-
Overview
Patrick Mason is a senior lawyer with experience in both arms of the profession. Qualifying as a solicitor in 1981, after training in commercial litigation, he joined the Army and spent five years, principally in Germany, prosecuting and defending all types of case at Court Martial. In private practice thereafter, as a solicitor, he worked as a criminal legal aid lawyer and duty solicitor, as a civil litigator, family and property lawyer. After gaining higher rights as a solicitor, Patrick was transferred to the Bar, being called in 1997.
Patrick is licensed to accept work under the Public Access scheme.
-
Crime
In practice at the Bar since then, Patrick has developed a strong Crown Court practice in all types of cases, with a predominantly defence-based practice including: homicide, serious violence, serious sex cases, firearms cases, drugs and tobacco trafficking, as well as a wide range of less serious matters. Patrick has acted as leading junior in a number of cases. He is a highly experienced and respected trial advocate with a reputation for having particular talents with juries.
Patrick undertakes Magistrates Court trials, prosecuting and defending in unusual or complex matters, with a particular emphasis on matters in involving animals and hunting. He also undertakes prosecution and defence cases relating to listed buildings.
Courts-Martial
As an experienced Court Martial practitioner, he has defended many cases in all three arms of the services, at home, in Germany and in Cyprus. These have included serious civil offences prosecuted by the DSP, as well as more technical service disciplinary offences.
Court of Appeal
Patrick is an experienced Court of Appeal practitioner, having undertaken many appeals against conviction and sentence. He is available to give advice on appeal on all types of offences.
Cases of Interest
Some of Patrick’s appearances in the Court of Appeal, Court Martial Appeal Court and High Court include:
- R v Clarke & Cooper [2017] 1 WLR 3851 – sentencing defendants of extreme old age
- R v Pearce [2013] 1 Cr App R (S) 309 – sentence in sexual activity cases
- R v H & Others [2012] 2 Cr App R (S) 21 – sentencing in historic sex abuse cases
- R v Morgan 176 JP 633 CA – committal for sentence
- R v Bradbeer [2012] EWCA Crim 914 – death by dangerous driving, sentence
- R v Kettle [2012] 2 Cr App R (S) 34 – discretionary life imprisonment (arson)
- R v Cullen [2010] EWCA Crim 1611 – sentence perverting the course of justice, assistance to the prosecution
- R v Coles [2010] EWCA Crim 320 – discretionary life sentence (rape)
- R v Vile [2001] EWCA Crim 2201 – sentence in aggravated arson
- R v Lisle Times February 26 1997 – Army Rules of Procedure
- Briscoe v Shattock [1999] 1 WLR 432 – dangerous dogs
-
Regulatory
Patrick accepts instructions in regulatory prosecutions in the Magistrates and Crown courts. He has conducted numerous appeals against the revocation of firearms and shotgun certificates for appellants and respondents. He has acted in the High Court for a defendant in an Education Act prosecution.
-
Public access
Prior to coming to the Bar Patrick practised as a solicitor for 16 years in a wide range of fields of work in the private and public sectors, employed and on his own account. As a consequence, he combines the client handling and case management skills associated with a competent solicitor with the advocacy and document drafting skills of the highly respected barrister he has become.
Patrick will accept instructions on a direct access basis in many areas of law in any part of the country.
