Martin joined Cobden House Chambers after many years as a solicitor and is a former Principal Crown Prosecutor.

He has a heavy weight practice dealing with cases of the utmost severity such as: Murder, Robbery, Rape and other sexual offences, Firearms, Kidnap, Arson, Possession and Supply of Class A Drugs. Martin has a predominantly defence practice, often involving substantial and complex issues, requiring detailed and careful analysis. He is frequently instructed in cases involving significant numbers of documents. In the most serious cases he has been led, but has also been leading junior counsel to other counsel.

He also undertakes work before tribunal and regulatory panels

Martin is also a part time advocacy trainer on the Bar Course at MMU and is an advocate with a vast amount of experience.

Some notable cases:

 v Burgess, Coghlan and others - appeared for one of a number of  defendants charged with murder and conspiracy to supply drugs. After ten months the trial was stayed for abuse following complex legal argument. Dealt with much of the scientific evidence relating to DNA in the case.

R v Safi and others - appeared for one of a number of men charged with offences of indecency with a young girl who was in care

R v Cullen and others - defendant was one of a number charged with money laundering offences. Money was said to have come from a number of armed robberies. Some of those armed robberies were offences that the defendant had earlier been charged with and acquitted. One was an offence to which he had earlier pleaded guilty and served a sentence of imprisonment.

R v Worden and others - represented one of a number of men charged with murder involving kicking a man to death in Kirkham in Lancashire. Ultimately pleaded to manslaughter.

R v Hayes and others - represented a man who together with others was charged with the taking and joyriding of a motor car that resulted in the death of a pedestrian. Crown offered no evidence against this defendant.

R v Armitage - multiple child cruelty case

R v Royle - Kidnapping and false imprisonment which resulted in acquittal

R v Sweet and others - large scale drug importation of cocaine brought into the jurisdiction inside air conditioning units from Spain

R v F - armed robbery of a taxi driver – defendant was a young offender. Case involved some complicated sentencing issues, following trial of issue, after guilty plea

R v Tansey - series of armed robberies of building societies in West Yorkshire. Defendant was extradited from Spain. Police wanted to charge other offences of robbery that were not part of the extradition process.

R v I - case involving a cache of firearm components, e.g. sub machine gun magazine. Complex legal argument as to what are and are not “components” for purposes of firearms legislation

R v S-S - defendant charged with possession of cocaine with intent to supply. He was driving a car which was stopped by the police. The car was seized and later, in the glove compartment, was found a kilogram of cocaine. His fingerprints were on the bag in which the cocaine was given to the police by the recovery company. The defendant had a conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to supply. At his first trial the jury could not reach a verdict. Prior to his second trial taking place the Crown offered no evidence because of difficult disclosure issues relating to an investigation into the arresting officer.

Direct Access:

Martin is fully qualified to operate under the Direct Access Scheme (in line with Bar Council’s approved scheme for counsel). For further information please see www.cobdendirect.co.uk

Regulatory & Tribunal:

• Defence of Doctors
• Disciplinary Tribunal involving Sport related matters.
• Security Industry Authority

Martin is instructed to defend Doctors in proceedings brought by the General Medical Council.

Other Interests:

Rugby - Martin played for Sale for 6 years "in the 80’s" in the front row and
is a level 2 Qualified RFU Coach.
Vintage wristwatches

Member of the Criminal Bar Association