Simon Spence KC

Practice Areas

Simon's practice is an even mix of prosecution and defence work. In 2008 he was Prosecution Junior of Steve Wright convicted of the murders of five Ipswich prostitutes. Since taking silk Simon has specialised in homicide and serious violence. High-profile cases include: the successful defence of a householder accused of murder and attempted murder of two intruders into his home; the defence of a 15 year old boy, believed to be the youngest ever double murderer; prosecuting and defending in ‘county lines’ stabbings; a successful response to a CCRC reference against a

murder conviction from 2003. The appeal was described by the Court of Appeal as “uniquely complex in terms of forensic evidence”. Simon has extensive experience of recent and historic sexual offence cases, particularly concerning very young and vulnerable victims and witnesses, including prosecuting a large inter-familial paedophile ring in Birmingham. He has defended a number of regulatory cases including a chartered accountant acquitted of Conspiracy to Defraud. In the last year, he has defended an ex-professional footballer for fraud and prosecuted and defended a number of murder and non-recent sexual abuse cases in the Southeast and Midlands. He is a door tenant at Dere Street Chambers, York.

Professional Memberships

Criminal Bar Association; South Eastern Circuit – Northern Circuit; Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts.

Career

Professional Appointments: Chairman of the East Anglian Bar Mess 2010-2020; Chairman of the Essex Bar Mess 2020-present; Legal Assessor for the Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 2014-2020.