Richard is an enthusiastic and passionate, Chartered Legal Executive with excellent client care skills. He values the importance of keeping up to date with changes to the law, building good relationships with our clients and outside agencies which enables him to ensure he gets the best possible outcome.
Richard joined Farani Taylor Solicitors in May 2017, as Head of newly formed Crime Department. He qualified as a Chartered Legal Executive in 2010 and has over 12 years’ experience in Criminal Law, of which he has been a Criminal Litigator for over 10 years. He is also an accredited police station advisor and represents clients for a wide range of criminal offences including Magistrates and Crown Court matters.
Areas of Practice
- General Crime
- Homicide
- Serious and Organised Crime
- Appellate
- Confiscation, Civil Recovery & Asset Fortfieture
- Fraud and Financial Crime
- Sexual Offences
Notable cases
R v. Syed Ahmed – [Liverpool Crown Court] 2017 – 2018
Money Laundering
This case arised from an investigation into Criminal Activities of members of Merseyside based Organised Crime Group, believed involved in supply of Controlled Drugs and assisted Money Laundering. The Defendant had a limited knowledge and role in the money laundering activities by depositing money into bank on two occasions. The Defendant entered basis of plea which was not accepted therefore it was necessary to have Newton Hearing. The Judge ruled against the Defendant and found the Defendant was acting in a joint enterprise throughout the relevant period (worth £115’600). He characterised his evidence as untrustworthy and unreliable throughout. He did accept that he was working underneath his co-defendant but that he remained a significant role.
R v. Marius Stefan – [Southampton Crown Court] 2017 – 2018
2 x Rape
A builder accused of rape of Romanian women who had allegedly been trafficked from Romania by the co-defendant, who then raped her and sold her his friends for sex. The case was eventually discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service when it was discovered the complainants’ mobile phone number was linked to prostitution in Romania.