David Scutt

Call 1989

"David is a heavyweight advocate with powerful submissions, an eye for detail and finesse with the jury."

For enquiries please contact

Lucy Northeast
Practice Director - Crime & Sports
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Grant Bidwell
Practice Manager - Crime
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Shannon Cregg
Practice Manager - Crime
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

"David is a heavyweight advocate with powerful submissions, an eye for detail and finesse with the jury."


Chambers & Partners 2025

"David is very thorough and strong in trial."


Chambers & Partners 2025

"David's strong case preparation and advocacy invariably puts the client at ease."


Chambers & Partners UK 2023

‘An urbane and accomplished jury advocate.’


Legal 500 UK 2023

 

  • CPS Advocate Panel – Level 4
  • Specialist Rape Prosecutor

  • Bar Finals – Inns of Court School of Law
  • BA Hons, Law & Economics, University of Keele

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Western Circuit

David Scutt is a highly accomplished and experienced Crime barrister.

His practice includes homicide, other serious violent offending, firearms offending, serious sexual offending, drug-trafficking, human-trafficking, fraud and organised crime. David is instructed in cases of the utmost seriousness, complexity and sensitivity.

He is a “go to” barrister in cases involving vulnerable witnesses and defendants. He has a reputation for excellent advocacy, meticulous case preparation, integrity and approachability – making him “a formidable opponent”.

David is an advocacy trainer, both in the UK and abroad (including the International Criminal Court in The Hague).

David has recently been shortlisted as ‘Crime and Extradition Junior of the Year’ at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2023.

Expertise

David’s Crime expertise includes the following:

  • Murder & manslaughter
  • Rape and other serious sexual offences
  • Child sex offences
  • Child cruelty offences
  • Human trafficking offences
  • Drug trafficking offences
  • Organised crime
  • Fraud Trading Standards / copyright infringement offences
  • Planning and other enforcement

Featured Crime cases


R v D (2023)

Operation Bobcat. Multi-handed drug-trafficking conspiracy arising out of Op Venetic (encro-chat).


R v T (2022)

Multiple rapes, assaults and controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship.


R v B (2022)

Originally charged as murder; ultimately diminished responsibility manslaughter.


R v D (2022)

Attempted murder.


R v G (2022)

Non-recent sexual abuse, including rape, of multiple young children entrusted to the care of the defendant.


R v D (2022)

Multiple rapes and assaults by penetration of extremely vulnerable victim (whilst unconscious).


Operation Harley (2022/23)

Various Bristol Riots cases.


R v P, W, G & S (2021/22)

The Colston Statue case.


R v L (2021)

Attempted murder.


R v S, C, H-C & W (2021)

Drug-trafficking and possession of firearms.


R v H (2019)

Leading counsel. Attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life (firing shotgun at armed response officers in a ‘siege situation’).


R v C and others (2019)

Country-wide drug-trafficking conspiracy.


R v S (2019)

Sexual offending involving vulnerable complainants and a vulnerable defendant with a learning disability.


R v B & others (2018-2019)

Leading Counsel. Organised crime groups involved in drug-trafficking conspiracies and extortion.


R v W (2018)

Attempted murder.

For enquiries please contact

Lucy Northeast
Practice Director - Crime & Sports
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Grant Bidwell
Practice Manager - Crime
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

Shannon Cregg
Practice Manager - Crime
0117 930 9000
Click here to email

"David is a heavyweight advocate with powerful submissions, an eye for detail and finesse with the jury."


Chambers & Partners 2025

"David is very thorough and strong in trial."


Chambers & Partners 2025

"David's strong case preparation and advocacy invariably puts the client at ease."


Chambers & Partners UK 2023

‘An urbane and accomplished jury advocate.’


Legal 500 UK 2023

 

  • CPS Advocate Panel – Level 4
  • Specialist Rape Prosecutor

  • Bar Finals – Inns of Court School of Law
  • BA Hons, Law & Economics, University of Keele

  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Western Circuit

For help or advice please call 0117 930 9000 or complete the form below.

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