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Guildhall Chambers stands by silk charged with conspiracy to defraud

6 February 2013 | By Katy Dowell

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Bristol set Guildhall Chambers has said one of its members who has been charged with conspiracy to defraud has the “support, respect and friendship” of his colleagues.

Silk Stephen Davies QC, who is also a door tenant at London’s Wilberforce Chambers, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week charged with conspiracy to defraud in relation to the sale of four open-cast mining sites in South Wales.

Davies specialises in insolvency cases and was formerly president of the Insolvency Lawyers’ Association. Guildhall Chambers said he denied the charges and would plead not guilty should the case against him proceed.

“Stephen Davies is perfectly clear that he is not guilty of any offence and if the case proceeds against him. He will plead not guilty,” the set said in a statement.

“He remains a member of Guildhall Chambers with the support, respect and friendship of his colleagues. Guildhall Chambers, its members and staff are unable to make any further comment at this time”.

Three solicitors were also charged following an investigation by the SFO. The solicitors, partners Alan Whiteley and Eric Evans, and solicitor Frances Bodman, were all formerly based at Cardiff firm M&A Solicitors. Whiteley, who was also a former chief executive of Cardiff City FC, and Evans were suspended from the partnership in March 2011 after the firm referred them to the SFO (18 March 2011).

Their alleged co-conspirators, former directors of Celtic Energy Richard Walters and Leighton Humphreys, were also in court.

It is alleged that the defendants conspired to defraud Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Powys councils and The Coal Authority by “deliberately prejudicing their ability effectively to enforce obligations to restore open cast mining sites in South Wales to open countryside and/or for agricultural use”.

The alleged conspiracy is said to have involved the establishment of companies in the British Virgin Islands in the ultimate beneficial ownership of Evans and Whiteley.

Whiteley stood down from Cardiff City FC board last month (24 January) at which point the club posted a statement on its site showing its support for the lawyer. “We have no doubt that in due course he will be completely exonerated of any allegations or charges,” it said.

The SFO said the court proceedings would be transferred to a crown court.

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Readers' comments (1)

  • Anonymous | 7-Feb-2013 8:44 am

    The importance of this case is the core environmental concern about open cast mining. Will the mining companies have terms which enforce the return of land to food production or as is this case will the bill have to be picked up by the hard pressed taxpayer. This dodging of environmental responsibility by the mining companies via the apparent absence of critical contractual terms and conditions (we presume the councils requested these) has implications for other ventures of this kind Hydrological Fracturing/open cast et al. It becomes a matter of trust. That is the public will never trust a planning application which portends to return the land to its natural condition. Needless to say the absence of such critical terms and conditions will have a substantial impact on the viability of such land to produce crops and/or sustain wildlife. Arem't food prices high enough. We can only hope that any monies repatriated will be employed in restitution. More work to do on unravelling this me thinks!

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