LL.B. (Hons)
Call: 1991

Inner Temple

Practice

Extensive criminal defence practice as a junior or
leading junior in cases including murder; manslaughter; firearms offences and robberies; drugs including forfeiture applications; dishonesty and serious sexual offences

Judicial review relating to criminal matters and application to ‘state a case’ before the Administrative Court

Directories

Recommended in Legal 500 (2009 Edition) for criminal work.

Previous Editions:-
“Stephen Wood ' always has an ace up his sleeve' defending heavy crime” (2005)

"Very good with difficult clients" (2007)

"An excellent choice for heavy crime” (2008))

Other Information

Criminal Bar Association Committee Member

Is approved by the Ministry of Defence to conduct cases before Courts-Martial

Appointed as a Special Advocate by HM Attorney General (2005)

Notable Cases/Recent Work

R v Parvais Najeeb (and others) [2003] EWCA Crim 194
(“Bradford Riot” appeal for successful appellant)

R v Murphy [2002] EWCA Crim 1624
(Guideline case on imposition of life sentence for armed robbery)

R v Harrison [2002] EWCA Crim 2309
(Safety of conviction vitiated where no “good character” direction sought or given)

R v Elener (2004) Leeds Crown Court
Instructed for the defendant charged with campaign of armed robberies and attempted murder culminating in the shooting dead of a member of the public who tried to intervene following an offence of armed robbery. The case attracted considerable publicity

R v Qadir [2005] EWCA Crim. 2800
Instructed for the defendant before the Crown Court and Court of Appeal, charged with offences under the Food Safety Act. It was the largest food poisoning outbreak in the United Kingdom in the last 10 years and the largest ever in the North of England.

R v C (2006) EWCA Crim. 17
Instructed for the 15 year-old defendant at Crown Court and before Court of Appeal charged with manslaughter of another teenage girl who had an undiagnosed heart defect. The case attracted considerable publicity. Case limits the use by the prosecution of the offence of affray as the 'unlawful and dangerous act' in manslaughter cases.

R v S [2005] EWCA Crim. 3616
Acted for 11 year-old boy before the Crown Court and Court of Appeal, who was the youngest defendant to be sentenced under the 'dangerous' provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 2003. Now a guideline case.

R v Bleazard (2008)
Prosecuted “Queen’s axe man” case before Crown Court and represented Prosecution before Court of Appeal. Now guideline case on sentencing for bladed articles and offensive weapons.

R v Chahal (2008) Southwark Crown Court
Instructed for Defendant who was acquitted of £15 million fraud on the Nat West Bank.

R v Bhatti (2009 Leeds Crown Court
Defence Counsel for Defendant in confiscation where prosecution sought £4.75 million. Ultimately an order for confiscation made in the sum of £350,000

Ahmed v Bradford Magistartes’ Court [2008] EWHC 2934
Defendant’s conviction before justices quashed on basis of appearance of bias.

The Queen (on the Application of A) v South Yorkshire Police and CPS [2007] EWHC 1261
Instructed by CPS on application by youth to quash decision to charge, on basis ought to have been cautioned. Application refused. Now a guideline case on correct procedure to be adopted by CPS when considering ‘diversion from prosecution’.

Feedback comments

"Excellent intellect"
(GH, Solicitor, Bradford)

"Knowledgeable and effective"
(EM, Solicitor, Bradford)

"Persuasive advocate; you can actually see a Judge change his mind about sentence after Stephen (Wood) has addressed him"
(AF Solicitor, Bradford)

“Brilliant speech”
(BJ, Solicitor, Bradford)

“Very knowledgeable; a walking talking Archbold”
(MB Solicitor, Bradford)