Ian Bourne QC

Year of Call: 1977 Inner Temple
Year of Silk: 2006
Affiliations: Criminal Bar Association, South Eastern Circuit
Appointments: Recorder
Specialist Areas: Serious Crime, Homicide, Serious Violent Offences, Firearms, Large Drugs Related Offences, Sexual Offences, Confiscation, Restraint & Asset Recovery Proceedings, Serious Fraud & White Collar Crime, MTIC Fraud , Commercial Crime, Money Laundering, DTI Offences

Biography Cases

Biography

Ian Bourne QC is a leading criminal defence advocate, specialising in murder, complex fraud, and drug trafficking cases. Before taking silk he was a Leading Junior on the South Eastern Circuit. With more than 30 years’ experience Mr Bourne is a highly regarded and powerful advocate, popular with both solicitors and lay clients. He is regularly instructed in cases of the utmost gravity and complexity.

Mr Bourne acted for Lisa Taylor, one of two sisters convicted of murder in 1992. The convictions were quashed the following year due to failures in disclosure and prejudicial media coverage (R v Taylor [1994] 98 Cr.App.R. 361). In 2010 Mr Bourne was instructed in a murder case before the Chief Justice of Grand Cayman (R v Henry) where the Defendants were tried without a jury. He is currently instructed in the £42M Graff Diamonds robbery trial at Woolwich Crown Court (R v Kassaye), the largest diamond jewellery robbery in Britain.

Mr Bourne is a Recorder of the Crown Court. He is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and the South Eastern Circuit.

From Chambers UK 2007:

‘… capable of performing astonishing mental gymnastics at the drop of a hat and is great on his feet’.

Cases

Murder: R v Mcleod & Morrissey [2006] (Leicester CC); R v George Stevens [2007] (CCC); R v Maenzanise and others [2007] (CCC); R v Giblin and others [2007] (Maidstone CC); R v Karl Bishop (Harry Potter actor murder) [2009] (CCC); R v Terrence O’Keefe (murder by escaped prisoner serving life imprisonment) [2009] (Norwich CC); R v Chattoo and others (gangland shooting) [2009] (Sheffield CC); R v Kirkland Henry (murder after abduction, rape and robbery) [2010] (Cayman Island Grand Court).

Attempted murder: R v Ward [2007] (Manchester CC).

Drugs: R v Yilmaz and others [2003-4] (seven-month trial for Class A drugs supply at Woolwich CC, convictions quashed by CACD in 2007 and re-trial ordered); R v Powell and others [2004] (Class A drugs supply at Worcester CC); R v Sims and others [2005] (Class A drugs supply at Liverpool CC); R v Omar Lobban and others [2006] (Class A drugs supply at Winchester CC); R v Davies [2008] (Class A drugs supply at Liverpool CC); R v Osman [2010] (Class A drugs importation at Kingston CC).

Fraud: R v Kounnou and another [2003] (SFO prosecution at CCC involving letters of credit and the loss to banks in the Middle East of $200m); R v Asaf and others [2004] (Isleworth CC); R v Jason Henry and others [2005] (Southwark CC); R v Saiffe and others [2006] (Southwark CC); R v Adelana and others [2006] (Southwark CC); R v Lawrence [2007] (Preston CC).

Election fraud: R v Mahboob Khan [2009] (Reading CC).

VAT: R v Bedesha and others MTIC VAT fraud [2008] and [2010] (Birmingham CC); Appeals in 1^st Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) Silver Birch Corporation Ltd, Noon 2000 Ltd [2009] (Manchester).

Police corruption: R v Colin Gunn [2007] (Birmingham CC – defendant serving life for Mr. and Mrs. Stirland murder (Lincolnshire) with 35-year tariff).

Rape: R v Albay and others [2005] (Wood Green CC).

Money laundering: R v Stretton and others [2006] (Leicester CC); R v Shah (Solicitor charged in connection with Operation Eaglewood) [2008] (Woolwich CC); R v Peter Fury and others [2008] and Proceeds of Crime Act confiscation proceedings [2010] (Manchester CC).

Armed robbery: R v Sainsbury and others [2006] (Kingston CC); R v Levy and others [2008] (Snaresbrook CC); R v Slade and others [2009] (Leeds CC); R v Kassaye and others [2010] (Woolwich CC) (£42M Graff jewellery robbery).

Causing death by dangerous driving: R v Mellal [2006] (Southwark CC); R v Whitehouse [2007] (Oxford CC).

Kidnapping, false imprisonment and blackmail: R v Tamberou and others [2006] (Middlesex Guildhall CC); R v Tubasum [2008] (Croydon CC).

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 confiscation proceedings: R v Onasanya [2006] (Wood Green CC); R v Shirley and others [2007] (Southwark CC).

General Medical Council: Fitness to Practise Panel Dr Whitehouse [2008] (GMC Manchester).