John Keal

Year of Call: 2004

John completed his pupillage at 5 St Andrew's Hill and was offered tenancy in 2005. Since then he has developed a strong criminal practice, comprising both prosecution and defence work throughout London and the south east.

John has appeared in Crown Court trials for rape, sexual assault, child abuse, grievous bodily harm, importation and supply of Class A drugs, conspiracy to defraud and people trafficking. In particular, John has wide experience of gang-related violence, having appeared in several multi-handed trials arising out of gang violence in south east London.

John also has considerable experience dealing with Road Traffic offences in the magistrates' court.

Specialist Practice Areas

• Crime
• Fraud
• Asset Forfeiture & Confiscation
• Sexual Offences
• Road Traffic

Cases of Note

• R v McDonald (Crown Court)
  Led junior for the Crown in a case of rape, sexual assault and child abuse.
• R v Blaszczyk and others (Crown Court)
  Appeared alone for defendant in multi-handed tobacco smuggling case.
• R v Diallo and Carvalho (Crown Court)
  Appeared alone for the Crown in prosecution of facilitating illegal entry into the United Kingdom.
• R v Apinishile and Diallo (Crown Court)
  Led junior for the Crown at the Central Criminal Court in a case of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. (Gang-related)
• R v Patel and others (Crown Court)
  Appeared alone for defendant charged with conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm. Also instructed in the Court of Appeal.
• R v Abdirahman and others; R v Malik and others; R v Mohammed and others (Crown Court)
  Led junior for the Crown in three trials comprising fifteen defendants charged with gang-related violent disorder. Also instructed in Court of Appeal.
• Operation Tangelo II (Crown Court)
  Member of the disclosure team devising strategy and reviewing material in relation to a multi-million pound Excise and VAT Fraud.