Stephen Dent

Stephen is an experienced and powerful advocate. At home in all areas and levels of the criminal justice system he approaches each case with an engaging originality and determination.

Stephen is particularly skilled in cases involving the most serious sexual allegations, large drug conspiracies and all types of violent offending; he is regularly instructed as a leading junior.

Stephen has great familiarity with applications under the Proceeds of Crime Act and is often asked to give advice on PII, disclosure and human rights issues.

Stephen has particular experience in cases involving very young, very elderly or handicapped witnesses/defendants requiring an intermediary. He is practised in cases concerning racial allegations and those involving the social services and fostering agencies.

Stephen works regularly for the complex crime unit and is on SOCA’s list of approved advocates.

Significant Cases

• Jenkins - Stephen represented the first defendant in this six week trial involving allegations of neglect, leading to a death, in an old people’s home; the evidence largely involved issues over the medical and post-mortem treatment with experts coming from all over the UK and Europe.
• Operation Peseta - Stephen was leading junior for the Crown in this seven handed conspiracy to import controlled drugs from continental Europe.
• Operation Decade - Stephen was leading junior for the Crown in this six handed multi-million pound conspiracy to produce MDMA.
• Byard - Stephen defended a foster carer accused of serious sexual allegations made by the children placed in his care.
• Carpenter - Stephen defended a parent accused of baby battering.
• Hussain - A racially sensitive case involving the blackmail of a Sikh girl by a Muslim man.
• Brown - A local councilor accused of racially abusing a fellow councilor during a publically broadcast budget debate.
• Tew - Serious sexual allegations involving a six-year-old complainant who gave evidence with the use of an intermediary.
• Styles - A rape allegation involving recovered memory syndrome.
• Barnett - A rape allegation by a 72-year-old complainant who required an intermediary.
• Uzzell - A 13-year-old boy facing serious sexual allegations made by two 9 year old boys.
• Brown - Historic rape allegations from four separate complainants.
• Vaughan - A series of historic stranger rapes.