Robin Shellard
A respected practitioner with substantial experience both defending and prosecuting.
He has particular expertise in multiple defendant conspiracies concerning both fraud and drugs with an ability to put a client at ease. He frequently represents individuals charged with serious sexual offences.
Robin is a Grade 4 prosecutor on the CPS General Crime panel of prosecuting counsel; the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences panel; and on the Serious Crime Group panel and CPS Specialist Fraud Panel. Robin has acted as leading Junior on numerous occasions.
Testimonials
In 2024 he was listed again in both The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.
Robin is very good at preparation, and his advocacy skills are great. He comes across well in court and clients like him.’ - (Tier 1) Legal 500 - 2024
‘Uncompromising yet courteous, Robin will see the client home. A committed barrister.’ – Legal 500 - 2023
‘His ability to engage with clients from all walks of life is outstanding. He really is able to calm them and fill them with confidence in his abilities within a very short period of time.’ Tier 1 – Legal 500 - 2022.
‘First-class at obtaining the trust of the jury, he is a friendly and approachable professional so consequently one who is taken notice of.’ Tier 1. Legal 500 - 2021.
"An impressive advocate". - Chambers & Partners 2021.
‘An excellent all-round barrister’. Tier 1. – Legal 500 - 2020.
‘Excellent with clients and always up for a good scrap’. -Chambers & Partners 2020.
Recent Cases
R v Wilband and Wheeler. 2025. Successfully defended with Miranda Moore KC a man accused along with the mother of the child of the manslaughter of a baby. Complex medical evidence and cut throat defence.
R v Kember. 2024. Successfully prosecuted a mother and boyfriend accused of causing GBH with intent on a 6-week child. 4-week trial as to who caused the injury and when it happened. Five experts in paediatrics, neurology and radiology called by prosecution. Complex medical evidence and factual background to the events that caused the injuries. Child left with severe long lasting and life limiting injury.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/bristol-crown-court-avon-and-somerset-police somerset-taunton-b2638329.html https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgy697dr1lo
R v Llewelyn 2024 Murder. Successfully prosecuted alone man accused of murdering a friend at the end of three-day drug and alcohol binge. All civilian witnesses were substance abusers. Defendant claimed it was an accident.
R v Dennison and others. 2024. Successfully prosecuted six defendants charged with conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine in Croydon. 4 week trial.
R v Hucker. 2024. Defended client who was charged with sexual offences against two teenage girls. D was aged 18 at the time of offence and met girls online and formed relationships with them. Prosecuted by D. Elias KC.
- R v W. 2025. Bristol Crown Court. Defendant young man charged with historic sexual offences against a family member. Five day trial. Hung jury.
R V T. 2025. Wood Green Crown Court. Defended man charged with offences of violence and rape against a former partner. Eight-day trial. Hung jury.
- R v Darshan Patel. 2025. Court of Appeal Criminal Division. Instructed, together with Ben Douglas- Jones KC, by the Registrar to respond to an appeal against conviction concerning the importation of low THC cannabis, the potential defences raised by R v Margiotta [2023] EWCA Crim 759, the application of EU law on hemp importation, transitional provisions as the result of Brexit, conflicting EU authorities on the powers of Member States, and any resulting conflict with the Misuse of Drugs Act. After full argument the appeal was dismissed.
R v Mark Killick. 2025. Defended builder charged with 46 counts of fraud by misrepresentation. Leading Natasha Lake in a 3-month trial at Bristol Crown Court. Over 50 witnesses being called by the prosecution and legal issues as to section 2 of The Fraud Act.
R v Maqsood. 2023. Central Criminal Court. The case concerned the attempted murder of a 16-year-old gang member by the defendant who was a member of a rival gang. The defendant and others went out looking for rival gang members, found the victim and stabbed him 19 times leaving him for dead. The trial involved expert analysis of the drill lyrics with two prosecution experts and one defence expert. The defendant was convicted after an 8-day trial at the Central Criminal Court. Related appeal against sentence. [2024] EWCA Crim 1766.
R v Lambing 2023. Southwark Crown Court. Three men were convicted after a £2m vase stolen from a museum was recovered in a police sting operation. The Chinese Ming dynasty vase was stolen from the Museum of Far Eastern Art in Geneva, in June 2019. Three men plotted to sell it on for hundreds of thousands of pounds, but were caught in a Scotland Yard operation.
R v Tim Schofield. 2023. The defendant was charged with sexual offences against a teenage boy. The sexual abuse occurred over several years and involved masturbation; oral sex and secret recordings of the victim. This was a high-profile case with considerable press interest due to the relationship of the defendant with a well-known celebrity.
R v Cracknell and others. 2023. The case was investigated by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit who conducted an investigation into an organised crime group that had been supplying high purity cocaine and cannabis across the South of England between November 2017 and April 2018. The defendants were using “spoofing” numbers where the receiving phone will show a different number to the number actually calling that phone. Three defendants were convicted after a 6 week trial.
https://www.hampshirelive.news/news/hampshire-news/farnborough-dealer-supplied-high-purity-8630165
R v Liang & Farooka 2023. Hotcha Limited was a Chinese takeaway business. Liang was the CEO and Muhammad Farooka worked as the finance manager. The fraud came to light following a routine VAT compliance visit. It was then discovered that D1 had obtained a £7 million loan from a private equity provider on figures that were fraudulent. D1 had moved money into Hotcha Ltd from various sources to boost the profitability of the company to obtain the loan. D2 had submitted false VAT figures to obtain VAT credit. D1 pleaded guilty and D2 was convicted after trial. Subsequent appeal against conviction and sentence. [2024] EWCA Crim 1245
Firearms
“He stands out for his knowledge of firearms licensing.” – Chambers & Partners 2017
Robin has a particular interest in firearms law and was granted leave to appeal against conviction by the Court of Appeal in a case involving the importation of blank firing flare launchers that are legal in Europe. Robin also lectures on firearms legislation and frequently represents gun owners on applications and appeals involving firearms licensing.
He has prosecuted a private prosecution against a police officer for the use of a ‘Taser’ in a police cell against a naked man.
Regulatory Crime
He prosecutes for Trading Standards and has prosecuting a of cowboy builders.
Successfully defended a prosecution brought by the OFT in the largest case concerning offences contrary to The Consumer Protection Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPUT) (Operation Caber). The case involved a national pyramid promotional scheme where over £20 million was lost. His was the only defendant to be acquitted after two trials each lasting four months.
He carries out a full range of regulatory work such as animal movement regulations; poaching; unsafe practices by retailers such as tattoo shops; and the handling and keeping of explosives. He has prosecuted for Trading Standards and Local Authorities and defended in cases involving trademark infringement and goods sold on E-Bay. Robin has represented a food processing company, Hamza Poultry Ltd, who were prosecuted for breaches of the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 and defended the resulting £2m proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) where the prosecution was seeking to show that the failure to obtain the correct food processing licenses made the Company turnover criminal benefit for the purposes of POCA with a resulting liability for the Director.
Direct Access
Robin is qualified to carry out direct access work. He is happy to undertake preliminary advice.
Private Client
Robin carries out private client work in both regulatory and non- regulatory crime.
Professional Memberships and Education
Criminal Bar Association
Clifton College Bristol
University of Wales (BA Hons History)
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
University of Westminster (CPE)
Inns of Court School of Law.
Leisure
Fishing; shooting; watching Bath Rugby; playing cricket. Active member of a number of charities.
He can command an audience in any setting, He is a natural jury advocate.
Chambers UK 2023
Chambers UK 2023
Robin is a class act an outstanding advocate.
Chambers UK 2023
Chambers UK 2023
Call: 1992
Specialist Areas
VAT number: 6096233927