Criminal Defence Solicitors in Middlesbrough

Mr Watson has extensive experience in dealing with criminal defence cases, including representation of clients (both youth and adult) with mental health difficulties, such as Asperger’s Syndrome, Attention  Deficit Hyperactivity Order, Schizophrenia, Personality Disorders and others.

In particular, Mr Watson has dealt with a large number of successful criminal defence cases for those accused of sexual offences and indecent images, and also for those subject to Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) applications.

We cover all aspects of criminal defence, from motoring (driving) offences to assaults, drug offences, benefit fraud, court martials, sex offences, indecent images, fraud and murder.

We have a proven track record of strong defence.  In December 2016 alone, three out of three clients accused of rape were acquitted at trial.

As you may appreciate, after over 30 years in practice, we cannot name every high profile criminal defence case, but listed below are samples of some of our most recent (names omitted);-

 Violent Offences 

• Defending a client accused of murdering his girlfriend in their flat in the Middlesbrough area, involving issues of automatism and other related Mental Health issues.
• Defending a client accused of the murder of a woman by her partner in the Marske area in the presence of her three small children, involving issues of alleged memory loss.
• Defending a client accused of the murder of a school teacher by her partner in the Loftus area of East Cleveland, involving issues of alleged memory loss.
• Defending a client accused of attempted murder of a man, involving the severance of a limb.
• Defending a 15 year old boy accused of pouring petrol over the complainant, aged 14 years and then setting him alight.
• Defending a 17 year old youth accused of biting off another youth’s lip.

 Sexual Offences 

• Defending a client accused of historic child sexual abuse, including rape of step daughters over an 8 year period.
• Defending a client accused of sexual assault on his 14 year old niece.
• Defending a client accused of attempted rape of one teenage boy and sexual assault of several others, together with deception and resulting Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) application.
• Defending a client who was charged as a result of “Operation Landslide”, with downloading indecent images of children over the Internet.
• Defending a client accused of kidnap and causing sexual activity from a teenage boy.
• Defending a client accused of incest with his now adult daughter.
• Defending a 12 year old boy accused of indecent assault by digital penetration on girl under 13 years, child abduction, sexual touching and S47 Assault, in addition to seven offences of non-penetrative sexual activity with a girl under 13 years.
• Defending a client accused of paying a 12 year old boy for sexual services.
• Defending a client accused of taking indecent photographs of children and sexual touching of children.
• Defending a client accused of anal rape of his wife.
• Drugs/Controlled Substance offences
• Defending a client accused of growing cannabis on a commercial basis and representing him in the resulting Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) application.
• Defending a client accused of permitting his home to be used in the supply of Liquid Ecstasy (GHB) which resulted in the death of his partner.
• Defending a client accused of Benefit Fraud, which he obtained to pay for his son’s drug habit.
• Defending a client accused of supplying Ecstasy tablets to a man who subsequently died.

 Abuse cases 

• Defending a family accused of Modern Day Slavery.
• Defending a client accused of child abuse and neglect of her son.
• Defending a client accused of S47 Assault upon his adopted son.
• Defending numerous non-accidental injury cases.
• Acting for parents in a Forced Marriage Protection Order application.

 RSPCA Defence cases 

• Won leading case of RSPCA v Nadian, which became a landmark case in RSPCA Defence.
• Defending a client who ran an animal shelter and who was accused by the RSPCA of animal neglect and cruelty.
• Defending a client accused of failing to obtain medical treatment for a dog which had been involved in dog fighting.
• Defending a client accused of failing to obtain medical treatment and to supply food and shelter, for three horses.
• Defending a client accused of failing to obtain medical treatment for a dog with an infected tail.
• Defending a client accused of violence/cruelty towards a dog.
• Defending three clients accused of neglect/cruelty towards a dog.
• Defending a client accused of neglect/causing unnecessary suffering to German Shepherd dogs.
• Defending clients accused of causing unnecessary suffering to a Doberman dog.