Sandesh Singh

• R v NELFT & Another – Currently representing the North East London NHS Foundation Trust, which is charged with corporate manslaughter in relation to a ligature fatality on an acute psychiatric ward (led by John Cooper KC). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c299x7wx427o
• R v AP & Another – Currently instructed to represent a company charged with two counts of corporate manslaughter following the death of two pest control workers at a chicken processing factory in Norfolk. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyj4eejz374o
• R v Boden & Others – Represented a managing director charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter following an explosion at Bosley Mill in 2015. Trial before May J. Acquitted of all manslaughter counts following a successful submission of no case to answer. Acquittals upheld by the Court of Appeal (R v WTL & Boden [2021] EWCA Crim 618) (led by Simon Antrobus KC). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50631845
• R v Oakes & Another – Represented a site foreman charged with gross negligence manslaughter and a health and safety offence following the death of a carpenter who fell from height during the conversion of stable blocks at Stanmer Park in Sussex. The case involved complex issues of causation (Led junior). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-41283631
• R v Honey Rose – Represented an optometrist charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of a child. This was a complex and high-profile case involving the first prosecution of an optometrist for manslaughter. The defendant was convicted following a trial before Stuart-Smith J and a jury. The conviction was overturned by the Court of Appeal. Now one of the leading cases on foreseeability in gross negligence manslaughter ([2017] EWCA Crim 1618) (Led by KC). https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/jul/31/optometrist-honey-rose-wins-appeal-against-conviction-manslaughter-boy-8
• R v Dr Lyndsey Thomas & Another – Represented a GP charged with gross negligence manslaughter arising out of an alleged failure to visit a child who was suffering from a rare endocrine disorder. Nicola Davies J upheld a submission of no case to answer. The Court of Appeal’s judgment in relation to the prosecution’s interlocutory appeal in the co-defendant’s case is reported (R v Rudling [2016] EWCA Crim 741) (Led by KC). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/17/doctor-cleared-over-death-of-12-year-old-boy/

• R (HSE) v An engineering inspection body & Another – Successfully secured the unanimous jury acquittal of a leading engineering inspection business, following a 3-week trial at Reading Crown Court. The company was prosecuted by the HSE following the death of an employee, falling from height whilst surveying a customer’s complex 3-story structure. The customer company, a car manufacturer, was a co-defendant in the case and was convicted of charges under s2 and s3 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (led by Simon Antrobus KC).
• London Borough of Camden v William Hill Organisation Ltd – Successfully defended William Hill in relation to a fatal accident in which a large metal advertising sign fell from above the William Hill bookmakers on Camden Road in North London and struck a member of the public. After a 6-week trial and 8 days of jury deliberation, the company was found not guilty of two health and safety offences (led by John Cooper KC). https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6358319/William-Hill-cleared-health-safety-offences-440lb-sign-killed-lawyer.html
• R v MEU – Secured the acquittal of a leading manufacturer of agricultural balers. The case concerned an incident in which a farmer lost his arm whilst using a baler manufactured by the defendant company. His arm was drawn into moving parts of the baler and was amputated at the shoulder. The Health and Safety Executive brought charges under Section 6 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. At the conclusion of a 12-day trial, the jury acquitted the defendant of both charges. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9432554/farmer-arm-torn-off-hay-baling
• R (HSE) v MS Ltd – Represented a water utility company charged with a health and safety offence relating to the death of a football fan who died after falling into an excavation close to his home. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5598731/Football-fan-40-died-falling-roadworks-hole-near-home.html
• R (HSE) v RJL Ltd. – Represented a lift inspection company charged with a health and safety offence following the death of an employee. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10291743/Engineer-24-died-fell-lift-got-trapped-against-wall-M-ller-UK-factory.html
• R (HSE) v T Ltd. and D Ltd. – Represented two companies in separate prosecutions by the HSE for offences relating to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Non causative disposals secured in both cases, despite multiple RIDDOR reports submitted to the HSE declaring diagnoses of HAVS and health surveillance evidence indicating such diagnoses in both cases.
• R (HSE) v AUK Ltd. – Represented a company charged with a health and safety offence arising out of the decommissioning of the platform ‘Brent Bravo’, which was part of the Brent oil and gas field in the North Sea.

• R v NELFT & Another – Currently representing the North East London NHS Foundation Trust, which is charged with corporate manslaughter in relation to a ligature fatality on an acute psychiatric ward (led by John Cooper KC). https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c299x7wx427o
• R (HSE) v Priory Healthcare Ltd– Represented Priory Healthcare in relation to a prosecution brought by the HSE following the death of a patient at the Priory Hospital Ticehurst House. A guilty plea was entered but it was disputed that the offence was a significant cause of the death. Dingemans J found that causation had not been established (led by John Cooper KC). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/04/17/priory-group-fined-300000-judge-death-teenage-girl-psychiatric
• R (HSE) v Priory Healthcare Ltd – Represented Priory Healthcare in relation to a ligature fatality at the Priory Hospital Roehampton. HHJ Baumgartner KC ruled that causation had not been established (led by John Cooper KC). https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-11-14-PRIORY-HEALTHCARE-LIMITED-Sentencing-remarks.pdf https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-67427462
• R (HSE) v PCH and Another – Represented a healthcare provider charged with offences relating to the risk of assaults (primarily incidents of biting) by patients on care staff at a hospital which cared for patients with learning disabilities, mental health and behavioural issues before it was closed in 2017. One care worker was bitten on the shoulder “through to the bone” and another required skin grafts following a bite to his forearm. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66158621
• CQC v S – Represented a manager in a prosecution by the CQC following the death of a service user who was assaulted in a care home.
• CQC v BC – Represented an organisation charged with offences in connection with the choking death of a service user in a care home.
• Re: SC – Represented a charity which provides health and social care services at a sensitive, two-week Article 2 inquest concerning the death of a patient at a specialist mental health unit. At the conclusion of the inquest, the Jury delivered positive findings that the care decisions made were reasonable and rejected a suggestion that the death was contributed to by neglect.

• London Borough of Barking and Dagenham v S Ltd – Instructed to represent a company at the inquest into the death of Hannah Jacobs, who died after drinking a hot chocolate purchased from Costa Coffee in Barking, and in the ongoing criminal investigation.  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c77lr0ellddo
• Bath & North East Somerset Council v Pret a Manger UK Ltd and Planet Coconut Ltd– Instructed to represent Planet Coconut Ltd in respect of a prosecution concerning the allergy death of Celia Marsh, who had purchased food from Pret a Manger in Bath. Acquitted upon the Prosecution offering no evidence following service of expert evidence (led by KC).https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7663977/Pret-Manger-food-supplier-Planet-Coconut-face-trial-death-woman.html
• Inquest into the death of Celia Marsh – Represented Planet Coconut Ltd at the inquest into the death of Celia Marsh, who died after eating a wrap purchased from Pret a Manger in Bath. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-62919404
• Re: X – Represented a retailer at an inquest which concerning a fatal fire. It was suggested that a product supplied by Sandesh’s client was the cause of the fire. The Coroner found that a causative link to product could not be established and no Regulation 28 report was issued.
• Re: Y – Represented a manufacturer of medical devices at an inquest relating to the death of a patient during an operation. It was suggested that the failure of a device manufactured by Sandesh’s client had contributed to the death. Sandesh argued that the most likely cause was an error by the consultant surgeon, who gave evidence at the inquest. The Coroner found no causative link between the device and the death and no Regulation 28 report was issued.

• R (Natural England) v Benham-Crosswell – Represented a retired army colonel charged with destruction of great crested newt habitat. It was alleged that he had drained a number of inter-connecting ponds which were known to be a great crested newt breeding ground. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3825944/Retired-army-colonel-loses-battle-great-crested-newt-fined-1-000-draining-lake-home.html
• Environment Agency v Starbuck – Represented a haulier charged with unlawfully depositing controlled waste on a number of occasions as part of a commercial fly-tipping operation around the M25 in Kent. Twelve defendants.
• Environment Agency v Lee & RBPC Ltd – Represented a company director charged with unlawfully depositing approximately 5000 cubic meters of controlled waste on land in Berkshire.
• Environment Agency v I Ltd – Represented a company charged with multiple breaches in respect of two waste transfer stations in West London.

• Represented two police officers involved in the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Underground station at an inquest lasting three months before Sir Michael Wright KC and in associated judicial review proceedings (led by KC).
• Represented a charity which provides health and social care services at a sensitive, two-week Article 2 inquest concerning the death of a patient at a specialist mental health unit. At the conclusion of the inquest, the Jury delivered positive findings that the care decisions made were reasonable and rejected a suggestion that the death was contributed to by neglect.
• Represented a charity following an incident in which a resident in shared accommodation managed by the charity was fatally stabbed by another resident. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/kyle-maher-young-father-who-was-stabbed-to-death-in-tooting-had-got-engaged-days-earlier-a3446916.html
• Represented a major transport company at an inquest into the death of a man who suffered a cardiac arrest whilst being detained after travelling on the Metrolink in Manchester. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/jack-barnes-tribute-metrolink-police-12343316
• Represented Thomas Cook at an inquest into the death of a passenger in Egypt. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-48871242
• Represented Planet Coconut Ltd at the inquest into the death of Celia Marsh, who died after eating a wrap purchased from Pret a Manger in Bath. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-62919404
• Represented a company at the inquest into the death of Hannah Jacobs, who died after drinking a hot chocolate purchased from Costa Coffee in Barking.  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c77lr0ellddo.

Sandesh has experience of representing professional drivers for a range of offences (including speeding, careless driving, dangerous driving and causing death by careless or dangerous driving) and of road traffic related inquests (often when there is an ongoing criminal investigation).

• R v M– Represented the driver of a large tipper lorry which was involved in a collision with a cyclist on Cheyne Walk. The collision occurred as the lorry was turning left onto Battersea Bridge. It was alleged that the driver failed to check his mirrors and use his indicators appropriately. The cyclist was drawn under the wheels of the lorry and suffered serious injuries. Her right leg was amputated below the knee. At the conclusion of a six-day trial, the jury acquitted the driver of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and all available alternatives (dangerous driving and careless driving).
• Re: L – Driver under investigation for causing death by dangerous driving in connection with the death of a cyclist on a motorway. Represented the driver at inquest. Successfully argued that he should not be required to answer questions in relation to the incident pursuant to Rule 22. Challenged the police forensic collision investigator’s evidence that the motorcyclist would have been visible to the driver prior to the incident. No charges brought following the inquest.

• Sandesh is regularly instructed in connection with appeals to the Administrative Court and Court of Appeal in this field, eg: Akhtar v GDC[2017] EWHC 1986; Ivanova v GDC [2017] EWHC 1922, Phillips v GDC [2017] EWHC 2584, GOC v Clarke [2018] EWCA Civ 1463; Milerman v GDC [2019] EWHC 2378 and PSA v GOC and Honey Rose [2021] EWCA Civ 2888
• GOC v Honey Rose– Represented Honey Rose in respect of her disciplinary proceedings before the Fitness to Practise Committee of the General Optical Council, following the PSA’s successful High Court appeal (PSA v GOC and Honey Rose [2021] EWCA Civ 2888).
• GMC v Dr Donegan – Represented a GP alleged to be guilty of misconduct by reason of her writing misleading reports for the Family Division of the High Court in relation to the safety and necessity of childhood vaccinations. It was alleged that she had not provided a balanced expert opinion and had allowed her deeply held views on the subject to overrule her duty to the Court (led by KC).
• GOC v Jordan – Represented an optometrist alleged to have provided spectacles containing tinted lenses to numerous child patients, many with autism or other learning difficulties, without obtaining informed consent. The optometrist also faced allegations of inappropriate NHS claims and inadequate record keeping. Conditions were imposed. The co-defendant, a dispensing optician, was struck off: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-43332486/optician-struck-off-over-tinted-lenses-cures