Andrew Jones KC

Practice Overview

Prior to taking Silk, Andrew was described as having 'an extremely sharp mind and picks things up unbelievably quickly', 'His mastery of the case shines through in advocacy as he nimbly moves through the gears cross-examining defendants'

With his renowned approach for thoroughness and attention to detail, Andrew has appeared in every domestic tribunal from the Magistrates Court, through to the House of Lords. Andrew acted for the Appellant in what is still the leading case on the imposition of Hospital Orders in conjunction with mandatory life sentences (R v Drew).

He boasts a heavy criminal caseload including cases of the highest complexity and seriousness such as multi-handed conspiracies to supply class A drugs, complex fraud cases, murder and rape cases. He is regularly instructed by the Crown Prosecution Service's Complex Casework Unit to handle difficult and high profile multi-handed conspiracies including cases with international jurisdictional issues. Andrew appeared as a Leading junior in cases for both the Crown and the Defence.

 

Notable and Reported cases

• R v Cooper & Francis

  Successfully prosecuted single punch case resulting in a murder conviction. 

  https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/live-updates-man-accused-murdering-30361187 

• R v Ramsay and Others

  Successfully defended his client, Lester Ramsay, in a complex murder trial at Sheffield Crown Court.

  Following legal arguments presented by Andrew Jones KC and co-defendants counsel, Mr Justice Lavender ruled that there was no case to answer against Mr. Ramsay and his co-defendant Leon Waite. They were cleared of three other charges of attempted murder, attempted grievous bodily harm and a count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

• Operation Vermont

  Instructed as Lead Counsel by the Complex Casework Unit Cardiff to prosecute the largest drugs case brought before Cardiff Crown Court. 32 defendants involved in 6 conspiracies to supply over 700 kilgorams of high purity cocaine. 

• Operation Solano

  Instructed as Lead Counsel by Cardiff CPS to prosecute large scale drugs conspiracy linked to crypto currency money laundering offences involving over £2 million in laundered funds. 

• Operation Carlby

  Leading Counsel prosecuting on behalf of the Home Office. 5 Defendants involved in large scale conspiracy to facilitate the entry of illegal immigrants into the United Kingdom. 

  https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/men-accused-selling-fake-identities-28927069

• Operation Jackdaw

  Instructed by the Complex Casework Unit Cardiff CPS to prosecute an 8 defendant Class A drugs conspiracy. Operation Jackdaw involves an organised crime group distributing heroin throughout Newport involving multi kilogram seizures of heroin and cutting agents.  

• Operation Finch

  Lead Counsel instructed by the Complex Casework Unit Cardiff CPS to prosecute a 17 defendant Class A drugs conspiracy. Operation Finch involves an organised crime group distributing cocaine throughout Newport over a 2 year period and involves allegations of drug dealing in the region of £2 million.

• Operation Ulysses

  Lead Counsel prosecuting multi million pound conspiracies to supply 60kgs of Heroin, Cocaine, MDMA, Ketamine, Cannabis. Case involves over 30 Defendants and on excess of 60,000 pages of evidence and involves several distinct Organised Crime Groups. Instructed by Cardiff CPS Complex Casework Unit.

• Operation Blomfield

  Instructed to prosecute complex and high profile firearms case, involving prohibited ammunition and where weapons were discharged.

• Operation Dino 1 and 2

  Prosecuted largest “cash for crash” conspiracy conducted in England and Wales.  83 out of 87 Defendants were convicted of involvement in this wide ranging conspiracy. Currently instructed to prosecute Operation Dino 2, involving a “cash for crash” conspiracy with 80 Defendants.

• Operation Cable

  Instructed to defend in multi handed conspiracy case involving allegations of counterfeit currency. Defendant acquitted.

• Operation Phobos

  Leading junior in successful prosecution of large scale conspiracy to supply cocaine into West Wales. Case involved three Organised Crime Groups (West Wales, Merseyside and Manchester) delivering and supplying £18.5 million of cocaine. Case involved extensive covert intrusive surveillance evidence, cell site analysis and ANPR data. Defendants sentenced to largest collective prison terms for any drug case in Wales – 171 years in total.

• Operation Bounty

  Leading Junior in prosecution of million pound cocaine conspiracy involving former owner of a night club and bar in Cardiff called Lab 22.

• R v Anthony James Drew [2003] 1 WLR 1213 (UK House of Lords)

  House of Lords decision involving prohibition of making a hospital order on a Defendant who fell foul of the mandatory life sentence provisions on the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000. (The case of R v Drew saw Andrew in the House of Lords seeking a Declaration of Incompatibility under the Human Rights Act 1998. The case was of such significance it warranted an intervention by the Home Secretary and House of Lords).

• Environment Agency v M and others

  Prosecution of Directors alleged to have laundered and stolen money in excess of £350,000 of company funds. The defence successfully argued that the prosecution was out side the authority of the Environment Agency as the offences charged did not have sufficient nexus to the core functions of the Agency.

• R v FW (multiple rapes)

  Case involved initial allegation of stranger rape and abduction. This subsequently led to a further allegations of historic rape.

• Bridgend County Council (& others) v WT (E.Coli outbreak)

  Prosecution by 5 local authorities following the 2nd largest outbreak of E.Coli 0157 in the United Kingdom. Represented the Defendant in both the criminal proceedings and also the enforcement proceedings, which saw Mr Justice Curtis determine that the local authority responsible for enforcement had not allowed the statutory 24 hour period to elapse before serving the EPN.

• R v AM and others (Operation Dowel)

  Multi-handed MTIC fraud case tried in Worcester Crown Court over a twelve week period. Junior Counsel involved in case from the outset. Case involved carousel fraud which the Crown alleged had defrauded HMRC in a sum in excess of £50million.

• Other

  Andrew also appeared as a leading junior in Operation Rhino (allegations of police misconduct and data protection issues); Operation Corolla and Operation Gearstick (multi-handed conspiracies to supply class A drugs) and as junior Counsel in R v W (murder) and Operation Othello (Multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A drugs).

• Education & Qualification
  • Bristol University LL.B. (Hons); GTI Law Journal prize winner
  • Inns of Court School of Law
• Recommendations

  • "Andrew is brilliant on big drugs cases, very respected and a no-nonsense barrister. He works very well with juniors and is very encouraging and supportive." "He has exceptional preparation and understanding of cases." (Chambers & Partners 2025 - Crime)

  • New Silks (Legal 500, 2025 - Crime)

  • Andrew Jones is sought out for his extensive experience in serious criminal cases. He defends and prosecutes matters concerning drug offences, homicide and rape, among other crimes."Andrew has an extremely sharp mind and picks things up unbelievably quickly." (Chambers & Partners 2024, Crime)

  • "He prosecutes cases of silk standard with silk prowess and is surely destined for silk soon. His mastery of the case shines through in advocacy as he nimbly moves through the gears cross-examining defendants." (Legal 500, 2024 - Crime)
  • “Andrew excels at large, complex prosecutions.” (Chambers UK, 2023 - Crime)
  • "Andrew has a prodigious capacity to absorb detail and to retell it in a way juries find readily comprehensible. He makes mincemeat of unprepared or underestimating silks on the other side. A junior who deserves as many of the glittering prizes as he wants." (Legal 500, 2023 - Crime)
  • "He has the capacity to absorb detail and he wears it very lightly. He is dogged, determined, and gets on with it." (Chambers UK, 2022)
  • 'He is a real star of the Bar in Wales and without doubt is at the top of the league of junior counsel on circuit.' (Legal 500, 2021)
  • 'Combines thorough and analytical preparation with presence and confidence in court.’ (Legal 500, 2020)
  • ‘He provides excellent client care.’ (Legal 500, 2019)
  • 'Willing to go beyond the call of duty in preparing for a case.' (Legal 500, 2018)
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