Criminal Regulatory & Environmental
Selected Cases
Health & Safety Cases
- R (HSE) v An engineering inspection body & another company – Successfully secured the unanimous jury acquittal of a leading engineering inspection business, following a 3-week trial at Reading Crown Court. The company provides statutory inspection support services to industry and 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 both charges under s2 and s3 Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 that it faced (led by Simon Antrobus KC).
- LB 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 (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
- 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 death of a customer 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
- R (HSE) v MEU – Instructed to represent a manufacturer of agricultural machinery charged with health and safety offences concerning the design of a baler following a serious accident. 2-week Crown Court trial listed in late 2023.
- R (HSE) v RJL Ltd. – Instructed to represent a lift inspection company charged with a health and safety offence following the death of an employee. 3-week Crown Court trial listed in late 2023.
- R (HSE) v T Ltd. and D Ltd. – Instructed to represent two companies in respect of separate prosecutions by the HSE for offences relating to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
- 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 (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.
- R (HSE) v TF & Others – Represented a Principal Designer charged with a health and safety offence in relation to the design and construction of a new timber framed building immediately adjacent to an occupied residential building.
- R(HSE) v UEFS Ltd – Represented a company charged with breaches of electricity regulations after two men were severely injured in an explosion which occurred during electrical maintenance work.
- R(HSE) v FUK Ltd – Represented a major delivery company charged with a health and safety offence following a forklift truck incident at a parcel sorting depot.
- R (HSE) v C Ltd – Represented a farming business charged with health and safety offences after a worker sustained crush injuries when his arm became trapped in the moving parts of a potato grader.
- R (HSE) v R Ltd – Representing a company charged with health and safety offences relating to explosion which occurred when oxy-acetylene cutting equipment was being used to cut an oil drum, resulting in serious injuries.
- R (HSE) v S Ltd – Representing a roofing company and director charged with health and safety offences following a fatal fall from height.
- R(HSE) v B Ltd – Represented a manufacturing company charged with health and safety offences following a series of accidents in which three workers were injured by falling metal fencing panels.
- R(HSE) v A & Another – Represented an individual charged with health and safety offences following the collapse of a concrete pumping lorry, as a result of which a worker sustained serious head injuries.
Gross Negligence Manslaughter
- R v Boden & Others – Represented a managing director charged with four counts of gross negligence manslaughter following an explosion at Bosley Mill in 2015. 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 on 31 July 2017 on the basis that the submission of no case to answer made to the trial judge ought to have been allowed ([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/
Environmental Cases
- 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.
Awards
Professional Discipline Junior of the year (Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2018)
News
- Sandesh Singh successfully resists application for summons in private prosecution of dentist
- John Cooper KC and Sandesh Singh secure non-causative disposal in ligature suicide case
Events
Qualifications
- LLB (Hons), University of Bristol
- BVC, College of Law, London
Memberships
- ARDL
- HSLA
Recommendations
“Excellent all round. Thorough, impressive, focused and meticulous in his preparation. He is all over a case and is a go-to for complex cases – he’s got it all.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“He is extremely intelligent and brilliant on technical cases involving science which he is able to bring down into a more simple form.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Sandesh is an exceptional and articulate barrister. His tactical and strategic approach is impressive.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Extremely bright, very thorough and has great attention to detail. He gets right to the heart of a case. His advocacy is clear and very impressive.”
(2023)
“His attention to detail and preparation are first class and he has great client care but can be firm when necessary …. he will always ensure that the client’s position is protected and stand his ground.”
(2023)
“Really gets into the detail and is very methodical. He has a great eye for detail and is able to anticipate the issues in advance.”
(2022)
“A very smooth and effective advocate.”
(2022)
“He is extremely diligent, thorough and very good with clients.”
(2022)
“He is incredibly impressive, a brilliant advocate. He is meticulous, thorough and one of the most hard-working barristers I know.”
(2022)
“He is very clever, insightful and has a great manner with clients.”
(2022)
“Whether leading or being led, Sandesh has an intimate knowledge of the documents and facts from the very outset in a case. This ability to “get into” the case stand him apart from his competitors and his preparation is unrivalled. He is able to adapt and think on his feet at a moments notice and it really gives clients faith that they are in good hands. He is always thinking about the bigger picture and understands the commercial implications for clients.”
(2021)
“He’s incredibly diligent, hard-working, and his attention to detail is second to none. A brilliant junior.”
(2021)
