Prosecution of Islamist terrorist for the murder of Sir David Amess MP
Jonathan Polnay, led by Tom Little QC, prosecuted this high profile murder concerning the tragic killing of the much loved Conservative MP for Southend, Sir David Amess MP.
Step-Father convicted in Missing Body Murder Trial
Jonathan Polnay, led by Lisa Wilding QC secured convictions in a missing body murder trial at Cambridge Crown Court.
17 year old Bernadette Walker disappeared on 18th July 2020 after alleging that her step-father, Scott Walker, had been sexually abusing her for a number of years. She was last seen having been collected from her grandparents’ house by Walker who claimed she had simply walked away following an argument.
Walker and Bernadette’s mother, Sarah Walker, were also found guilty of perverting the course of justice by using the dead girl’s phone to send messages suggesting she was still alive and lying to the police about her disappearance.
Bernadette’s body has never been found. The trial lasted 6 weeks.
Bernadette Walker: Scott Walker guilty of murder – BBC News
Conviction for man preparing to carry out an IS inspired sword-attack
Jonathan Polnay, led by John McGuinness QC prosecution Sahayb Abu, the ‘masked menace’ for preparing to carry out a terrorist sword attack.
Essex lorry deaths case - 39 counts of manslaughter
Jonathan Polnay, led by William Emlyn Jones, prosecuted eight men for conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration and 39 counts of manslaughter, arising out of the death of Vietnamese migrants in a sealed lorry trailer.
Killing of serving Thames Valley Police officer, PC Andrew Harper
Prosecution of three young men for the homicide of Thames Valley Police Officer, PC Andrew Harper, who was tragically killed whilst trying to apprehend thieves. (Leaders, Brian Altman QC, and then Jonathan Laidlaw QC).
Far Right Extremist charged with Car Park Stabbing of Bulgarian National
Jonathan Polnay prosecution Vincent Fuller for attempted murder. Having been inspired by the Christchurch massacre, Fuller tried to carry out a terrorist-motivated knife attack in South West London.
Man who incited German terror cell to commit terrorist atrocities by training them in use of explosives.
Jonathan Polnay, led by Barnaby Jameson QC, prosecuted Abdullah for assisting another to prepare an act of terrorism. He incited a terror cell, based in Germany, to commit terrorist atrocities that would have caused mass fatalities. His encouragement was not limited to words. He researched, obtained and tested explosives in order to teach the German cell to carry out the terrorist attacks to maximum effect.
Shooting of drug dealer
Danny Robinson QC lead Jonathan Polnay in the prosecution of two individuals, charged with the murder of a drug dealer. At the time of the murder, police discovered drugs concealed by the victim’s car. The victim was a delivery driver who was found with a gun shot wound to the head.
MTIC Fraud
Jonathan Polnay led William Davis in this long running MTIC fraud involving five companies and tax losses of around £13M. There were multiple trading chains supported by a wealth of forged documentation, and the proceeds of the fraud were transferred offshore via banks in Eastern Europe and Hong Kong.
£15m Investment Fraud
Jonathan Polnay acted in the Prosecution of investment advisor for defrauding nearly £15 million from investors. The case involved complex third party confiscation proceedings.
Further prosecution of notorious black-cab driver for drugging passengers with sexual intent
Jonathan Polnay, led by Duncan Penny QC prosecuted the notorious black-cab driver for drugging a further four passengers with sexual intent. All the women made their allegations to the police in early 2018, shortly after the Parole Board announced it had decided he was fit to leave prison after serving less than nine years of an indeterminate sentence, plus time spent on remand.
Prosecution of Lithuanian serial-killer
Jonathan Polnay, led by Tim Cray QC, acted for the Prosecution in this case involving a serial killer nicknamed Scarface who went on a bloody crime spree across Europe. He was jailed for at least 20 years for his fifth murder.
Multi handed conspiracy to money launder and commit fraud
Jonathan Polnay led Ben Holt for the Crown in this seven-handed conspiracy to launder the proceeds of a two-million-pound fraud. Instructed by CPS Specialist Fraud Division.
Multi-million pound renewable energy research fraud committed by Cambridge academic
Jonathan Polnay proescuted this Cambridge University academic who carried out a £2.5 million fraud in government grants. Dr. Ehsan Abdi-Jalebi, 38, a former engineering student and Bye-Fellow at the university, used faked documents to siphon off money into his own accounts from funding allocated to the development of renewable energy projects.
Prosecution of financial advisor for £15m fraud on clients
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this rougue financial advisor who stole nearly £15 million from wealthy clients to fund his gambling addiction and pay his children’s school fees.
Grenfell Tower Fraud
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this serial fraudster who has been jailed for 21 months after he pretended his wife and son were killed in the Grenfell Tower fire in a “despicable” attempt to pocket £12,500 set aside for victims of the disaster.
Violent disorder arising out of an attack on an asylum seeker in Croydon
Two linked trials. Jonathan Polnay led Ben Holt in the first and Ben Holt led Dickon Reid in the second. A total of 14 defendants were charged with violent disorder arising out of an attack on an asylum seeker in Croydon. The case attracted international media attention. Instructed to SCU at CPS London.
Teenagers who stabbed selfridges wine salesman to death found guilty of murder
Jonathan Polnay, led by Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuted these two teenagers for the murder of an 23 year old man in North London. The victim was lured to a location just off of Turnpike Lane under the pretence of a car insurance sale, but was robbed and murdered due to a previous dispute over the purchase of a laptop on the gumtree internet site.
Escape from HMP Pentonville
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this escape from HMP Pentonville by two cell mates serving substantial sentences. Whitlock & Baker sawed through a bar, crossed a roof and swung out on a CCTV pole before going on the run, being caught after 6 and 2 days.
Teenager who masterminded Cyber crime attacks upon Sony & Microsoft
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this teenager who set up a computer hacking business that caused chaos worldwide. Adam Mudd was 16 when he created the Titanium Stresser program, which carried out more than 1.7m attacks on websites including Minecraft, Xbox Live and Microsoft and TeamSpeak, earning the equivalent of more than £386,000 in US dollars and bitcoins from selling the program to cybercriminals.
Attempted Murder of Brother & Sister
Jonathan Polnay was instructed to prosecute this Italian Martial Arts expert whom broke into and stabbed a brother and sister as they slept in their home. The attack was racially motivated and random. The Judge directed a not guilty verdict by reason of insanity and the defendant was detained for mental health assessment.
Drug user admits manslaughter after two killed in Penge car chase
Anthony Orchard QC leading Jonathan Polnay appeared for the Crown in this case involving the death of an aunt and 10 year old nephew killed by a drug user during a car chase with Police. The defendant was sentenced to 12 years.
Serial Rapist
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this defendant, dubbed one of Britain's worst sex offenders, who was sentenced to a further 3 life sentences for rapes committed over 30 years ago.
‘Anjem Choudary’ associate
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this notorious associate of Anjem Choudhary for assaulting teenage muslim children who he saw holding hands.
£2m 'Rare Earth Metal' Fraud
Jonathan Polnay led Ben Holt in this “boiler room” rare earth metals fraud. Both Defendants were convicted after trial of selling worthless Rare Earth Metals as part of an investment. The total value of the scam was £1.9m. Both defendants were convicted and sentenced to a total of 11 years’ imprisonment. Instructed by CPS Headquarters Central Fraud Group.
Multiple attempted murders
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this "disturbed loner" who randomly attacked four women during a stabbing spree in a supermarket car park in Hampton Court as revenge for his perceived mistreatment by police.
Historic Sexual Abuse by former Radio 1 DJ
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this former BBC DJ whom was jailed for 13 years for a series of child sex offences committed between 1969 and 1986.
Plan to commit armed escape from Wood Green Crown Court
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this six-handed conspiracy to escape and possession of imitation firerarm case at the Crown Court at Woolwich, as a sole junior. The case centred around a plot to free Izzet Eren whilst he was being transported to Crown Court at Wood Green to be sentenced for firearms offences. During the police police operation to disrupt the planned offence, a firearms officer shot dead a man in the car with the conspirators.
7-handed gang murder
Mark Heywood QC and Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this 7-handed gang-murder trial at the Central Criminal Court arising out of a feud between two notorious Hackney gangs. Following the convictions, YouTube was put under significant pressure to remove videos that glorifed the gangs' activities.
6-handed kidnap, torture and blackmail
Jonathan Polnay successfully prosecuted this 6-handed kidnap, blackmail and torture case at the Central Criminal Court. Following a perceived drug debt, the Defendants kidnapped the victim and held him hostage. He was made the subejct of numerous sadistic assaults when the demanded ransom was not paid.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/reservoir-dogs-inspired-gang-tortured-7313282
Historic Sexual abuse in Lambeth Children’s Home’
Jonathan Higgs QC leading Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this prolific paedophile. Paul was convicted by the jury of numerous counts of serious sexual abuse of boys in his care in a Lambeth children's home.
International Cricket Match-Fixing
Jonathan Polnay, Led by Jonathan Laidlaw QC, successfully defended a practising criminal barrister, accused of perverting the course of justice. The case attracted national and international press attention as it centred around an International cricketer, whom was also cleared, of lying under oath in a 2012 Libel trial.
£1.8m racehorse fraud
Jonathan Polnay appeared for the Crown in this Prosecution of City Banker for defrauding friends and colleagues of £1.8m in a false racehorse investment scheme.
Discharge of automatic weapons at PCSO
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this two handed trial at the Old Bailey involving a proposed revenge attack to seek retribution on a group they believed was responsible for assaulting one of their gang associates armed with a submachine gun. A PCSO who heard the altercation intervened and was shot at but was unhurt. The defendants were jailed for 24 years & 12 years.
Double-jeopardy prosecution of serial rapist
Mark Heywood QC leading Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this Defendant, who described himself as the ‘Hackney Ripper’, who stood trial and was convicted of a series of rapes of prostitutes, receiving a sentence of life imprisonment. The Defendant had previously been acquitted of rape. A successful application was made to quash the acquittal under the double-jeopardy provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, and join the re-trial to the new proceedings.
Standing Order Fraud
Jonathan Polnay led Ben Holt for the Crown in a nine-handed standing order fraud that was set up and orchestrated by an inside man working with Nationwide bank. Case involved a considerable amount of forensic and banking evidence. (Investigated by DCPCU, instructed by CPS SCU). Jury were unable to reach a verdict on defendant said to be “inside man”. Prosecuted re-trial alone and the defendant was convicted. Mail Online news report.
Banking & Credit Fraud
Robert Ellison led Jonathan Polnay for the Prosecution in this 19 defendant Credit and banking fraud with many thousands of pages of served and unused evidence. A conspiracy to defraud creditors and ‘Acquiring Companies’ by abusing technical weaknesses in the ‘chip and PIN’ payment process. The fraud was so complex that the trial judge described the methodology and money laundering as an ‘impenetrable scheme’.
Bogus college immigration fraud
Jonathan Higgs QC led Jonathan Polnay and Senghin Kong prosecuting three defendants involved in running a bogus college for conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. The defendants were convicted after a 3 month trial. The case involved complex legal argument in relation to Griffiths-type conspiracies and substantial disputed evidence from forensic accountants. Senghin Kong was instructed to prosecute the resulting 3 day confiscation hearing without a leader, against three QCs and juniors. Instructed by CPS Central Fraud Group.
Joint Enterprise Murder
Mark Heywood QC, Jonathan Polnay and Alison Wilkes Prosecuted this 3 month,10-handed murder trial at the Central Criminal Court with extensive cell site, phone download and CCTV evidence, including the use of electronic presentation aids (360 mapping).
Prosecution of three men for killing a Thames Valley police officer
Jonathan Polnay was led by Brian Altman QC (first trial) and Jonathan Laidlaw QC (second trial) in the prosecution of three young men for killing PC Andrew Harper, whilst trying to escape with a stolen quad bike.
39 counts of manslaughter of Vietnamese migrants
Jonathan Polnay was led by Bill Emlyn Jones in this prosecution for the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese migrants who suffocated to death in a shipping container whilst being smuggled in to the UK.
Prosecution of man for third offence of homicide of his partners
Mark Heywood QC and Jonathan Polnay acted for the Crown in the case of Theodore Johnson whom was sentenced to life with a minimum tariff of 26 years, increased on appeal against Unduly Lenient Sentence, to 30 years in March 2018. Johnson had been convicted previously for the manslaughters of his partners in 1981 and 1993. His third victim, Angela Best, was murdered with a claw hammer in her flat in North London in December 2016.
Horsemeat Fraud
Jonathan Polnay was lead Counsel for the Crown in this multi-handed and much publicised conspiracy involving three prominant businessman passing off horsemeat as 100% pure beef.
First ever prosecution for Acquiring Biological Weapons
Jonathan Polnay prosecuted this young women who was charged with the first ever prosecution under the Biological Weapons Act and attempted murder of her mother, after attempting to poison her, taking her inspiration from the series "Breaking Bad".
Anti-corruption unit worldwide investigation re: bomb detection units
Jonathan Higgs QC leading Jonathan Polnay represented a defendant in the much publicised Old Bailey trial involving the worldwide sale of "fake" bomb detection devices. Instructed by Gary Bloxsome of Blackfords LLP.
Chambers of Sarah Forshaw KC &
Mark Heywood KC
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