Overview
Jonathan Savage qualified as a solicitor in 1990. After gaining experience in crime, family law, personal injury and commercial litigation, he joined the Crown Prosecution Service in order to specialise in criminal law. Over the next 12 years he was responsible for a heavy caseload ranging across the spectrum of criminal offences. He joined Nine in 2003 and quickly developed a busy practice prosecuting and defending cases at all levels of seriousness and complexity and now has over 30 years’ experience of the criminal justice system. Jonathan has developed expertise in dealing with cases involving vulnerable defendants and complainants, particularly those with mental health illnesses. He also has wide ranging experience of confiscation proceedings, including the enforcement of orders and the appointment Enforcement Receivers. Away from the law, Jonathan is a keen runner and cyclist and has for many years played guitar and mandolin in a ceilidh band.
Criminal
Johnathan has quickly developed a busy practice at the Bar, prosecuting and defending cases of all levels of complexity. He has been lead in cases involving large scale fraud, historic sexual abuse and murder, and acted as leading junior in large scale drugs conspiracies, money laundering and fraud.
He is Level 4 Prosecution Counsel and has wide experience dealing with sensitive material and both prosecuting and defending complicated confiscation proceedings, including proceeding in the Court of Appeal.
Jonathan also has wide ranging experience of cash seizures, forfeiture proceedings, closure orders, football banning orders, and successfully prosecuted the first Violent Offender Order brought by Greater Manchester Police. He also appears in Licensing Hearings, Coroner’s Courts and the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.
Recent Cases
– R v Edge and Others (Operation Windle)
Large scale drugs operation in Wigan. Case involved the coordination of a large amount of surveillance evidence gathered as part of a covert police operation.
– R v Roberts
Systematic, historic abuse of several vulnerable children. Part of the evidence involved the use of old audio tapes made by the defendant. The tapes had to be expertly enhanced and equipment organised so that they could be clearly understood. In addition to this, each of the witnesses had their own vulnerabilities and required carful assistance in tendering their evidence.
– R v McGoldrick
Multi million pound fraud perpetrated by solicitor against disabled client and finance companies, lead by leading junior. The defendant was ultimately convicted on all counts. Post conviction there were protracted confiscation proceedings and ultimately appeals to the Court of Appeal.
– R v Harper and Shawcross
Two defendants convicted of planting improvised explosive devices in a town centre. The trial involved the presentation of a large amount of scientific evidence in relation to the composition of each device and the evidence linking the component parts to the defendants.
– R v Allison
Prosecution of antique dealer television personality guilty of attempting to export rhino horn to China. High profile case involving a good deal of media attention.
– Operation Grassland and Operation Gravestone
Prosecution of multi million pound VAT fraud and the laundering of the proceeds.
– Operation Tarim and Operation Wheat
Large scale drugs importation conspiracies.
Notable Cases
- Operation Windle
Prosecution of large scale drugs operation in Wigan.
- R v Roberts
Systematic, historic abuse of several vulnerable children where part of the evidence involved the use of old audio tapes made by the defendant.
- R v McGoldrick
Trial of multi million pound fraud perpetrated by solicitor against disabled client and finance companies followed by protracted confiscation proceedings and novel points of law before the Court of Appeal. Led by David Perry QC on confiscation matters.
- R v Harper and Shawcross
Prosecution of two defendants convicted of planting improvised explosives in a town centre involving scientific evidence on the composition and viability of the devices.
- R v Allison
Prosecution of antique dealer television personality who attempting to export rhino horn to China. High profile case involving a good deal of media attention.
- Operation Grassland and Operation Gravestone
HMRC prosecution of multi million pound VAT fraud and those responsible for laundering the proceeds.
- Operation Western
Prosecution of large scale importation and distribution of cocaine.
- Operation Cobweb
Prosecution of large scale VAT involving abuse of disabled driver zone rated scheme, mortgage fraud and money laundering. Led by Nicholas Clarke QC.
- R v Nei
Defence of man suffering from Asperger’s Syndrome accused of aggravated stalking and possessing of articles with intent to commit rape.
- Operation Enfield
Leading junior in prosecution of gang responsible for sexual abuse of young girls in care.
- R v Dia
Defence of young man charged with the murder of his flatmate.
- R v Jallow
Defence of young man accused of stabbing another young man in a large scale disturbance. Led by Jaime Hamilton QC.
- R v G
Prosecution of a man accused of sexually assaulting a middle aged woman with Downs Syndrome and dementia.
- Operations Larkshot
Prosecution of multi million pound money laundering case.
Education
LLB (Hons), Manchester Polytechnic
