Tarquin McCalla | Consultant Barrister

Practice Overview

With 30 years’ experience in criminal law, Tarquin has gained a reputation as an excellent lawyer who combines meticulous case preparation with exceptional client care.

Tarquin has extensive experience in all areas of criminal law including commercial and revenue fraud, money laundering, confiscation, restraint and asset recovery. Tarquin has particular experience in MTIC, identity, advertising and phoenix frauds having been instructed as leading cases in numerous large multi-defendant trials throughout the country.

Tarquin has acted as leading counsel in some of the most serious and high-profile cases of organised crime. These have included the alleged importation of 5 tonnes of cocaine; the manufacture of Class A drugs on an industrial scale; numerous cases of wholesale drugs supply; the sale and distribution of automatic firearms; murder and manslaughter; and historic cases of sexual abuse of the most serious kind.

Tarquin is known for his clear and effective trial management and strategy and for his tireless commitment to the defence of his clients.

Cases of Note

Homicide

  • R v R & others (Kingston-Upon-Thames Crown Court)– Represented a youth charged with the murder of a rival drug dealer in Southwest London.
  • R v FD (St Albans Crown Court)– Represented one of 7 defendants charged with the gang murder of a rival drug dealer.
  • R v S & Others (Luton Crown Court) – Represented one of the two principal defendants accused of the murder of a drug dealer in Harpenden. The killing was committed with the use of an AK47, the first time such a weapon had been used on Britain’s streets. It was alleged that the defendant and his accomplice were contract killers, employed to murder a drug dealer who had taken out a contract on the life of their employer.
  • R v O (Central Criminal Court)– Represented the mother of a young child killed in a road traffic accident brought about by the mother’s failure to take epilepsy medication.
  • R v O (Norwich Crown Court) – Represented a defendant who escaped from a psychiatric hospital and later murdered a pensioner before kidnapping and falsely imprisoning a witness for several weeks.
  • R v H (Sheffield Crown Court)– Represented a professional boxer charged with a ‘one punch murder’.

Drugs and serious and organised crime

  • R v H & Others (Birmingham Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel for one of the two principal Colombian defendants said to be involved in a conspiracy to import 5 tonnes of cocaine worth one billion Euros.
  • R v C & Others (Luton Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel in a case of conspiracy to supply hundreds of kilos of cocaine. The defendant, a Colombian, was said to have travelled to South America to make arrangements for shipments. His arrest followed an extensive undercover surveillance operation of others involved.
  • R v A & Others (Harrow Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel for the principal defendant in a case of kidnapping, torture and drug dealing. It was alleged that the defendant recruited others in a carefully orchestrated plan which culminated in the abduction of a drug dealer in the Northwest. The  complainant was then held captive over two weeks during which it was said he was seriously assaulted. Hostage videos were recorded and sent to the complainant’s family in Albania. Armed police eventually ended the incident which resulted in a trial of 8 defendants.
  • R v E & Others (Liverpool Crown Court)– Acted for one of the principal defendants in a case alleging Class A and B drug production and supply. It was alleged that the defendant held a leading role in the operation of a drugs factory in the Northwest of England which was responsible for the manufacture and distribution of tonnes of Class A drugs on a multi-million-pound industrial scale. An extensive surveillance operation was conducted which saw lorries and other industrial vehicles deliver tonnes of raw materials to the factory premises. Tonnes of drugs were later distributed by lorry throughout England, Wales and Scotland.
  • R v R & Others (Bournemouth Crown Court) – Acted as leading counsel for the principal defendant in a case involving allegations of cocaine supply along the South coast. It was alleged that the defendant was the head of an organised crime group responsible for the supply of cocaine on a commercial scale, an operation which he ran with the use of 49 mobile telephones. It was said that the proceeds were laundered through various businesses and properties.
  • R v C & Others (Middlesbrough Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel for one of 6 defendants charged with the supply of cocaine throughout the North of England.
  • R v D & Others (Nottingham Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel for the principal defendant charged with others with conspiracy to produce amphetamine and distribute cocaine. It was alleged that the defendant provided premised for others to manufacture amphetamine. It was said that he laundered the proceeds through various businesses and properties.
  • R v J & Others (Inner London Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel for the principal defendant charged with running various county lines operating between London and towns in the Southeast.
  • R v S & Others (Liverpool Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel for the principal defendant who was said to be the head of an organised crime group responsible for the supply of cocaine and cannabis throughout Liverpool and surrounding areas, and into HMP Liverpool.
  • R v S & Others (Blackfriars Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel for the principal defendant charged with a conspiracy to import hundreds of kilos of cocaine from South America. It was alleged that the defendant, who was head of security at Sheerness Docks, falsified records and compromised security protocols in order to allow containers carrying hundreds of kilos of cocaine to pass through without detection.
  • R v NM & Others(Liverpool Crown Court) – Acted as leading counsel for one of the principal defendants in a case alleging a conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life, and a conspiracy to burgle commercial premises. It was alleged that the group of 9 defendants were responsible for attacks on numerous banks during which they pumped oxy-acetylene gas into the banks’ ATMs which they then ignited causing explosions. In other attacks, the gang would break into the bank or other premises, attach high strength straps to the ATM which they would then drag out from the premises using industrial vehicles.
  • R v M & Others (Liverpool Crown Court)– Acted as leading counsel for a defendant charged with a conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life, and a conspiracy to burgle commercial premises. The defendant was one of 6 defendants said to be responsible for attacks on numerous banks.

Fraud and financial crime

  • R v H & Others (Southampton Crown Court) – Acted as leading counsel for the principaldefendant in a phoenix fraud trial lasting 3 months. It was alleged that the defendant ran and operated chains of restaurants, nightclubs and bars over a period of 12 years. The businesses would become insolvent, owing millions to HMRC, as assets were transferred from the failing companies to the new phoenix companies.
  • R v A & Others(Southwark Crown Court) – Acted as leading counsel for one of the principal defendants in a £10 million missing trader VAT fraud.
  • R v L & Others(Liverpool Crown Court) – Acted as leading counsel for one of the two principal defendants charged with an advertising fraud. It was alleged that the two defendants, together with numerous staff (also charged), ran a business selling advertising in magazines which they printed and distributed throughout England and Wales. It was alleged that customers were cold-called and pressured into buying advertising space in magazines. The customers were told that the magazines would be distributed widely and had a readership of hundreds of thousands. A forensic analysis of the company accounts and business practices revealed that the magazines were printed in much smaller numbers and distributed on a much smaller scale. It was further alleged that customers were charged on contracts they had not entered into or agreed and were threatened with legal action if they refused payment. It was said that the fraud operated for a number of years and involved two different companies employing dozens of staff (the second company being a phoenix company set up after Trading Standards closed down the first).
  • R v A & Others(Bristol CC) – Acted as leading counsel in a case of banking and identity fraud. It was said that the defendant had insiders working for him at various banks and who provided the details of high-net-worth customers. Huge cash sums were siphoned off and later laundered through the purchase of high value residential properties in London.