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Ben has been regularly instructed in all areas of criminal law: murder; serious violence; armed robbery; kidnap, blackmail; importation and supply of drugs; fraud, money laundering, sexual offences; child cruelty; ASBOs (imposition and appeals against), football related offences (violent disorder, banning orders). As a led junior Benjamin has been involved in several complex and substantial frauds, conspiracy to supply class A drugs and cases involving serious gang related violence.
Prior to coming to the Bar he worked for over two years at the AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe) where he provided human rights advice to members of the public, law centres and practitioners. He was also involved in taking cases to the ECHR and providing human rights training programmes for practitioners and members of the judiciary (JSB) in the UK and in Europe. He has carried out training in: Armenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Serbia.
At Doughty Street he has worked on human rights cases involving animal rights protestors and demonstrations in Parliament Square. He was involved in preparation of the legal submissions in Marper in the House of Lords.

Courts Martial

Ben is regularly instructed in Courts Martials in Germany and the United Kingdom. Recent casesinclude s18, ABH, causing death by dangerous driving, absence without leave.

Criminal Appeals
  • R v Sherlock (Patrick Francis) [2011] EWCA Crim 970. Sentence manifestly excessive
  • R v Brown (Constantine) [2008] EWCA Crim 2286. Post-conviction ASBO – necessity.
Other Serious Criminal Offences

Benjamin Narain has considerable experience in the full range of criminal offences:

  • R v B. Kingston Crown Court, Led junior in two trials involving multiple defendants in a case concerning the large scale supply of Class A drugs and the money laundering of the proceeds. The case involved a wide spectrum of offences relating to the supply of class A drugs: the importation of drugs to 'store houses' in London; their subsequent distribution to suppliers and the channelling of profits into the purchase of a shipping vessel to bring more class A drugs into the country. The bulk of the proceeds from the sale of the drugs were said to have been laundered through bureau to changes. The client was said to have been the "lynch pin" of this aspect of the conspiracy and was said to be directly responsible for the laundering of 63 million pounds. 


  • R v Powell and 6 others, Central Criminal Court. Conspiracy to murder. Led Junior, representing youth in allegation of shooting of former 'gang member'.
  • R v Ataya and 9 others. Croydon Crown Court. Substantial and complex fraud involving the creation of hundreds of fraudulent accounts through an 'insider' which resulted in the loss of £3 million to the clearing banks.
  • R v Daley and 8 others, Leeds Crown Court. Led junior in trial involving a large scale conspiracy to supply heroin. He represented the sister of the 'main player' who was said to be the book keeper and involved in the 'wholesale' distribution of drugs.
  • R v Summers, historic sex case involving multiple rape of multiple complainants.
  • R v Menga and one other. Oxford Crown Court. S18. Involved complex legal argument relating to the issue of causation. The case concerned a large street fight in which the victim suffered brain damage following from initially self-defensive blows.
  • R v AP, Birmingham Crown Court. This case involved threats to do criminal damage which stemmed from the client's protest about being subjected to severe restrictions under the terms of a Control Order. 


  • R v Hussain and Ors, Isleworth Crown Court. Violent disorder sentencing relating to mass demonstration against the Israeli embassy.


  • R v Nbilamilu. Isleworth Crown Court. Case discontinued at trial after legal argument under section 2 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004.
  • R v M and 6 others. Oxford Crown Court. Junior alone in case involving allegations of kidnap and false imprisonment against two members of a rival family on two separate occasions. 


  • R v Mayhew. Kingston Crown Court. Led Junior in the defence of money laundering charges - 30 lever arch files of evidence, much of it banking evidence and the tracing of the defendants funds through various overseas bank accounts - the client is now defending confiscation proceedings brought by the Crown seeking recover of £1.5 million.


  • R v A. Basildon Crown Court. Sexual activity with a child. 


  • S v Khan. Sheffield Crown Court. Possession of an imitation firearm used to threaten two soldiers on leave. 


  • R v D and one other. Oxford Crown Court. Junior alone representing client alleged to have carried out numerous armed robberies of petrol stations and convenience stores.
  • R v S and 6 others, Harrow Crown Court. Led Junior in lengthy case involving kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail, s18, sexual offences, possession firearm. He represented the defendant alleged to have been part of a gang which kidnapped and tortured two victims, over several days, who owed money relating to consignments of class A drugs.
  • R v P and two others. Leeds Crown Court. Led junior in fraud/money laundering case. It was alleged that client accounts had been altered and money transferred to foreign bank accounts. The value of the accounts was just under ?2 million. The defendant was successful on half time submission in relation to the main count on the indictment and his conviction on the money laundering count was quashed on appeal.
  • R v Adlington, Kingston Crown Court. Led junior, in confiscation proceedings which lasted 3 weeks and involved a considerable amount of evidence, including numerous live witnesses.
  • R v Joyce, Oxford Crown Court. Junior alone, robbery involving a 'knifepoint carjacking'.
  • R v C and 2 others, Wood Green Crown Court. Conspiracy to import 91kg of cannabis. Junior alone, representing central figure alleged to have organised importation of drugs from South Africa and recruited co-defendants.
  • R v M, Harrow Crown Court. Junior alone, S18. This case involved a man who was alleged to have been involved in a near fatal stabbing of his 'brother-in-law'.
  • R v Morris, Inner London Crown Court. Junior alone in case involving possession of Class A with intent to supply.
  • R v R, Southwark Crown Court. Junior alone, in case involving possession of firearm, ammunition and cannabis with intent to supply.
  • R v De Vos and 3 others. Ipswich Crown Court. Led junior, this case involved the importation of a substantial amount of cocaine.