Shaun Draycott

Shaun Draycott is the Managing Director of Draycott Browne Limited. His entire career has been dedicated to the representation of those accused of or charged with criminal offences, in particular, sexual offences.

Shaun is an outstanding Advocate and Litigator, a true heavyweight performer. Few in the profession will have his experience of defending complex and serious criminal cases, from murder through to fraud and drug supply. He is a true expert in this field.

Recent, well publicised, events are illustrative of the tireless work undertaken by Shaun upon behalf of his clients. His successes in the Court of Appeal are well documented as are his efforts relevant to Jury trials heard at court centres throughout England and Wales.

Shaun is passionate about his work and is determined that Draycott Browne Limited should continue to offer a full range of services to its clients irrespective of their means.

Should you require any advice and assistance from Shaun Draycott and if, in particular, you are interested in utilising the private client services of Draycott Browne Limited, contact Shaun on 07703 211700 or e-mail him at Shaun.Draycott@draycottbrowne.co.uk

Notable Cases

R v Chedwyn Evans – client instructed Draycott Browne following his conviction for rape at Caernarfon Crown Court. We advised and represented him in connection with a successful application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission which resulted in his conviction being referred to the Court of Appeal. Following proceedings before the Court of Appeal we prepared and managed his retrial at Cardiff Crown Court where the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

R v Lee Tomlin – professional footballer represented from the outset of a police investigation and advised during two interviews under caution before being charged with causing Grievous Bodily Harm. Following representations made on the client’s behalf by Shaun Draycott and leading counsel, the Prosecution offered no evidence in respect of the Grievous Bodily Harm charge at Leicester Crown Court. The client admitted a public order offence for which he received a community order.

Police v Gene Ormsby – professional Rugby League player represented in proceedings brought under the Dangerous Dogs Act after his dogs caused injuries to other animals. The Court was required to determine whether the dogs should be destroyed. Following carefully prepared submissions supported by expert evidence from a Consultant in Animal Behaviour, the Court was persuaded not to make Destruction Orders.

R v Aaron Wan-Bissaka – Manchester United footballer represented in relation to driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance. We successfully applied to have the original six month disqualification set aside after demonstrating that the client had been unaware of the hearing and was outside the country at the time. Following detailed investigation of the circumstances and resolution of the outstanding driving matters, the client received a financial penalty and the shortest period of disqualification available to the Court.

R v Lloyd Jones – professional footballer represented from an early stage of a lengthy police investigation before being charged with unlawful wounding. A careful analysis of the evidence demonstrated that the client had been inappropriately charged. Following negotiations with the Prosecution, no evidence was offered in respect of the wounding allegation and a formal verdict of not guilty was entered at Gloucester Crown Court. The client accepted involvement in a public disturbance for which he received a Community Order.

R v Alex Hepburn – client instructed following his conviction for rape at Worcester Crown Court to advise and represent him in an appeal against conviction. A detailed application was prepared arguing that the conviction was unsafe and permission to appeal was granted by the Court of Appeal. Lengthy submissions were subsequently made before the Lord Chief Justice and two other Judges, following which the Court reserved its judgment.

R v Jason Lawrance – client instructed to appeal two convictions for rape following trial at Nottingham Crown Court. The case concerned whether a lie about fertility was capable of negating consent to sexual intercourse. Permission to appeal was granted and detailed submissions were made before the Court of Appeal including the Lord Chief Justice. The Court concluded that the client’s lie about his fertility was not capable in law of negating consent and both rape convictions were formally quashed.

R v Donald McPherson – client charged with the murder of his wife following her death by drowning in a swimming pool in Denmark. Shaun Draycott represented the client from his initial arrest and throughout the extensive police investigation before preparing the case for trial at Manchester Crown Court. Following detailed consideration of the medical and other evidence, the defence successfully submitted at the close of the Prosecution case that there was no case to answer. The Judge ruled in the client’s favour and a formal verdict of not guilty was returned.

R v Anthony Gelling – former professional Rugby League player charged with unlawful wounding following an incident involving a motor vehicle. The defence case was extensively prepared including detailed analysis of the Prosecution evidence and an expert examination of the scene. The client maintained that he had acted reasonably in self defence. Following careful cross examination of the Complainant and evidence from the client at Liverpool Crown Court, the jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty.

R v AHL – client represented in Court of Appeal proceedings following convictions for rape and controlling or coercive behaviour and an eight year custodial sentence. The Solicitor General sought to have the sentence increased on the basis that it was unduly lenient. We instructed leading and junior counsel and successfully argued that the sentencing Judge had been entitled to reduce the sentence to reflect the “conditional consent” circumstances of the rape offence. The Solicitor General’s application failed and the client’s original eight year sentence remained unchanged.

R v AB – client was a well known figure in the financial sector accused of sexually assaulting a fellow passenger during a train journey from London to Manchester. Following persistent efforts to obtain CCTV from the train carriage, extensive analysis of the footage demonstrated that the client could not have been responsible for the alleged assault. Despite representations to the CPS, the prosecution continued. Working alongside leading counsel and with expert input, we successfully challenged the case and in March 2026 the allegations were dismissed by a Judge at Manchester Crown Court.

R v SR – client instructed us to appeal a 12 year custodial sentence with a further five year extended licence period imposed following a guilty plea to rape. His previous solicitors had advised that there were no grounds to appeal. Following a detailed review of the case, a comprehensive argument was prepared in support of the appeal. The Court of Appeal accepted the submissions and reduced the client’s sentence by two and a half years.

R v DD – client instructed us to appeal terms of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order imposed following convictions for sexual offences. A detailed review identified terms which were considered unfair, unnecessary and disproportionate. An application for permission to appeal was prepared and the matter proceeded before the full Court of Appeal. Following detailed submissions, permission to appeal out of time was granted and the appeal was allowed, resulting in the Sexual Harm Prevention Order being amended.

R v KJ – client instructed us following convictions for attempted rape, false imprisonment and assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a sentence of 10 years imprisonment. Following a detailed review of the case and trial transcripts, applications were made for permission to appeal against both conviction and sentence. After the initial applications were refused, they were renewed before the full Court of Appeal where detailed representations resulted in permission being granted to appeal against both the convictions and sentence.

R v L – client instructed us following his conviction for a serious sexual offence to pursue an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Following many months of careful preparation, detailed submissions were made to the Commission and challenges raised against decisions made during the review process. The application was ultimately successful and in December 2022 the Criminal Cases Review Commission referred the client’s conviction to the Court of Appeal.