Rob Mann

Rob Mann is a Director of Draycott Browne Limited, having joined the company in 2000. He offers advice and assistance to those accused of or charged with criminal offences, such as serious crime or regulatory defence, from the stage of an investigation through, where necessary, to the Court of Appeal.

Rob is a vastly experienced Solicitor and Higher Court Advocate. He regularly appears before the Crown Court and in recent years has specialised in the defence of serious cases including murder, armed robbery, drug importation and supply, high value fraud, money laundering, firearms offences and various conspiracies.

Few are able to match Rob’s ability to quickly analyse the facts and circumstances of a case with a view to identifying potential defences that might be available.

Notable Cases:

R v GW - client prosecuted by the Insolvency service for Fraud by False representation in respect of his obtaining of Bounce Back loans during the Covid pandemic. He denied Fraud and the case was listed for trial. Shortly before his trial, faced with a wealth of evidence to support his position that he had not been dishonest, the Prosecution offered no evidence against him in respect of the fraud and accepted a plea to a regulatory offence under the Insolvency Act for which he received a Suspended Sentence Order.

R v KS - client charged in respect of "Operation Vulcan" with Conspiring to Supply Class B and C pharmaceutical products. Those allegations were denied and the case fully prepared for trial. This case involved over 30,000 pages of evidence and consequently, a significant amount of work. A short time following the commencement of the trial, the Prosecution accepted a plea to Money Laundering (on a basis of plea which actually reflected the client's offending) and offered no evidence against him in respect of the more serious drugs charges.

R v ET - client was one of 13 charged in "Operation Peron" with joint enterprise Murder, namely a gang-related stabbing. He denied the allegation and the case, which involved over 10,000 pages of evidence and hours of CCTV footage was fully prepared for trial. Ultimately, during the currency of the trial, the Prosecution accepted that joint venture was not made out on the evidence and accepted a plea to Manslaughter.

R v GH - client was one of several males arrested in respect of "Operation Gardenside". This Operation involved conspiracies to supply multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and cannabis and to launder over £1 million in cash. We were successful in having the drugs offences dismissed against our client in exchange for a plea to Money Laundering on the basis that he acted as a courier.

R v SE – youth client facing a Murder charge on the basis of joint enterprise. Successfully defended and client acquitted following an 8 week trial.

R v DG – client alleged to have been part of a gang targeting ATM cash machines in rural locations and using explosives to gain access to the same. Case based upon clothing and footwear comparison from CCTV together with a partial footwear impression left at the scene. CCTV enhancement and footprint experts instructed to demonstrate that the Crown’s case was far from strong. In addition, the trainer brand was contacted to confirm the number of shoes sold with the same size and tread mark as the footprint recovered. Client acquitted after a 4 week trial.

R v RK – importation of Class A drugs. Alleged breaches of The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act by the Police. Numerous computer experts in both the UK and USA instructed. Client convicted after trial so appeal lodged in the UK. Court of Appeal granted permission to appeal but the full Court refused the application so proceedings lodged with the European Court of Justice.

R v DB – Conspiracy to Defraud. Client one of several defendant’s alleged to have been involved in a multi-million pound fraud. The trial was the longest running trial at Liverpool Crown Court, following which our client was acquitted.

R v SB – client pleaded guilty to importing 35.5kg of cannabis from the USA with an estimated street value exceeding £160,000. Through detailed preparation, expert evidence and carefully presented mitigation, we demonstrated that the client was vulnerable and had been exploited due to her personal circumstances. Despite the seriousness of the offence and the risk of immediate custody, the client received a 20 month custodial sentence suspended for 18 months.

R v GM – company director charged with Conspiracy to Defraud in relation to an alleged £5 million investment fraud involving a Ponzi scheme. Through detailed analysis of the evidence and careful preparation of the defence case, we demonstrated that the client had himself been misled into believing the business was legitimate. Following a lengthy trial at Southwark Crown Court, the jury acquitted the client and returned a verdict of not guilty.

If you are accused of or charged with a criminal offence, do not hesitate to contact Rob Mann, directly, on 07801 708374 or alternatively e-mail him at: Robert.Mann@draycottbrowne.co.uk.