Tony Montgomery
Profile
Tony has a busy criminal practice representing clients in the most complex and serious cases.
He is regularly instructed as leading counsel and is experienced in an array of specialist advisory, trial and appellate expertise in cases involving every aspect of criminal law including murder, serious violence, firearms offences, blackmail, kidnap, armed robbery, sexual offences, insolvency offences, road traffic offences, fraud, and drug offences.
Tony is familiar with difficult defences such as duress, cut-throat defences and self-inflicted injuries as a few examples. Tony often appears in the Court of Appeal and has developed a specialty in identifying grounds for appeal against conviction and sentencing.
Tony is extremely experienced in relation to costs cases.
Tony accepts both legally aided and private instructions and is public-access qualified.
Expertise
Notable Cases
R v V-FG – Taunton Crown Court. Coercive and controlling behaviour, intentional strangulation, suffocation and assault by beating. Defence was that the complainant’s evidence was a tissue of lies. (Emphatically acquitted)
R v ET- Cardiff Crown Court. Attempted murder, grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. Defence submissions rejected in relation to hearsay, bad character, discharge of the jury and no case to answer. (Acquitted).
R v SP – Harrow Crown Court. Two charges of being in charge of a dog which caused injury whilst dangerously out of control. Submission of no case to answer on basis no act or omission which created the dangerous situation to arise and liability whilst strict was not absolute. (Acquitted)
R v C M – 3-month trial at Kingston Crown Court as leading junior. Class A drugs importations over a number of years. ‘Supergrass’ involved. Defendant was a baggage-handler Four charges. (Acquitted)
R v CB – 3 month trial at Central Criminal Court. Leading junior. Gang-related perverting the course of justice. Defendant not called. (Acquitted)
R v JBT – Central Criminal Court. Cut-throat Colombian drugs case. Defendant was a cleaner who was duped. (Acquitted)
R v AN – Kingston Crown Court (sexual assault in the bedroom of the home of a stranger) (Acquitted)
R v AY – Reading Crown Court (attempted robbery in a “car-jacking” Defence was that the Defendant was just innocently seeking a lift) (Acquitted)
R v AB – Reading Crown Court (class A drugs). Submission of no case. (Acquitted)
R v GN – Bournemouth Crown Court (armed robbery in a jewellers) (Acquitted)
R v RH – Guildford Crown Court (offensive weapon (axe). Defence hinged upon claim that the other man had a gun) (Acquitted)
R v DW – Canterbury Crown Court (domestic violence where defence was that injuries were self-inflicted) (Acquitted)
R v CR – Isleworth Crown Court (Burglary. Submission of no case to answer although previous convictions for burglary in evidence as evidence of propensity). (Acquitted)
R v MH – Central Criminal Court (domestic violence. Previous conviction for domestic violence admitted) (Acquitted)
R v DF – Maidstone Crown Court (tobacco smuggling. Prosecution tachograph expert shown to be critically flawed by reference to defence evidence from foreign toll records) (Acquitted)
R v DM – Inner London Crown Court (threats to kill. In evidence that defendant allegedly involved in guns and drugs) (Acquitted)
R v IA – Reading Crown Court (Robbery. Erstwhile co-defendant had pleaded guilty although on identical position on the facts) (Acquitted)
R v MC – Wood Green Crown Court (possession with intent to supply class A drugs. The drugs were in a biscuit tin on a shelf in the defendant’s bedroom and he accepted that it was his tin but denied knowledge of the drugs. No defence evidence called.) (Acquitted)
R v DZ – Croydon Crown Court (Rape on a stranger. Jury verdict in 24 minutes) (Acquitted)
R v FD – Inner London Crown Court (affray although defendant accepted going to his neighbour’s door with a knife in his hand to complain about noise) (Acquitted)
R v DU – Lewes Crown Court (blackmail involving large sums committed over a lengthy period) (Acquitted)
R v DW – Central Criminal Court (black cab driver accused of dangerous driving, careless driving and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Defence evidence via video-link from the Ukraine from the passengers; a Ukranian MP and a Ukranian industrialist) (Acquitted)
R v ST – Central Criminal Court (possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. Briefed on the first day of trial as a return) (Acquitted)
R v GEE – Guildford Crown Court (grievous bodily harm with intent. Defence was that there was no assault and the injuries were caused by another or by accident not involving the defendant) (Acquitted)
R v KL – Reading Crown Court (historic sex case. Complainant was autistic. Defendant was his mother. Submission of no case to answer (Acquitted)
R v JC – Reading Crown Court (possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. Defence was police “plant”) (Acquitted)
R v GKA – Winchester Crown Court (possession of class A drugs with intent to supply. Defence was duress) (Acquitted)
R v AM – Guildford Crown Court (rape) (Acquitted)
R v DW – Canterbury Crown Court (domestic violence where defence was that injuries were self-inflicted) (Acquitted)
R v AE – Harrow Crown Court (dangerous driving involving stunt-driving at a public roundabout) (Acquitted)
R v JB – Blackfriars Crown Court (burglary based on recent possession, no defence evidence called) (Acquitted)
R v JJ – Central Criminal Court (sexual assault on a stranger at a bar. Defence was that the Defendant drunkenly stumbled into the complainant.) (Acquitted)
Notable Cases
1991
R v Lee Saunders 90/3959/W4 [appeal allowed]
1992
R v Patrick Sheehy 4783/W3/92 [appeal allowed]
1994
R v Leon Grant 94/3257/X3
R v Donald Anderson 94/2034/Y5
1995
R v Rhandir Dhami 95/1402/Y5 [appeal allowed: original counsel advised against appeal]
1996
R v Alagie Bah 95/8070/X2
R v Carl Harris 9602648X5
1997
R v Steven Lukeman 96/7323/W5
R v David and Sharon Woods 97/0029/X3 [leave granted but appeal dismissed]
R v Paul Cunningham 9606453Z4 [appeal allowed although single judge Johnson J had refused leave]
R v Trevor Batt 97/6573/W3 [appeal allowed]
R v Catherine Bowden [appeal allowed] reported at [1998]2 Cr. App. R(S)7
1998
R v Paul McCann 9802618/W3
R v Oxford Crown Court ex parte Monaghan CO/5062/98 [judicial review of Crown Court sentence on committal for sentence successful] reported at CLW/99/25/11, 149 N.L.J., The Independent(C.S.)July 12
1999
R v Nicholas Hayes 9806427Y3 [appeal allowed]
R v Steven Zerafa 1999/07135/Y1
2000
R v Jason Sunderland
R v Rendell Hoyle 199804961/Z2
R v James Turner [appeal allowed] 200002041/X4
R v Russell Andrews reported at [2001] Crim L.R.316
2001
R v Gary Fannan [2001] EWCA Crim 395
R v Patrick Campbell [appeal allowed] reported at [2001]2 Cr. App.R.(S)
R v Martin Rogers [2001] EWCA Crim 1265 [appeal allowed]
R v Barry Mitchell [2001] EWCA Crim 1746
R v Paul Stanislaus [appeal allowed] [2001] EWCA Crim 3066
2002
R v Nicholas Steele [2002] EWCA Crim 71 [appeal allowed although single Judge Gage J had refused leave]
R v Nicole Sharpe [2002] EWCA Crim 467 [appeal allowed]
2003
R v Clay French [2003] EWCA Crim 1832
2004
R v Tashkin Mehmedagi [2004] EWCA Crim 656
R v Anthony Charles [2004] EWCA Crim 1977 [leave granted by Jack J but appeal dismissed]
R v Paul Hilton [2004] EWCA Crim 1851 [leave granted by Simon J but appeal dismissed]
R v Iain Banks [2004] EWCA Crim 2350 [appeal allowed]
R v William Kemoh [2004] EWCA Crim 3001
R v Thomas Tobin [2004] EWCA Crim 3144 [appeal allowed]
2005
R v John Burton [2005] EWCA Crim 253 [appeal allowed] reported on lawtel LTL 7/2/2005 (unreported elsewhere)
M v Isleworth Crown Court and HMCE [2005] EWHC 363) Admin) [appears in Arch 3-186 re JR of refusal of Cr Ct bail]
R v Teddy Simpson [2005] EWCA Crim 1568
R v Richard Matthews [2005] EWCA Crim 2472 [appeal allowed]
R v Terence Marsh [2005] EWCA Crim 3192 [appeal allowed: original counsel advised against appeal]
R v Julian Marcar [2005] EWCA Crim 3322 [appeal allowed although single judge Smith J had refused leave
2006
R v Grant Bernasconi [leave granted by Cox J but appeal dismissed] Referred to in Professor Spencer’s book “Evidence of Bad Character Third Edition” at 4.73, 4.13
2007
R v Jonshan Arokkiyathas [2007] EWCA Crim 506 [appeal allowed although single judge Grigson J had refused leave; co-deft did not appeal against sentence upon counsel’s advice although in identical position on the facts
R v Kevin Umezie CA [2007] EWCA Crim 2185
2008
R v Peter Deal [appeal allowed]
R v Alexander Wood [2008] EWCA Crim 1693
R v Paulette Johnston [2008] EWCA Crim 2229
R v Judith Mclellan [2008] EWCA Crim 3341
2009
R v Brian Armstrong and Aaron Armstrong [2009] EWCA Crim 643 [appeal against conviction allowed]
R v Christopher Armstrong [2009] EWCA Crim 1713 [appeal allowed]
R v Zaheer Rasul [2009] EWCA Crim 2121 [appeal allowed]
R v Cassius Trottman-Wilson [2009] EWCA Crim 2466 [appeal allowed]
R v Mahad Adan [2009] EWCA Crim 2835 [appeal against sentence but not conviction allowed]
2010
R v Patricia Daley [2010] EWCA Crim 2193 [appeal allowed]
R v Jamie Bunter
R v Kevin Umezie Costs Judge Master Rogers [taxation appeal allowed on point of principle] reported at [2010] 1 Costs L.R. 93; Arch 7-165
2011
R v Donitas Slicys [2011] EWCA Crim 790
R v Connor Cambridge [2011] EWCA Crim 2009
R v Chris Francis [2011] EWCA Crim 1697 [appeal allowed]
R v H & Oths [2011] EWCA Crim 1737
R v Gary Bromige [2011] 1 Costs L.R. 145 Arch Appendix G-179.
2012
R v Michael Chinn reported at [2012] All ER(D)130(Mar)
2013
R v Myles Joseph-Daay
R v Darius Augunas [appeal against conviction allowed] reported at [2014] 1 Cr. App. R 17
R v Shajah Hussein Costs Judge Master Simons [taxation appeal allowed on point of principle] SCCO Ref 217/13
R v Nesrim Coskum Costs Judge Master Campbell [taxation appeal allowed] SCCO Ref 291/12
R v John Alexander [2013] EWCA Crim 2408
2014
R v Jerolle Lawrence
R v Ireneusz Blaszczyk [2014] EWCA Crim 790 [leave granted by Keith J but appeal dismissed]
R v Petrica Gheorge, Adrian Regalie and Paul Cuza [2014] EWCA Crim 1093 [appeal allowed]
R v Franklin White [2014] EWCA Crim 1497 [leave granted by Henriques J but appeal dismissed]
R v Colin O’Brien [2014] EWCA Crim 1699 [appeal allowed]
R v Gary Reed Costs Judge Master Campbell SCCO Ref 82/14
R v Marian Racman [leave granted by Blake J but appeal dismissed] reported at [2015] 1 Cr. App. R.(S)18
R v Marvin Saunders [2014] EWCA Crim 2450
2015
R v Zygmunt Kurowski [2015] EWCA crim 1012
R v John Scott [2015] EWCA Crim 1143 [leave granted by Edis J but appeal dismissed]
R v William Stanley Stanley [2016] EWCA Crim 1801 [leave granted by Dove J but appeal dismissed]
R v Patryk Zdun [2015] EWCA Crim 1344
Reading Borough Council v Younis – Queen’s Bench Division (Administrative Court) [2015] EWHC 3212 (Admin)
R v Marcin Kostrzewa [2015] EWCA Crim 1995 [appeal allowed]
R v Mohammed Sabbhir Ahmed [2015] EWCA Crim 2295
2016
R v Bryce Hanson [2016] EWCA Crim 1228
R v Tomasz Krukowski [2016] EWCA Crim 989
2017
Lord Chancellor v Edward Hayes and Nick Wrack Davies J [Lord Chancellor’s taxation appeal successfully opposed] [2017] EWHC 138 (QB)
R v Cran Mensa Master Simons [taxation appeal allowed]
Lord Chancellor v SVS Solicitors Holroyde J and Master Rowley [Lord Chancellor’s appeal successfully opposed and extensive guidance given on calculation of the number of pages of prosecution evidence] [2017] EWHC 1045
2019
R v Lena Kezelyte Costs Judge Master Rowley [taxation appeal allowed relating to wasted preparation] SCCO Ref 199/18
2023
R v Hassan Mohammed [2023] EWCA Crim 458 [appeal allowed]
2024
R v Dondrea Thomas [2024] EWCA Crim 1046
R v Narinder Kaur [2024] EWCA Crim 795
R v Elvis Hoti and Yleber Hoti [2024] EWCA Crim 935
R v Craig Tilser [2024] EWCA Crim 1105
Ashcotts Solicitors v The Lord Chancellor (R v Jamadar) Costs Judge Master Brown [2024] EWHC 1979 (SCCO)
R v Alissia Danks [2024] EWCA Crim 1592
2025
R v Carl Dunning [2025] EWCA Crim 464
R v Wali [2024] EWHC 3453 (SCCO)
R v Michael Earp [2025] EWCA Crim 546
R v Narinder Kaur [2025] EWCA Crim 573
R v Anthony Terry [2025] EWCA Crim 726 [ leave granted by Nicklin J but appeal dismissed]
R v Leon Ryder [2025] EWCA Crim 1015 [leave granted by Choudhury, J but appeal dismissed]
R v Abdikadir Haji [2025] EWCA Crim 1069
Lord Chancellor v IMS Law [2025] EWHC 2018 (KB)
MCK [2025] EWCA Crim 1371
Appointments/Memberships
- The Honorable Society of the Inner Temple
- Criminal Bar Association