Fake barrister receives 18-month jail term

David Sydney Evans was rumbled by Judge Stephen Wildblood QC at Plymouth Crown Court in August 2010 when he put on a gown and wig and tried to represent cannabis producer Terry Moss in a proceeds of crime hearing.

Wildblood picked up on a series of “hopelessly wrong” legal submissions and contacted the Law Society and the Bar Council, who had no record of Evans.

Evans admitted he had no legal qualifications.

He was found guilty of carrying out a reserved legal activity when not entitled and wilfully pretending to be a person with a right of audience and was sentenced by Mrs Justice Laura Cox.

Evans, who had no legal training, had sent a number of headed letters to Truro and Plymouth Crown courts while he was still in prison stating he was a ’senior advocate’.

In one letter he claimed his office would be closed until 12 July 2010 - the date he was due to be released from Dartmoor Prison.

Evans made several legal applications, asking for time extensions and adjournments and also sent a skeleton legal argument to the prosecution.

Evans had previous convictions for 16 offences including fraud for when he pretended to be a psychologist.

Kenneth Ball prosecuted for the CPS and Huw Evans of 30 Park Place Cambers was instructed for the defence by senior partner Michael Clodes of Clodes Solicitors.