director for misappropriating funds available from the EEC for re-training workers.
R v Marcou - Multi-million pound factoring fraud. Acted as leading counsel for retired company director. Case involved close cross-examination of witnesses from Barclays Bank and financial investigators and detailed forensic analysis of thousands of emails, accounting and banking materials.
R v Williams - Cheating the public revenue of over one million pounds claiming zero rated rebates for a fictitous electric bed company. The defendant had changed his name by deed poll to assume the identity of another.
R v Tugusi - Lithuanian national charged with largest haul of fake documents ever encountered by UK Border Agency Chief Inspector. The defendant was alleged to have run a factory for photoshopping fake documents advertised by the internationally recognised criminal website CrimFactory.
R v Woof - Conspiracy to commit million pound ticketing fraud by misrepresentation. The case concerned supply of fraudulent Premiership football tickets and Wimbledon tennis tickets.
R v De La Cruz - £350,000 banking fraud featuring the use of high-quality forged identity documents.
R v Birkbeck - Million pound family mortgage fraud.
R v Zdyshchuk - £12 million conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue with false rebate claims.
R v Yassin - Directors of an education centre in alleged conspiracy to defraud the UK Border Agency by falsifying immigration tests.
R v Connors - Travelling family in alleged million pound conspiracy to blackmail elderly and vulnerable homeowners.

Civil Fraud

AXA Insurance & Direct Line Insurance v Suleman - Multi-million pound civil fraud on insurers by faking hundreds of road traffic accidents.

Regulatory

Re: George - A prosecution brought by the port of London Authority alleging dangerous navigation against the master of a vessel on the Thames.
Re: Graham - A private prosecution brought by the BPI for distributing copyright music via the Dancing Jesus website. The case involved consideration of highly complex computing, internet and copyright issues.
Re: Bahia - Large scale factoring fraud involving the director of a carpentry company prosecuted by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
Re: Shea - Multi-million pound building fraud and fraudulent trading case. The case concerned the prosecution of the main builder of several prestige building projects; it featured highly technical evidence from architects, trading standards officers and surveyors. It also featured a linked prosecution by the Enviroment Agency.
Re: O'Hanlan - Solicitors in a well-respected Liverpool firm charged with conspiring to destroy evidence on behalf of a team of kidnappers and robbers.
Re: Thiagalingam - Hospital doctor charged with third disqualified driving matter in as may years.

Administrative Court

Re: Breach of confidence. Application for an emergency interim ex parte injunction for a claimant whose ABE interview, revealing his historic sexual abuse at the hand of his teacher, was disclosed by the police to a third party without his consent. Undertakings were made by the Chief Constable of Warwickshire and West Mercia Police and the third party to return the ABE interview to the police unused.