Josh accepted an offer of tenancy in the Criminal Team at Linenhall Chambers in October 2023 just prior to the culmination of a near 17 year career as an officer in the Royal Navy. Having been a barrister in the Royal Navy Legal Service since call in 2018, Josh’s experience includes provision of advice in several areas of law international law, public administrative law and employment law. However, Josh’s real experience is in dealing with complex criminal cases in the Crown Courts and Courts Martial. Including the prosecution and defence of familial rape, historic allegations of sexual abuse and the rape of children and allegations of the most serious violence including causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Josh is regularly instructed to prosecute and defend criminal conspiracies including drugs supply and burglary as well as high-value fraud.
Josh was called to the bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 2018 and completed a criminal pupillage at 2 Bedford Row, the Chambers of Brian Altman KC and Jim Sturman KC in London before returning to the Royal Navy Legal Service as in-house counsel. Josh has now retired from the Royal Navy after 16 years and, in his final appointment, acted as Senior Counsel to the Royal Navy’s Commander Operations, the senior operational commander of all UK maritime forces.
Born and raised in Chester, Josh accepted an offer of tenancy at Linenhall in October 2023.
Josh has been regularly instructed as defence counsel in serious cases in the courts martial, most notably in several high-profile sexual offence cases receiving national media attention. Josh has also been invited to prosecute in the courts martial by the Service Prosecuting Authority.
Josh’s 16 year career as a Royal Navy officer gives him a unique perspective and an ability to relate to and work with all types of client. Having served on operations overseas and in high pressure environments, Josh is confident in dealing with complex and serious cases and does so with an organised approach, a thorough attention to detail and brings a military work ethic to achieve the best results for his clients.
Josh has been instructed in all types of criminal cases including the most serious sexual offences, serious violence offences and offences of dishonesty including revenue fraud and fraud by abuse of position. Josh is also an highly experienced practitioner in the Youth Court dealing with the most serious Youth Court cases.
Josh’s experience extends to prosecuting and defending in cases involving the use of expert evidence, telephone and cell-site evidence as well as the organisation of cases involving a high-number of exhibits.
R v H – successful defence of a gentlemen accused of multiple historic rapes of his younger sisters.
R v E – successful defence to a charge of s18 GBH with intent where prosecution alleged that the defendant stabbed another person in the back.
R v D – Instructed as prosecution counsel. Successful prosecution in a case involving multiple allegations of rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and multiple violence counts.
R v AL – Instructed as prosecution counsel. Successful prosecution in case of the rape of a 17 year old by her stepfather.
R v R – Instructed as defence counsel. Successful defence against allegations of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
R v M – Instructed as defence counsel. Successful acquittal at trial of client alleged to have violently assaulted a police officer.
R v G – Successful acquittal at trial of client accused of rape.
R v L – Ongoing case as defence counsel in sexual assault case subject to an abuse of process argument for a stay of proceedings owing to serious disclosure failings by the police.
R v M – Successful acquittal at trial on both counts: one charge of Sexual Assault and one military charge of Disgraceful Conduct of an Indecent Kind. 4 day trial which included successful legal argument to exclude bad character evidence.
R v G – Successful acquittal at trial to a charge of Assault by Penetration (s2 Sexual Offences Act 2003). 4 day trial which included a successful application to exclude evidence of the defendant’s bad character and a successful application under s41 YJCEA ‘99 to adduce evidence of complainant’s previous sexual history.
2014 – BSc (Hons), History, Strategic and Maritime Studies, The Open University, First Class.
2016-2017 – Post-Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Law (Chester), Distinction
2017 – 2018 – Bar Professional Training Course, BPP Law School, Very Competent
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Criminal Bar Association
The Naval Bar
Wales and Chester Circuit
Josh is ranked as a ‘Rising Star’ in the 2026 Legal 500
‘Joshua demonstrates exceptional thoroughness. He is very knowledgeable.’ Legal 500 2026
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
