Paul Treble

Year of Call: 1994


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Profile

Education

1982-1985 University of Sheffield BSc (Sp) Hons 1st Class
1992-3 Manchester Metropolitan University CPE Commendation
1993-4 Inns of Court School of Law Very Competent
Sir Thomas Moore Bursary 1994
Sir Thomas Moor Bursary 1993
Hardwick Entrance Scholarship 1993
Hossein Farmy Scholarship 1985
Laverick-Webster-Hewitt Prize 1985


Appointments

Appointed - Crown Prosecution Service Serious Crime Panel
Crown Prosecution Service Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel


A science graduate, Treble came to the bar via the private sector working with a number of FTSE 100 companies such as British Airways, Glaxo and Nat West.

He was called to the bar in 1994 and since then has developed an extensive practise both home and abroad. After a spell as a partner in a local firm of solicitors, he re-joined the bar and picked his practice up where he left off.

Considering his love of travel, he has been fortunate to have practised both home and abroad, doing several high profile cases in the Falkland Islands.

He is efficient and personable and easy to work with, a professional but one who hasn’t forgotten that common touch. He has an eye for detail and knows what the key issue in his case is and what the tribunal wants to hear.

As an experienced and able advocate, Treble has prosecuted and defended some of the most serious cases on circuit. His current practice is detailed below. A trademark of his practice though is his personal touch with his clients (or complainants, if prosecuting). He is well known for his sensitivity, communication skills and clarity with even the most difficult of clients. His policy is that it is important that the advocate doesn’t forget that one is dealing with an individual; an individual with a family and he is at pains to answers concerns and worries of those family members (with client permission).

Recently he has carved a niche in cases involving vulnerable clients and complainants and was the one of the first counsel to conduct a trial under the vulnerable witness procedure (“section 28” cases). He now regularly conducts “section 28” hearings and trials and is well experienced in matters involving an intermediary. Treble is well suited to such cases, due to his understanding and experience of the needs of such individuals.

A significant strength of Treble’s defence practice and approach relates to disclosure. He regularly questions the Crown’s stance on disclosure, demanding they reconsider the material disclosed and he frequently forces them to disclose material which is most useful to the defence. An example was in a recent rape trial (Aug 23) where Treble argued for disclosure  that resulted in 1500 pages of disclosure being made midway through the trial; which resulted in an acquittal.

Treble also practices in the Coroners’ Court. His scientific background has helped enormously with him adapting to the inquisitorial system and in particular with the wealth of scientific evidence in such cases.

He is mindful of the ramifications of a rule 43 order and has been involved in identifying best practice and how procedures can be improved.

Cases within the last twelve months

Junior Counsel in a multi defendant (9) four month murder trial representing a man accused of the murder of a man who sexually assaulted his daughter. This was a complex and sensitive case as it involved members of a family recruiting friends and associates to search kidnap and murder the deceased as well as the disposing of the body. The case involved extensive telecommunication and cell siting evidence as well as reams of unused material some of which became important parts of the defence case.  January 2023.

Represented a man charged with serial historical rapes upon a child aged under thirteen. The case involved extensive scientific evidence including the defendant’s DNA upon the child’s carpet and condom lubricant in the complainant’s underwear. This resulted in extensive cross examination of the Crown experts to illustrate realistic explanations of the scientific evidence. The Crown expert accepted that the lubricant referred to was also present in handwash and emollients and a number of other household products. February 2023

Representing a man charged with manslaughter after a chance encounter on the street when both parties were in drink. Death was the result of a push causing the deceased to fall and bang his head. The case involved detailed analysis of the medical evidence and attention to the causation of death. June 2023

Defending in a death by dangerous trial which had complex issues relating to the defendant losing control at a modest speed of 42 mph that involved detailed cross examination of the Crown expert upon the loss of grip, the effect of unrestrained passenger upon the coefficient of friction and the validity of the police road tests  with respect to cornering. July 2023.

Defending a man accused of  the serious section 18 assault of a woman late at night by the side of a canal. The defendant strangled the victim so that she was unconscious before throwing her against a tree. The assault  caused a serious bleed upon her brain. The defendant had a long history of assaulting women. The sentence imposed art first instance was successfully appealed in the Criminal Court of Appeal. May 2023.

Successfully prosecuted a man for historically offences of inciting his young son and nephew to engage in penetrative sexual activity. The case was complicated by the death of one of the victims and the defendant’s family collectively  giving evidence to try and undermine the victim’s account. August 2023

Junior counsel for a seventeen year old male  charged with murder along with two other teenagers. The three attacked a man with knives who while still alive was thrown into a canal. Advise was provided during the police interviews as to how approach the case and interviews. The defendant was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter, unlike the other two males who received the mandatory life sentence for murder.

Upcoming cases:

Representing a teenager charged with rape of a girl aged under 13 who is part of a grooming trial where the child is allegedly made available by her grandmother. Now October 2024.

Prosecuting a man charged with the historical sexual assault of young boys. Constant advice has caused the police to widen their enquiry which has resulted in two more complainants coming forward making further complainants against the defendant. November 2023.

Representing a professional football player charged with the gang rape of a young woman. November 2023.

Representing a man accused of the rape  or sexual assault of eleven child members of his family from 1972 to 2022. The complainants are drawn from the defendant’s siblings, children/step children and grand children. February 2024

Defending in a murder in a domestic violence setting.  2024

Representing a man charged with the rape and sexual assault of a  young teenager who is allegedly groomed and made available to order for sexual exploitation by men. Drugs and alcohol are used to facilitate the rape. September 2024.

As a seasoned practitioner Paul appears often in the Court of Appeal and indeed, he is particularly proud of their lordships’ endorsement that “Mr Treble has been a great asset to his client”.

 

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Paul represented the defendant in a Murder trial involving the death of a two year old child where the case had issues involving Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.

Instructed alone without a leader, for a man accused of murdering his wife and burying her in the back garden which ultimately resulted in a manslaughter sentence rather than the far more serious life sentence for murder. He frequently Is instructed in serious sexual cases an example where Paul represented a man on trial for serial historical sexual assaults that involved extensive cross examination of nine different female complainants in a trial that lasted several weeks.

Recently he represented a man charged with death by dangerous driving whilst trying to escape from a gangster who was ramming his vehicle and a man accused of  robbing and fatally shooting a well known victim.

Paul is often instructed in organised crime matters where the Crown regularly rely on extensive scientific evidence such a cell site mapping, DNA evidence, scientific tracking or facial mapping. The thorough comprehension of such evidence is important in mounting a successful challenge to this part of the prosecution case and is something in which, Paul’s scientific background, allows him to excel.

Other recent cases have involved representing a young woman charged with murder with a sexo-sadistic element, prosecuting a sex ring where a young 14 year old girl was sexually abused and prostituted by 10 men and a people trafficking case that was featured as a double page spread in the Observer.

Paul has represented a chief of police accused of corruption, a famous boy band and several professional sportsmen. He has acted for companies and individuals in proceedings brought by the health and safety executive, the department of work and pensions and the department of environment.

Junior Counsel in a multi defendant (8) gangland murder trial representing the man alleged to have been the gunman.  The case involved coaxing a rival gang member over to Liverpool, where he was robbed at gun point. A chase ensued and the victim was fatally shot. The case involved extensive telecommunication and cell siting evidence. The defendant was a vulnerable individual and Paul was instrumental in obtaining an intermediary for when he gave his evidence. January/February 2020. Retrial January 2021.

Representing a man charged with five wounding with intent as he randomly slashed homeless people on the streets of Manchester. January 2021.

Defending a man accused of sexual and physical abuse of four of his children or stepchildren over thirty years up to the present day that involved a number of vulnerable witnesses and one that was conducted under the section 28 procedure. May 2021.

Prosecuting successfully a man who had raped and buggered his sister repeatedly for a period of three years in the 1970s when both were teenagers. As it was a historical case it really was a case of one person’s word against another and much hung on the cross examination of the defendant. The sentencing exercise involved careful consideration due to the age of the defendant when he committed the offence and the historical nature of the offence. August 2021.

Junior counsel for a seventeen year old male charged with murder along with two other teenagers. The three attacked a man with knives who while still alive was thrown into a canal. Advice was provided during the police interviews as to how approach the case and interviews. The defendant was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter, unlike the other two males who received the mandatory life sentence for murder.

Prosecuting two brothers for the attempted murder of a young lad who had been part of a gang attack on one of the defendants. The case involved close liaison with the police in preparing the case and in particular the Sequence of events. The case was set again a racial background and caused extreme tension in the local community so the case had to be dealt with sensitively. October 2021.

Prosecuting a motorist who had an argument with a man who had stalled his motorbike in Liverpool City Centre. The Defendant then deliberately ran his victim down and drove his car over him. (February 2022).

Junior prosecution counsel in a murder based on a domestic stabbing with the deceased being accused of domestic violence (Feb 2022).

Representing a man charged or rape and sexual assault of a woman who is allegedly drunk and so could not consent (Mar 2022).

Defending a man accused of incitement of the rape of a twelve year old girl over a live internet feed (May 2022)

Representing a professional football player charged with the gang rape of a young woman (July 2022).

Representing a defendant in a serious multimillion pound conspiracy relating to class A drugs and automatic weapons (Sept 2022).

 

Cases within the last twelve months (November 2023)

Junior Counsel in a multi defendant (9) four month murder trial representing a man accused of the murder of a man who sexually assaulted his daughter. This was a complex and sensitive case as it involved members of a family recruiting friends and associates to search kidnap and murder the deceased as well as the disposing of the body. The case involved extensive telecommunication and cell siting evidence as well as reams of unused material some of which became important parts of the defence case.  January 2023.

Represented a man charged with serial historical rapes upon a child aged under thirteen. The case involved extensive scientific evidence including the defendant’s DNA upon the child’s carpet and condom lubricant in the complainant’s underwear. This resulted in extensive cross examination of the Crown experts to illustrate realistic explanations of the scientific evidence. The Crown expert accepted that the lubricant referred to was also present in handwash and emollients and a number of other household products. February 2023

Representing a man charged with manslaughter after a chance encounter on the street when both parties were in drink. Death was the result of a push causing the deceased to fall and bang his head. The case involved detailed analysis of the medical evidence and attention to the causation of death. June 2023.

Defending in a death by dangerous trial which had complex issues relating to the defendant losing control at a modest speed of 42 mph that involved detailed cross examination of the Crown expert upon the loss of grip, the effect of unrestrained passenger upon the coefficient of friction and the validity of the police road tests  with respect to cornering. July 2023.

Defending a man accused of  the serious section 18 assault of a woman late at night by the side of a canal. The defendant strangled the victim so that she was unconscious before throwing her against a tree. The assault  caused a serious bleed jupon her brain. The defendant had a long history of assaulting women. The sentence imposed art first instance was successfully appealed in the Criminal Court of Appeal. May 2023.

Successfully prosecuted a man for historically offences of inciting his young son and nephew to engage in penetrative sexual activity. The case was complicated by the death of one of the victims and the defendant’s family collectively giving evidence to try and undermine the victim’s account. August 2023.

Junior counsel for a seventeen year old male charged with murder along with two other teenagers. The three attacked a man with knives who while still alive was thrown into a canal. Advice was provided during the police interviews as to how approach the case and interviews. The defendant was acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter, unlike the other two males who received the mandatory life sentence for murder.

Upcoming cases:

Representing a teenager charged with rape of a girl aged under 13 who is part of a grooming trial where the child is allegedly made available by her grandmother. Now October  2024.

Prosecuting a man charged with the historical sexual assault of young boys. Constant advice has caused the police to widen their enquiry which has resulted in two more complainants coming forward making further complainants against the defendant. November 2023.

Representing a professional football player charged with the gang rape of a young woman. November 2023.

Representing a man accused of the rape or sexual assault of eleven child members of his family from 1972 to 2022. The complainants are drawn from the defendant’s siblings, children/step children and grand children. February 2024.

Defending in a murder in a domestic violence setting. 2024

Representing a man charged with the rape and sexual assault of a young teenager who is allegedly groomed and made available to order for sexual exploitation by men. Drugs and alcohol are used to facilitate the rape. September 2024.

As a seasoned practitioner Paul appears often in the Court of Appeal and indeed, he is particularly proud of their lordships’ endorsement that “Mr Treble has been a great asset to his client”.

 

 

Earlier cases

Prosecuting a man who had rang the police to confess that he was being forced to supply drugs and store a gun. The interesting feature was relating to his confess and whether that amounted to exceptional circumstances to avoid the minimum term. It was held not to be and so the defendant received the statutory minimum term of five years imprisonment.

Defending in a duress of circumstances case lasting two weeks, where the defendant’s vehicle crashed into a car driven by a mother of three, with her husband and two young children in the car. The mother sadly, was killed while the husband and children were seriously injured. The defence was the defendant was trying to escape a well-known gangster who was ramming his car as he tried to escape. November 2019.

Representing a man who accepted raping his cousin several times over several years (2006-2008) when he was aged 10-12 and his cousin was aged 7-9. This case involved a very difficult and complex sentencing exercise which in the end for the offence of raping of a child under 13, the prison sentence was suspended. November 2019.

Prosecuting a man for sexually assaulting his stepdaughter within the family home. The interesting feature was the way in which the defendant manipulated the family unit and attempted to isolate the young victim thereby increasing her vulnerability. This was a s28 case and great care was taken in assisting the complainant in the giving of her evidence (October 2019).

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June 2018 Liverpool Law Society: the difficulties in historical sex cases.

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