Innovative Practice with Traditional Values

This client was arrested and charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place. The client had left his supported accommodation with a kitchen knife in fear for his safety from local gangs. He was reported, stopped and found with the knife in his possession by police. Mr Masood represented the client for his sentencing and convinced the Magistrates to sentence the client to a community order rather than the custodial sentence he was facing. Mr Masood was able to skillfully mitigate on behalf of the client, citing his mental health conditions to the Court.

This was a case in the Crown Court in which Mr Masood worked alongside Counsel to secure an acquittal for his client. The charges consisted of assaults, false imprisonment and controlling and coercive behaviour. There was extensive evidence that was analysed including mobile phone evidence and media recordings. Adeptly challenging this evidence, the complainant’s account was scrutinised and the jury returned a not guilty verdict to all counts.

This case involved a client who had assaulted ten police constables whilst in police custody. Mr Masood methodically analysed the offence and convinced the Magistrates for the matter to remain in the Magistrates Court where the sentencing powers were limited. With expert mitigation and exploration of the client’s circumstances, Mr Masood secured a suspended sentence for this client. Such an offence would usually be sent to the Crown Court where a single assault on an emergency worker can result in a 2 year custodial sentence alone.

This client appeared before the Magistrates Court for a charge of “drug driving”. The client had a history of driving offences and had previously been disqualified on two occasions. Due to this and other previous convictions the client was facing not only a significant disqualification from driving but the threat of a custodial sentence. Mr Masood was able to highlight his client’s current circumstances, his new employment and progress since being arrested and secured a lighter sentence in the form of a community order for the client alongside a driving disqualification.

Mr Masood represented a client facing a serious charge of wounding with intent under Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and Robbery. The incident involved the alleged stabbing of a teenager over a potential “gang-war”. Expertly challenging the Crown’s evidence and through negotiation, a lesser plea to unlawful wounding was accepted with the robbery charge dropped. The client, a teenager himself, was released from custody on an intensive youth rehabilitation order.