Jack Jennett

Jack joined Chambers following the successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Molly Pinkus.

Prior to joining Chambers, Jack worked for a well-known criminal defence and civil liberties firm in central London. Jack worked primarily in confiscation, asset seizure and forfeiture and financial crime. During this time, Jack played a key role defending a multi-million-pound private prosecution in relation to a Serious Crime Prevention Order whereby trading algorithms (signals) said to be worth a billion pounds were alleged to have been stolen and stored overseas. As a result, Jack has a keen interest and experience in financial and cyber-crime and is comfortable dealing with large amounts of data which arise in such cases.

Since joining Chambers, Jack has run an almost exclusive defence practice and has grown his practice as a led junior and junior alone. Jack is regularly instructed across the full spectrum of criminal matters including matters of serious violence, sexual offences, drug offences, fraud, public disorder and motoring offences.

Jack has been regularly praised for his interpersonal skills and for the ability to explain complex matters in a calm manner which is easily digestible. As such, Jack is regularly instructed to represent young and/or vulnerable clients and is familiar with the assistance of intermediaries.

General Crime:

Jack appears both as a junior alone and as a led junior in the full spectrum of criminal cases including attempted murder, firearms and drugs conspiracies. He often represents youth and adult clients, many of whom are vulnerable and have mental health difficulties. Jack takes pride in tailoring his approach to each case and taking the time to understand his client’s circumstances installing trust that he will do all he can to defend them. He also has significant experience in recognising vulnerabilities and circumstances which give rise to defences under the Modern Slavery principles and has successfully identified and defended matters on this basis.

Jack has in-depth knowledge in relation to the rules on disclosure and has been successful in having cases withdrawn due to his submissions on the topic.

Jack has been commended for being a fearless advocate who goes the extra mile for his clients and for having a genuine passion in the cases he is instructed in. In many circumstances he has been successful in drafting legal applications which result in cases being dismissed prior to trial. In trial, Jack takes a meticulous approach in analysing evidence and presents it in a digestible, ‘real life’, terms so that juries understand and resonate with him.

Outside of court, Jack has a practice in providing legal opinion in relation to evidence and appeals.

Financial Crime, Confiscation, Asset Seizure and Forfeiture:

Jack has a strong background and key interest in financial crime, as well as asset seizure and forfeiture and associated proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Jack regularly defends in Cash Forfeiture, Cash Seizure and Confiscation proceedings and he has successfully defended many of these cases. He has had success in Confiscation proceedings being stayed due to them being an Abuse of Process.

Jack has also undertaken work for the Serious Fraud Office in relation to disclosure review in cases involving financial crime spanning across multiple jurisdictions.

Jack is comfortable in dealing with the large amounts of evidence that often come in such proceedings and is able to advise on the instruction of forensic accountants and the collation of supportive evidence for contested confiscation hearings and cash seizure/forfeiture applications.

Motoring Offences:

Jack has a busy motoring practice and has been described as an expert in the area. He is instructed both in the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court dealing with such cases on behalf of individuals and insurers on a private basis.

Jack has significant experience with contested proceedings and technical defences as well as arguments in relation to special reasons and exceptional hardship and as a result, has been instructed to represent professional drivers, members of the armed forces and business owners regularly.

Jack is familiar with the law including charging time-limits and procedure and has been successful in having no evidence offered in relation to charges such as drink driving due to his submissions.

Judicial Review

Jack has experience in conducting Judicial Reviews against decisions of the Parole Board and the Secretary of State in relation to decisions of release and transfers prisoners to open conditions and has succeeded before the High Court in such matters.

Ongoing instructions: 

R v CN and another – Maidstone Crown Court 

Led junior defending in relation to an allegation of Attempted Murder following a shooting.

R v AE – Birmingham Crown Court

Led junior defending in relation to a NCA prosecution with an indictment relating to over 150 counts of sexual offences, fraud, blackmail and money laundering. Read more about the case here. 

R v DC (Opertion Canyon) – Sheffield Crown Court

Sole counsel defending in relation to a 13-handed drugs conspiracy surrounding the items being brought into and sold at HMP Lindholme. Read more about the case here. 

R v IA (Opertion Swona) – Snaresbrook Crown Court

Defending in relation to a Conspiracy to Supply Class A in East London.

Omar Stephens v Secretary of State for Justice – Royal Courts of Justice (Admin Court)

Representing the Claimant in a Judicial Review against the SSJ following their decision to refuse a transfer to open conditions despite Parole Board recommendation. 

Previous cases: 

R v TT – Norwich Crown Court

Defending in relation to a Conspiracy to Supply Class A in relation to the running of a county line.

R v JDB – Wood Green Crown Court

Defending in a multi-handed Robbery resulting in the Crown offering no evidence on the week of trial.

R v TP (Operation Hu) – Harrow Crown Court

Defended an individual charged with being concerned in the supply of Class B – after an application to dismiss was indicated the Crown discontinued the case.

R v HM (Operation Abasia) – Snaresbrook Crown Court

Led junior in relation to a Conspiracy to cause GBH and Possession of Firearms with Intent to Endanger Life in relation to a ‘shootout’ involving multiple firearms.

R v AT – Woolwich Crown Court

Defended an individual for Confiscation proceedings only and after an application of an abuse of process the Crown withdrew the proceedings.

R v NZ – Basildon Crown Court

Defended an individual charged with Kidnap after discussions with the Crown a plea of Affray was accepted.

R v JL – Basildon Crown Court

Defended a client charged with ABH – the Crown offered no evidence on the day of trial.

Omar Stevens v The Parole Board – Royal Courts of Justice (Admin Court) 

Successful Judicial Review of the Board’s view not to transfer to open conditions.

R v DC – Nottingham Crown Court

Defended an individual charged with Possession with Intent to Supply Class A –  the Crown offered no evidence on the day of trial.

R v MH – Snaresbrook Crown Court

Defended an individual charged with Possession with Intent to Supply Class B – acquitted after trial.

R v DO – Maidstone Crown Court

Defended an individual charged with Exposure. After applications to exclude evidence the Crown offered no evidence.R v LH – Kingston Crown Court

R v DG – Snaresbrook Crown Court

Defended an individual charged with Fraud. The Crown’s case was that the Defendant was part of an alleged work experience fraud in which the Complainant was required to make purchases under the false pretence of work experience.

R v SC – Central Criminal Court

Individual charged with Murder represented at first-appearance in both the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court.

R v MZ – Snaresbrook Criminal Court

Defended a Bulgarian National charged with Possession with Intent to Supply a ‘cocktail’ of party drugs.

R v SG – Maidstone Crown Court

Sentencing hearing for an individual charged with Possession with Intent to Supply Class A. Remains instructed for the ongoing confiscation proceedings.? Read Kent Online article

R v OA – Basildon Crown Court

Client charged with possession of a knife, possession of an ESP baton and theft.

R v KH – Harrow Crown Court

Client charged with possession of a knife in a job centre. After submissions to the Prosecutor on the day of trial, the matter was dismissed.

R v MQ – Maidstone Crown Court

Individual charged with Murder represented at the first appearance before the Crown Court.? Website link.

R v CH – Woolwich Crown Court

Vulnerable client aided by an intermediary acquitted of Robbery and alternative of ABH after trial.

Youth/Magistrates’ Court

R v LH and Others – Southend Magistrates’ Court

Multi-handed youth drugs conspiracy connected to adults in the Crown Court – the Crown offered no evidence on the basis of Modern Slavery.

R v PW – Barkingside Magistrates’ Court

Successful defence of a Cash Forfeiture application of £10,000 which was found alongside a large quantity of Cannabis at the Defendant’s home.

R v TC and Others – Folkestone Magistrates’ Court

Opposed four applications of extension of cash seizure in relation to ongoing Home Office investigation of people trafficking and money laundering.

R v IP – Westminster Magistrates’ Court

Elite private security guard for ultra-high net worth individuals accused of assault.? Website link.

R v PC – Hendon Magistrates’ Court

Defendant charged with breach of a SHPO after touching an off-duty police officer’s leg on a train. Website link.

R v RR – Margate Magistrates’ Court

Represented a Defendant charged with drink driving and was successful in having the Prosecution’s expert report excluded from evidence meaning that no evidence was offered and the matter dismissed.

R v TR – Willesden Magistrates’ Court

The Defendant pleaded Guilty to 5 separate driving offences and was sentenced to a 12-month Conditional Discharge and 8 penalty points.

R v LS – Northampton Magistrates’ Court

Defendant at least 64 times over the limit for Drug Driving. The Defendant pleaded Guilty alongside other driving offences and was sentenced to the minimum mandatory ban of 12 months together with a financial penalty.

R v AS – Staines Magistrates’ Court

Defendant is a serving IPP prisoner accused of assaulting a prison guard. Jack secured a bind-over in order to reduce any potential effect on parole.

R v JDB – Highbury Youth Court

Defendant accused of Assaulting a Police Officer with camera evidence and five police officers called as live witnesses. The case was dismissed at the close of the prosecution case after a successful submission of ‘no case to answer’.

R v RT – Highbury Youth Court

Defendant accused of Obstructing a Police Officer during a drug search. After the successful cross-examination of two officers an application of ‘no case to answer’ was made and the case was dismissed.

R v CB – Bromley Magistrates’ Court

Semi-professional Boxer acquitted of an allegation of an assault against a youth.

• City Law School, Bar Professional Training Course (Very Competent) (2015)

• Anglia Ruskin University, LLB Degree – (1^st Class Honours)

Jack is a member of Lincoln’s Inn and received the Lord Denning Scholarship for the Bar Professional Training Course (2014).

Jack is also an ADR Group accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator (2015).

When he is not at work, Jack enjoys football and takes a significant interest in world culture having visited five of the seven continents of the world.

Professional Memberships

• Lincoln's Inn
• Lord Denning Society