Richard Moss

Richard accepts instructions for both publicly funded and private clients in the Crown Court and private clients in the Magistrates’ Court.

Notable acquittals include for murder, attempt murder, assault of a child by penetration, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, sexual activity by a carer with persons lacking capacity, sexual assault, indecent assault, wilful neglect by a carer, possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, s.18 GBH, possession of firearms and other weapons, dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice, violent disorder, robbery, theft in breach of trust (by a carer) and racially aggravated offences. He has successfully undertaken appeals to the Court of Appeal.

He is experienced at dealing with:

• Confiscation proceedings;
• Sexual offences including rape, offences of outraging public decency, voyeurism, assault by penetration, sexual assault, indecent assault, possession and distribution of indecent images and child sex offences;
• Violent offences including murder, attempt murder, manslaughter, s.18 GBH, threats to kill and kidnap;
• Public Order offences including violent disorder;
• Prison Mutiny;
• Firearms offences including possession of firearms with intent and possession of disguised weapons;
• Conspiracy to cause explosions (ATM attacks);
• Offences against property including arson with intent to endanger life,
• Dishonesty offences including multi handed conspiracies, fraud, blackmail, robbery and aggravated burglary;
• Drug offences including multi handed conspiracies to supply Class A and cases engaging human trafficking and modern slavery legislation offences;
• Perverting the course of justice;
• Offences aggravated by racial, sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination.

Other notable defence work has included conspiracy to import counterfeit medicines and environmental, health and safety, statutory nuisance and trading standards offences. He has extensive experience in dealing with defendants with mental health issues.

He maintains a strong road traffic practice receiving frequent instructions in such cases, including homicide offences involving driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

He receives instructions in matters relating to firearms licensing.

Richard is a level 3 prosecutor on the CPS list. He is appointed to the RASSO panel.

Notable prosecutions have included for s.18 GBH, causing death by dangerous driving, firearms offences, brothel keeping, sexual assault of a child under 13 and under the Computer Misuse Act. Other significant experience encompasses kidnap, aggravated burglary, multi handed drug conspiracies (including cases involving modern slavery and human trafficking), multi handed conspiracy to rob, various sexual offences (including child sex offences), child cruelty, controlling or coercive behaviour, perverting the course of justice, bomb hoaxes and various frauds (including benefit fraud, fraud by abuse of position by carers and by financial officers).

Recent work when led includes in a multi-handed conspiracy to defraud and an eight handed conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Road traffic prosecutions have included causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving, dangerous driving (including hit and run incidents) and causing bodily harm by wanton and furious driving.

Richard is experienced in dealing with confiscation proceedings and is experienced in dealing with cases which engage the Modern Slavery Act.

R v P [2023] – Trial duration: 6 days

Luton Crown Court

Acquittal of defendant accused of multiple incident counts of historic sexual abuse of his daughter.

R v M [2022] – Trial duration: 5 days

Oxford Crown Court

Successful prosecution of defendant for sexual assault of a child under 13 and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. The victim was autistic and gave evidence through the s.28 procedure with the assistance of an intermediary.

R v G [2022]

Oxford Crown Court

Richard led Adam Williams defending in this multi-handed conspiracy to cause explosions. The case related to ATM attacks. On a plea the defendant received 10 ½ years.

R v F & Others [2021]

Oxford Crown Court

Successful prosecution of multi-handed drugs conspiracy. County lines operation known as “Hollywood”.

R v BRM [2021] – Trial duration: 5 weeks

Reading Crown Court & Court of Appeal [2022] EWCA Crim 385

Oliver Stephens murder trial. Appeared for first defendant, 14 years old, led by Timothy Raggatt QC. Convicted of murder. Acquitted of perverting the course of justice.

Application for leave to appeal against conviction refused.

R v D [2021] - Trial duration: 5 weeks

Reading Crown Court

Six handed attempt murder trial. Appeared for second defendant as junior alone. Defendant acquitted of attempt murder, convicted of possession of firearm with intent to endanger life. Conspiracy to supply drugs of a class unknown successfully dismissed. Submission of no case to answer upheld re being concerned in the supply of drugs of a class unknown.

R v E [2021]

Court of Appeal [2021] EWCA Crim 485

Appeal against sentence allowed. 38 months reduced to 28 months in relation to sentence for Arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered.

R v B [2020] – Trial duration: 5 weeks

Central Criminal Court & Court of Appeal [2021] 4 WLR 5

PC Harper murder trial. Appeared for second defendant led by Timothy Raggatt QC. Acquitted of murder. Convicted of manslaughter.

R v W [2020]

Southwark Crown Court

Following a guilty plea the defendant received a sentence of 3 ½ years for a £1.75 million fraud committed against his employer the Ministry of Justice.

R v H [2019] – Trial duration: 5 days

Aylesbury Crown Court

Successful prosecution for causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. Case hinged on circumstantial evidence where the defendant accepted presence but denied being the driver.

R v U [2019] – Trial duration: 4 days

Aylesbury Crown Court

Defendant, 18 at time of offence, acquitted of three counts of sexual assault, the complainant was 14. Defence of consent and fabrication.

R v S [2019] – Trial duration: 5 days

Reading Crown Court

Successful prosecution of defendant at the head of a county lines conspiracy to supply class A.

R v B [2019] – Trial duration: 6 days

Oxford Crown Court

Defendant acquitted of Possession of Class A with intent to supply. Defence of duress run.

R v N [2019] – Trial duration: 10 days

Reading Crown Court

Prosecution under the Computer Misuse Act of a consultant who maliciously terminated servers (hosted by Amazon Web Servers) of his former employer causing around £500,000 of damage. Convicted after trial.

R v D [2018] – Trial duration: 4 days

Wood Green Crown Court

Prosecution of defendant for robbery and possession of imitation firearm with intent. Convicted after trial.

R v C [2018] – Trial duration: 5 days

Reading Crown Court

Defendant (addict who had been cuckooed) acquitted of possession of sawn-off shotgun following challenge to DNA evidence.

R v A & others [2018] – Trial duration: 8 weeks

Aylesbury Crown Court

Appeared as junior for the Crown in eight handed multi-event conspiracy to supply cocaine. Convictions achieved after trial.

R v M [2017] – Trial duration: 6 days

Reading Crown Court

Acquittal of step-father of assault by penetration of a child, inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and sexual assault of a child. The complainant was six.

R v D & others [2017] – Trial duration: 8 weeks

Reading Crown Court

Appeared as junior for the Crown in this four-handed conspiracy to defraud (described as a “garage lien fraud”) involving a large engine remanufacturing business. After a lengthy trial all defendants were convicted.

R v C [2016] – Trial duration: 7 days

Kingston Crown Court

Acquittal of young defendant of s.18 GBH for planned group attack using a hammer. Defence run of mistaken identification.

R v B & B [2016] – Trial duration: 5 days

Reading Crown Court

Successful prosecution of two defendants for possession of a prohibited weapon with intent to cause fear of violence (sawn off shotgun).

R v A [2016] – Trial duration: 8 days

Reading Crown Court

Successful prosecution for Keeping/Managing/Assisting in the management of brothels. In 2017 a confiscation order was obtained following contested hearing for a six figure sum.

R v C [2015]

Court of Appeal

Appeal allowed following successful renewal of application for leave to appeal against sentence for distribution of Level A indecent images. Sentence reduced from 4 ½ to 3 ½ years.

R v G [2015] – Trial duration: 5 days

Isleworth Crown Court

Acquittal of experienced carer of two counts of sexual activity with dementia patients. Defence run of malicious complaint by other staff members.