Christopher May

Year of Call: 1983

Education / Qualifications

MA (Cantab)

Specialist practice areas

Crime

Profile

Chris has wide experience over the full range of criminal work, both prosecuting and defending.   He has appeared as a leading Junior in many cases of murder and attempted murder, as well as sex offences, drug cases, organised crime and fraud.   He has a considerable knowledge of Public Interest Immunity issues and cases involving witness anonymity.   This year he has been involved in prosecuting gang-related violent crime, leading in a successful twenty-defendant case at Woolwich Crown Court.   Recently he has also successfully prosecuted a hypnotherapist for sexual offences against clients and the mentally disordered.

Chris is on the London CPS Prosecutions List at Grade 4.   He also works throughout the South Eastern Circuit.   During his career, Chris has prosecuted many cases involving complicated issues relating to disclosure, sensitive material & vulnerable witnesses.   He has extensive experience in both prosecuting and defending cases involving children, including historic sexual abuse.   He has been involved in many Customs cases, both prosecuting and defending, in drug importations and various types of Revenue and VAT fraud.  He has also prosecuted and defended in corruption cases.

He has successfully argued Appeals in the Court of Appeal concerning, amongst other topics, the extent of the availability of the defence of Duress and Abuse of Process. 

Professional Memberships

South Eastern Circuit

Criminal Bar Association

MA Christ’s College, Cambridge

Cases of note

R -v- Bianco [2001] EWCA Crim 2516 (Court of Appeal)
The extent of the availability of the defence of Duress

R -v- Arnaot [2008]; (Court of Appeal)
The extent of the availability of the defence of Duress

R -v- Henworth [2001] 2 Cr App R (Court of Appeal)
Abuse of Process

R -v- Macdonald & Others [1998] Crim.L.R. 808 (Court of Appeal)
Abuse of Process

R -v- Harmer [2002] Crim LR 401 (Court of Appeal)
Extent of the availability of the defence of Duress,