Alex Close-Claughton, Associate

Alex is an Associate Solicitor in our Crown Court department. He joined Olliers in 2014, he handles a Crown Court caseload and but also is regularly instructed at the pre-charge and Magistrates Court stage of a case.

He has experience in dealing with a wide range of matters including murder, firearms offences, serious assaults, armed robberies and drug matters. He has good interpersonal skills and is well liked by his clients.

Whilst Alex’s main focus is on serious crime he also specialises in Fare Evasion matters. He is often instructed by clients in the early stages of a case and has had much success with submitting persuasive representations to rail providers that they should settle out of court and discontinue their prosecution.

Alex deals with both privately and publicly funded work and he has significant experience in gaining positive pre-charge outcomes as well as favourable results for clients at court.

Fare Evasion Cases

Northern Rail v H 2023 – Trainee Solicitor convicted of fare evasion offence without his knowledge after his details were provided by a person stopped without a ticket. Conviction set aside after Statutory Declaration was heard at court. Representations submitted to the rail provider with evidence that demonstrated the client did not undertake the journey alleged. Case withdrawn by the rail provider who agreed there was no realistic prospect of conviction.
TfL v D 2023 – Professional athlete summonsed after being stopped by a Revenue Protection officer having used an Elite Athlete’s pass that they were no longer entitled to. Detailed and sympathetic representations submitted setting out the clients personal mitigation. Case discontinued by the prosecution after it was accepted a prosecution was not in the public interest.
TfL v J 2023 – Commercial solicitor summonsed to appear after failing to purchase a ticket before boarding a train. Offence specific and personal mitigation submitted to the rail provider setting out that a prosecution was not in the public interest. Case withdrawn by the prosecutor.
TfL v S 2023 – Finance professional summonsed to appear for using a Freedom Pass she was not entitled to on multiple occasions. Representations and supporting evidence submitted to the rail provided. Prosecution initially refused to discontinue the case. Further representations were submitted that resulted in the prosecution agreeing a prosecution was not in the public interest and withdrawing proceedings.
Chiltern Railway v R 2023 – Undergraduate Student summonsed to court after failing to purchase the correct ticket on two occasions. Successful representations persuaded the prosecution that it was not in the public interest to prosecute the defendant.

Recent Cases

R v A and others – 2023 – Represented defendant charged with drug supply and modern slavery offences. Defendant acquitted of all counts.
Operation Kamina – 2022 – Represented defendant accused of Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs across Manchester and the North West.
Operation Casino – 2022 – Represented defendant accused of a nationwide Conspiracy to Supply Class A and B Drugs.
Operation Praslin – 2021 – Represented defendant accused of a conspiracy to supply large quantities of class a drugs
Operation Erath – 2021 – Represented defendant involved in large scale multi-handed drugs conspiracy
R v I – 2021 – Represented defendant for s18 Assault (GBH), successfully secured not guilty verdict at trial in the crown court.
R v D – 2020 – Represented defendant indicted with 12 Burglaries, successfully secured an acquittal in the crown court for all Burglary counts.
R v D – 2020 – Represented defendant indicted for Rape and Sexual Assault, charges dropped by CPS following the submission of a detailed defence statement.
R v G – 2019 – Represented defendant accused of Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs. Client acquitted after trial
R v T – 2019 – Advised prominent YouTuber in relation to the legality of The Boring Companys ‘Not a FlameThrower’
R v R – 2019 – Represented Youth defendant accused of multiple serious assaults, firearms and robberies.
R v V – 2018 – Represented defendant accused of dangerous driving resulting in serious collision, successfully secured suspended sentence for client.
R v Z – 2018 – Involved in preparation of Trading Standards Case, successfully secured acquittal for client at trial.
R v R – 2018 – Represented client accused of serious firearms offences.
R v I – 2018 – Represented client accused of gang style murder.
R v S – 2018 – Pre-charge representations and submission of telephone evidence to police assisted in in securing a no further action decision for client accused of rape.
R v D – 2018 – Pre-charge representations assisted in securing a no further action decision by police for suspect accused of GBH.
R v I – 2017 – Successfully secured a no further action decision by police for client accused of murder amongst other offences.
R v N – 2017 – Represented client accused of murder.

Alex in the Media

Alex is quoted in the Law Society Gazette discussing the succession crisis in criminal law and the advantages of the apprenticeship scheme. Click here to read the article.