Crispin Aylett QC

A star individual of the criminal bar with extensive experience of the full range of heavyweight crime.

Overview 

Crispin was Senior Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey for seven years, following five years as Junior Treasury Counsel. Since completing his appointment, Crispin has been instructed equally for both the prosecution and the defence as favoured counsel for serious crime. Recent defence briefs include representing Stuart Hall (and securing his acquittal on 16 counts of rape), the acquittal of a man charged with two murders and he is currently instructed in cases of terrorism and murder. He has been instructed on some of the most complex and high profile murder cases of the day.

Experience 

Crispin has prosecuted some of the most notorious crimes of the last two decades, including: the murder of Sarah Payne; the so-called ‘Camden Ripper’; the murder of the Chohan family; R v Barrett (the murder of a cyclist in Richmond Park); the retrials of Sion Jenkins; R v Morgan & Vincent (members of the So-Solid Crew); R v Pickford & Barrett (the murder of a gay man on Clapham Common); R v Mir & Others (the murder of two brothers in Tooting); the murder of Jimmy Mizen; the murder of the French students (R v Sonnex & Farmer); the so-called ‘Bride in the Burkha’; R v Dighton (a man who killed his parents); R v Ross & St Aubyn (the murder of a man outside Wandsworth prison by a public schoolboy gangster); R v Jeffrey & Others (the execution of a doorman by a gang); R v McCluskie (the murder of the East Enders actress Gemma McCluskie by her brother); R v McSweeney (the murder of a man by his father, a retired fireman); R v Carroll (the murder of a man wrongly thought to have been a paedophile); R v Nibbs (a man who decapitated his wife); R v Warnock (an historic murder of an 18-year-old girl in 1982); R v Brizzi (the murder of PC Gordon Semple).

In addition, Crispin has recently successfully prosecuted two police officers for misconduct, arising out of the death of Bijan Ebrahimi. Crispin was also involved in one of the prosecutions of Ali Dizaei.

Crispin’s defence practice has included the successful defence of the Director of Safety of Railtrack (the Hatfield disaster); the television presenter Stuart Hall on 16 counts of rape; a recent case involving a double murder; a man charged with murder after the victim was thrown from a vehicle; and a case of terrorism.

Notable Cases

R v Duffy & Others (2015)
Successful prosecution of police officers for misconduct arising out of the death of Bijan Ebrahimi.

R v Bagnall & Others (2015)
Prosecution of Michael Bagnall and Andrew Bayne for the murder of Ben Purdy.

R v Hall (2014)
Represented former broadcaster Stuart Hall who was acquitted of 15 counts of historic rape.

R v McCluskie (2013)
Crispin Aylett QC successfully prosecuted Tony McCluskie for the murder of his sister and former Eastenders actor.

Reviews

Chambers UK 2020: Crime – Star Individual 

Legal 500 2020: Crime – Tier 3

‘Very bright, has a lovely manner, and is very effective.’ ‘An absolute pleasure to be led by. He's a charming, personable chap, who's very invested in the case.’ Chambers UK Crime (2020)

‘A devastatingly effective advocate.’ Legal 500 Crime (2020)

‘A fantastic silk and a top-class prosecutor.’ ‘Really first class, he communicates to a jury in a way that makes sense to them.’ Chambers UK Crime (2019)

‘Time and time again, he proves himself to be at the very top of the pile.’ Legal 500 Crime (2018)

‘An absolutely fantastic silk who is a very effective, top-class prosecutor.’ Chambers UK Crime (2018)

‘An utterly charming advocate, who makes meticulous and complex cross-examination look easy.’ Legal 500 Crime (2017)

‘He's a brilliant, gifted advocate... an especially penetrating cross-examiner.’ Chambers UK Crime (2017)

‘He is an outstanding advocate who is exceptionally talented and very clever.’ Chambers UK Crime (2016)