Stuart Alford

Call: 1992

Recommended in ‘Leaders at the Bar’ (Chambers & Partners 2012)

Called to the bar in November 1992. Pupillage with Stephen Waine (now HHJ Waine) and Richard Wilson (now Richard Wilson QC), at the Chambers of James Hunt QC (now 36 Bedford Row)

First five years of practice was predominantly in civil and criminal work, with some family. Stuart Alford is a criminal practitioner who works in both national and international crime, as well as extradition and other international issues.

He was a United Nations Prosecutor in East Timor, the Legal Adviser to the Iraq High Tribunal and is one of the Attorney General’s Special Advocates. Since 2009 he has been Chair of the War Crimes Committee of the International Bar Association.

In his national practice, Stuart specialises in fraud and other complex criminal cases. He also takes cases of serious sexual offences – in particular sensitive cases involving vulnerable women and young children. Stuart recently completed a three year fraud investigation for Bedfordshire CPS. The case involved 46 defendants charged with mortgage fraud and car insurance fraud. He is currently involved in complex proceeds of crime proceedings, arising out of this investigation.

In international crime Stuart specialises in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. His recent work has included advice to the United Nations Human Rights Office in Nepal, the United Kingdom Parliamentary Human Rights Group, and CNDP (the rebel group in North Kivu, DRC). He has provided training on international crimes for judges and lawyers in Iraq, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Kazakhstan. He regularly comments in the media on issues of international crime and is a contributor to the Oxford Companion of International Criminal Law.

Stuart is cleared under the Ministry of Defence’s Developed Vetting procedure (the highest of the UK’s four levels of security clearance) and is authorised to view material concerning national security.

Stuart is the Director of Staff for 36 Bedford Row Ltd, and a member of the Equal Opportunities Committee. He is a registered pupil–supervisor.

Stuart is the Chair of Governors at St Mary’s Primary School, Aston le Walls. He holds a private pilot’s licence (Europe and Australia) and is a PADI Divemaster. He enjoys opera and theatre.

Recent Cases:

Operation Exhort: prosecuted, with David Farrell QC, 46 defendants for highly complex mortgage and car insurance fraud conspiracy.

R v Saraj Qazi: prosecution of appeal on human rights issue; sentencing of defendant with serious medical condition: reported [2011] Crim LR 159.

DPP v Odedra: prosecution of appeal by case stated; district judges powers on application of no case to answer: reported [2010] EWHC 1713 (Admin).

R v Clive Hocking: defence of financial controller for dishonestly appropriating £1/4m from employer.

R v Ben Warwick: prosecution of repeated rape of 5yr old boy by 12yr old boy.

R v Robert Lowe: prosecution of sexual activity with women with Angelman’s syndrome (rare neuro–genetic disorder leading to severe intellectual and developmental difficulties).

 

Areas of expertise

Crime
International
Murder & Manslaughter
Direct Access
Terrorism and domestic extremism
Causing Death by driving
Domestic Violence
Rape and sexual offences
Child cruelty; Indecent images
Financial Crime - fraud, money laundering and confiscation
Drugs
Revenue and Customs
Genocide
War Crimes
ICT