Overview
The majority of Don’s practice has involved prosecuting serious and organised crime and substantial fraud. He regularly prosecutes lengthy, complex, multi-defendant cases for the South East Complex Casework Unit and has also established himself as an expert on disclosure issues.
Don was Disclosure Counsel in the prosecution of Andrew Coulson, Rebekah Brooks and others for illegal “phone hacking” at The News of the World in what the press (National and International) described as “The Trial of the Century”. Previously, he acted in a similar role in the prosecution of Levi Bellfield for the abduction and murder of Milly Dowler. This case stemmed from one of Britain’s largest ever murder enquiries and was the biggest operation of its kind in the history of Surrey Police.
Don has successfully prosecuted numerous multi-kilo Class A drug conspiracy cases arising out of Operation Venetic, relying on evidence obtained from the encrypted communications platform EncroChat.
Don is currently acting as First-Junior Counsel to a long-running and complex public inquiry.
Additional Information
Don Ramble and Narita Bahra QC co-authored: 'Tackling Disclosure in the Criminal Courts – A Practitioner’s Guide.’ Published in September 2019.
Don has lectured to solicitors and fellow members of the Bar on disclosure.
Professional panel appointments
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Don is a Level 4 Advocate on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Panel of Approved Counsel.
Asset Forfeiture, Confiscation & Civil Fraud
Don has extensive experience of the areas of law that arise in confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Business Crime & Financial Regulation
Throughout his career Don has regularly been instructed to prosecute fraud cases, including serious prosecutions relating to money laundering and fraudulent trading.
Criminal Prosecutions - Private & Public
Don is a Grade 4 CPS prosecutor and has extensive experience in the Crown Court in cases relating to murder, serious assaults, fraud, organised crime, drugs, public order offences and people trafficking.
Inquests & Inquiries
Don accepts instructions in relation to public inquiries and inquests.
He is currently acting as First-Junior Counsel to a long-running and complex public inquiry.
Don has particular experience in drafting detailed Rule 9 requests for evidence, making Restriction Order applications as well as all aspects of privacy redaction work.
Professional Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association.
- South Eastern Circuit.
- Kent Bar Mess.
- Cybercrime Practitioners Association.
Cases of Note
R v Brown
Don successfully prosecuted Brown for causing Grievous Bodily Harm with intent to a Prison Guard. The attack included throwing boiling water over the victim. At the time of the offence, the defendant was serving a prison sentence for Robbery in which he had tasered his victim in the face. Brown was sentenced to life imprisonment following a successful trial which relied, in particular, on CCTV footage taken from inside the prison.
R v Kitrys
Don Ramble successfully prosecuted Kitrys for attempted murder leading to a 25-year extended sentence.