About Joe Allman
Joe is an experienced and approachable advocate, with a track record of excellence in dealing with cases of particular difficulty, whether because of the vulnerabilities of the witnesses or defendants involved, or the high level of complexity. Joe has particular expertise in the areas of organised crime, rape and serious sexual violence, and terrorism. Joe has prosecuted many of the most serious terrorism cases involving the extreme right wing “XRW” and violent conspiracy theorists, including the ideologues and propogandists of hate, and action-focused Neo-Nazi “cells”, in recent years.
Joe has extensive experience in dealing with offences under the Terrorism Acts, and those involving the propagation of racial or religious hatred, and hatred based upon sexual orientation or trans-identity. Joe has prosecuted a number of offences linked to organised antisemitism and hostility towards Muslims. Joe has a strong working knowledge of the doctrine and modus operandi of the far right, including the online disseminators of hate, and is particularly familiar with the more cryptic aspects of National Socialism, antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate speech. Joe has prosecuted youths under the Terrorism Acts as well as individuals with significant psychiatric issues. Joe served as a mobilised reservist in an infantry role in Iraq and has a strong working knowledge of firearms, component parts and ammunition.
Joe is a Category 4 prosecutor and a member of the CPS Serious Crime Group, and Counter-Terrorism specialist advocate panels, and has a high level of expertise in all aspects of serious and complex crime, particularly where there is an international dimension. Joe has extensive experience of prosecuting organised crime and offences which involve the professional exploitation of human beings. In recent years Joe has prosecuted some of the largest “county lines” conspiracies in the region, including those involving the trafficking of young people, and large-scale drug supply conspiracies organised and directed by serving prisoners. Joe is regularly instructed as leading counsel in such cases.
Joe served on behalf of HM Government as the Criminal Justice Advisor to the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Liaison Prosecutor in the United Arab Emirates, and was based in the British Embassy in Manama. He also worked with senior prosecutors and British missions in a number of other Middle-Eastern countries. Joe was invited to speak as a subject matter expert for the UN Office for Drugs and Crime, Office for Counter-Terrorism, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and in Karachi and Hyderabad, Pakistan.
Joe is a member of the CPS Rape and Serious Sexual Offending advocate panel. Joe has devoted a significant part of his career to cases of this kind and has particular expertise in respect of historic sexual offending and sexual offences against vulnerable people. Joe is known for his sound advice on, and rigorous approach to third party and digitally stored material. Joe has prosecuted trials involving multiple-victim rape cases, and a case in which a victim of rape was murdered by her partner shortly after giving her ABE interview and before any proceedings had commenced against him. Joe enjoys a reputation for dealing sensitively and communicating in a manner appropriate to the needs of vulnerable victims, witnesses, and defendants. Joe makes time for this important interaction, whatever the demands of the case.
Joe regularly appears before the CACD both for the appellant and respondent, including appearances for the respondent against King’s Counsel in reported cases following trial on indictment under the Terrorism Protocol.
Joe is a pupil supervisor and has supervised both a civilian and a military (Royal Navy) pupil on their way to a career at the bar in their respective chosen fields.
NOTABLE CASES
Terrorism
Operation Chaukidari (Prosecuting, led by KC 3 x defendants/ sole counsel trial of 4th defendant): Extreme right wing (“XRW”), S.5 TACT, and related offences; attack planning involving the manufacturing of a 3D printed firearm and stockpiling military equipment, crossbows, and bladed weapons, targeting of an Islamic Education Centre. Nazi group “Einsatz14” infiltrated by 2 x CT police officers and agent of MI5, the Security Service. Trial 1, conducted inter alia the cross-examination of D3 (the “armourer”) and part of the cross-examination of D2 (the “combat engineer”), called and conducted the examination-in-chief of inter alia the OIC, and the digital media expert. Conducted extensive legal argument concerning inter alia resisting application to adduce hearsay of D1’s mother. Trial 2: called and examination-in-chief of expert concerning XRW ideology, cross-examination of D(4) involving inter alia issues of extremist Christian nationalism, Serbian nationalism, and National Socialism.
AM (Prosecuting, leading, against KC and junior): Possessing explosive substance with intent/ Firearms Act offences, in the grounds of a Christian centre, involving an IED (nail bomb) and homemade firearm. Terrorism Protocol case. IED made and possessed with the intention of detonating the device in the car park of a bank, with a view to attracting national media interest, causing widespread fear, and changing the policy of the bank.
CACD judgment concerning the application of the explosive substances (terrorism) guidelines in cases with multiple features of terrorism, but absent one or more of the statutory features of S.1 TACT: [2002] EWCA Crim 3040; [2002] All ER (D) 148 (Nov)
MA (prosecuting, sole counsel): Having bladed articles, offences contrary to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (national security grounds), and a serious assault of a CT officer during the course of his interview. Case involved Islamist symbolism, nasheeds, and slogans.
Operation Meatoscopy (Prosecuting, led by QC): S.5 TACT attack planning, XRW, hostile surveillance of a police station, accelerationist mindset. Large volume of XRW-hateful mindset material, with notable animus towards trans community. Cross-examination of defendant’s mother concerning inter alia autism and the extent of his capabilities.
Operation Ligamentously (Prosecuting, sole counsel): XRW racial and religious hatred offences, relating to slandering and encouraging violence against Jews, Muslims, and those deemed to be “degenerate”.
Operation Xylometer (Prosecuting, sole counsel): First of its kind prosecution for dissemination of terrorist publications (S.2 TACT) for managing the XRW “World Truth Videos” (with American associate), hosting significant volumes of Nazi, racist and antisemitic material, including the “Bookanon” propaganda videos which inspired the mass shootings which targeted African Americans in Buffalo, New York, and the LGBTQ community in Colorado.
Operation Tanitic (Prosecuting, sole counsel): Prosecution of XRW propagandist “Bookanon”, for offences under the TACT (S.57, S.1) which inter alia inspired the mass shooting which targeted African Americans in Buffalo New York.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/27/uk-teenager-daniel-harris-sentenced-far-right-videos-us-killers
Operation Leaderess (Prosecuting, sole counsel): Case concerning the XRW “Red Church” group, antisemitic, anti-Muslim, homophobic and racist propaganda, and early plan-forming.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/lake-district-preston-crown-court-cumbria-workington-nazi-b2279928.html
Operation Reslate (Prosecuting, led by QC): Terrorism Protocol, attempted murder; stabbings in a retail outlet which was selected for its perceived connection with the Jewish community. Very large volume of psychiatric material.
Operation Quickenbeam (Prosecuting, sole counsel): XRW “skinhead” sub-culture case concerning offences under the TACT (S.1 and 2) and stirring up racial hatred.
Operation Bobbybush (Prosecuting, sole counsel): XRW case concerning multiple offences under S.1 TACT and stirring up racial and religious hatred, concerning the defendant using the Gab platform to share material promoting homophobia, and lethal violence against people of non-white ethnicities, and in particular the Muslim and Jewish communities. The material included the headcam footage of the Christchurch mass murders, being disseminated as a tool of extreme right-wing propaganda.
Operation Budgeter (Prosecuting, sole counsel): Youth case involving TACT offences connected with the XRW and violent racist and antisemitic mindset, in the context of a young person with autistic spectrum disorder.
Operation Shadowist (Prosecuting, sole counsel): Case concerning one of the UK’s most prolific antisemitic video streamers, who operated Youtube and Bitchute channels devoted to propagating antisemitic smears such as the blood-libel, holocaust denial and mockery of its victims, and endorsing violence against the Jewish community. Multiple offences of stirring up racial hatred.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-59525076
Operation Nichelino (Prosecuting, sole counsel): Case connected with the exposure by the Bellingcat group of the “Ironmarch” extreme right-wing forum, which involved a Cambridge maths graduate with autism spectrum disorder communicating with founder members of National Action, voluminous evidence of racist, homophobic, antisemitic and misogynist/Incel mindset and affiliations, and S.58 TACT.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-59525076
Subsequent appearance for the respondent as sole counsel against QC, for the appellant in the CACD, in an appeal concerning inter alia the relationship between the sentencing guidelines for mentally disordered defendants and offences under the TACTs, and the relationship between sentences for offenders of particular concern and the suspended sentence provisions of the Sentencing Act 2020, [2021] EWCA Crim 1461; [2021] 8 WLUK 288; (Arch.25-71)
Operation Princehood (Prosecuting, sole counsel): Case concerning a former Cambridge University research fellow sending a powder substance to the parliamentary address of the Prime Minister together with politically charged material, prosecuted under Section S.114 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 following an investigated by SO15, Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command. Mindset elements of extremist Christian ideology and Russian nationalism.
Organised Crime
Operation Major (leading, prosecution): Alleged “county lines” organised drug dealing. Ongoing. Significant NRM considerations.
Operation Asgard 2 (leading, prosecuting): 19-defendant conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine by diffuse street gangs with a core of very young members, and multiple linked multi-handed cases arising from serious violence and disorder perpetrated by the same group upon the local community on the Fylde Coast.
Operation Asgard 1 (leading, prosecuting): 24-defendant conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine on the Fylde Coast, including prosecution of the leading figures. Central figure identified, charged on threshold test, and subsequent case building by meticulous tracing of legitimate phone use to the use of multiple “dirty” phones.
Operation Serpent (sole counsel, prosecuting): 3-defendant conspiracy to supply cocaine into Central Lancashire from Merseyside.
Operation Trafford (sole counsel, prosecuting): 3-defendant organised conspiracy to rob cash-in transit in South Manchester.
Operation Highgate (leading, prosecuting): 8-defendant conspiracy to supply cocaine into Central Lancashire from Merseyside. Prosecution of leading figures and three distinct conspiracies for three “commercial” customers in Preston.
Operation Quebec 2 (leading, prosecuting): Fylde Coast, 20-defendant conspiracy to supply Class A, organised by (inter alia) a serving prisoner at HMP Lancaster Farms. Prosecution of the leading figures, enforcer and all subordinate operational levels.
Operation Enigma (led, prosecuting): 40-defendant conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine in Blackpool, organised from HMP Lancaster Farms
Operation Whippet (led, prosecuting): Conspiracy to produce cannabis on a commercial scale, and firearms offences, together with exploitation of illegal entrants into the United Kingdom by an organised criminal group, and related Immigration Act offences. Significant NRM considerations.
Operation Ullswater (led, prosecuting): 24-defendant human trafficking and “county line” conspiracy to supply heroin and crack cocaine from Yorkshire into the Lancashire coast, using exploited teenage couriers. Significant NRM considerations.
Operation Mallard (led, prosecuting): 13-defendant “county-line” conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine from North Manchester to the Fylde Coast, involving cuckooing of properties tenanted by vulnerable individuals.
Rape and Serious Sexual Offending
R v RJ (sole counsel, prosecuting): Sexual offences by a female high school teacher against boys, including offending during the currency of the S.28 proceedings. Significant media interest around closing submissions concerning inter alia issues around perceptions of female offenders and male victims:
R v JW (sole counsel, defending): Allegation of assault by penetration against partner’s child. Significant cross-examination of DNA expert leading to establish that intimate finds were evidentially neutral, cross-examination of child witness via link, and mother via screens. Not guilty verdict.
R v GC (sole counsel, prosecuting): Multiple rape offences by the defendant in the context of a controlling relationship and multiple retractions.
R v MV (QC led, prosecuting): Rape and murder case, where the victim disclosed multiple rapes by her partner in the context of an abusive relationship and was then murdered by him after he was made subject to no further action by the police.
R v C and G (sole counsel, prosecuting): Historic penetrative sexual abuse by step-father on step-daughter as a very young child, and identical allegation against his brother, in circumstances where both defendants cross-alleged each against the other, historic sexual abuse against children, as evidence of bad character. This case involved detailed analysis of large quantities of very old third-party records to establish the true position. A Youth Court Case (prosecuting): Multiple rape allegations tried in the Youth Court concerning teenagers from the cadet forces, in which screens, live-link, meeting between the complainant and, judge and defence counsel were deployed as a combination of special measures to enable a highly vulnerable victim to give evidence.
R v PM (sole counsel, prosecuting): Historic penetrative sexual abuse by father on biological daughter post-2004, together with extensive penetrative sexual abuse against the defendant’s 12-year old daughter-in-law in the 1980s. The defendant was elderly at the time of trial and suffered from multiple severe disabilities.
R v KS (sole counsel, prosecuting): Rape committed against a sleeping intoxicated victim in one part of the country, then subsequently rape against a victim who had consumed alcohol and drugs in another area, whilst on bail for the initial offence. Significant volume of CCTV, bodycam and digital material, and media interest. (Sentenced to 22 years with 3 years extended licence after trial).
R v LI (sole counsel, prosecuting): Complaint against step-father of historic penetrative sexual abuse, in circumstances where a similar allegation against his brother, which was contained in the same ABE interview, had already been made the subject of no further action by a second police force on evidential grounds. Vulnerable complainant with multiple difficulties.
R v AL (sole counsel, prosecuting): Historic child sexual abuse spanning conduct both within the United Kingdom and in Spain. Defendant extradited pursuant to a European Arrest Warrant after seven years, during which time the original ABE interview was destroyed. Cross-examined in the absence of a police interview of any kind, consequent to his having been extradited.
R v SB (sole counsel, prosecuting): Grooming and sexual abuse of multiple child victims, all of whom had challenging backgrounds and presented significant third-party disclosure complications.
Operation Rasheen (sole counsel, prosecuting): Stranger rape on a child with learning difficulties and multiple other disabilities, investigated by the Force Major Investigations Team, involving significant public appeal, and national media interest.
R v MT (sole counsel, prosecuting): Rape of a male victim following the consumption by the victim of alcohol and drugs, and issues of “drunken consent”.
Violence and Homicide
FK (sole counsel, defending): Attempted murder by husband on wife, arrested at scene after being disarmed, knife seized. Acquitted on main charge, following detailed cross-examination concerning inter alia household bank records to test credibility of witness account.
DD (sole counsel, prosecuting): Threats to kill in the context of a visit by Counter-Terrorism “Prevent” officers, involving threats to attack mosques and kill Muslims. Bladed weapons present in apartment. Judge’s invitation to reconsider charges under TACTs, leading to a further charge of making threats to kill.
Operation Berbice (QC led, prosecuting): Conspiracy to murder and soliciting murder arising from a failed contract killing and subsequent attempt by the principal defendant to arrange for the victim to be murdered from his cell whilst on remand for the conspiracy. Three of the five defendants were handed life sentences.
Operation Moorhen (QC led, prosecuting): Manslaughter case involving the defendant’s premature baby, where the defendant had previously been made subject to no further action, and where family proceedings in the High Court led to the re-consideration of complex neuropathology, osteo-articular pathology, an IPCC investigation, and a reversal of the earlier decision. The case involved conflicting advanced evidence on the subject of peri-mortem bleeding into bone fractures, a large volume of disclosure from proceedings in the High Court, and sensitive covertly recorded material ultimately being disclosed and received in the criminal trial.
R v KV (sole counsel, prosecuting): Case concerning mistreatment of dementia patients by a care worker in the context of a care home. Significant disclosure of third-party records and successful bad character application framed around disciplinary records.
Operation Phoebe (sole counsel, prosecuting): 24-defendant violent disorder concerning organised football hooligan activity linked to the “Burnley Suicide Squad”, comprising a single case management hearing for all defendants, three trials, and a sentencing exercise lasting a week, at the conclusion of which 21 defendants were made subject to football banning orders.
Police Misconduct
R v MM (led, prosecuting): Multiple counts of fraud and misconduct by a serving Merseyside police superintendent, with subsequent confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 conducted as sole counsel.
Fraud
R v PF (sol counsel): Prosecution of former Methodist minister, local politician, and non-executive chairman of the Co-operative Bank, for fraud, with subsequent confiscation proceedings.
Practice areas
Member News
Awards
