Paul Renteurs

Criminal Defence

Paul has a burgeoning criminal practice, predominantly defending and prosecuting in the Crown Court. He represents clients at Crown Court trials and committals for sentence for a range of offences including causing grievous bodily harm with intent, the supply of class A drugs, theft offences, fraud and money laundering. Paul also has a great deal of experience representing clients in a range of matters at the Youth and Magistrates Courts.

As an advocate, the calm, clear and confident style in which he presents his clients’ cases, both in his jury advocacy and submissions made before judges and magistrates, has been the subject of comments made by judges and clients alike.

Paul has assisted other members of chambers with presentation of lectures and publications on issues of bribery, corruption, cartels and other white collar and financial crime, and regulation.

Notable Cases:

R v JS

Paul represented the owner of a waste transfer site at a sentencing hearing at Woolwich Crown Court. The prosecution related to the operation of a waste transfer site that culminated in a substantial fire in January 2022. Located at an industrial estate adjacent to the point where the river Darent joins the river Thames, the Environment Agency reported that piles of waste on the site also posed a risk to the structural integrity of flood defences protecting the industrial estate. JS pleaded guilty to one charge under the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016. A further charge was withdrawn by the Environment Agency. Having heard Paul’s plea in mitigation, HHJ Whitehouse KC suspended a sentence of 8 months’ imprisonment for 18 months.

R v PC FM

Paul’s client, a serving police officer at the time of the alleged offence, unanimously acquitted of rape.

R v Roy Stannard

Paul was led by Michael Hayton QC representing an elderly man facing historic allegations of child cruelty and sexual assault made by a number of his step-children. The Defendant was acquitted of counts relating to the sexual assault of one of the complainants, but was convicted of a number of other counts.

R v Brian Thompson

Paul was led by Orlando Pownall QC representing a man accused of involvement in a nationwide conspiracy to supply Heroin. The conspiracy involved the shipping of large quantities of heroin out of Liverpool, to drug suppliers in Scotland, Wales and South West England. The Defendant was acquitted. In the weeks following the acquittal, the Crown offered no evidence against one of the alleged co-conspirators, represented by Jonathan LaidLaw QC and Chris Ware, who was accused of playing a leading role in the conspiracy.

R v Luke Reeves

Paul represented a young man accused of causing grievous bodily with intent by biting the top of another man’s ear off in a nightclub. The client was acquitted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and convicted of the lesser offence of inflicting grievous bodily harm. Paul represented the client at his sentencing hearing, at which he received a suspended sentence.

R v Angela Thomson

Paul represented a woman accused of assaulting a police constable in execution of his duty and of causing harassment alarm or distress. The alleged assault was said to consist of choking a special constable. Paul cross examined four special constables who gave evidence for the crown. The client was acquitted of the assault charge, and convicted of the public order matter. The client received a conditional discharge.