R v Farrell

Facts

The Appellant, Lloyds PR Solicitors, represented Kieran Farrell before the Crown Court at Winchester under a representation order made on 27 July 2024. The Defendant was one of ten defendants on a nine-count indictment concerning the importation into Southampton by boat, unloading and inland distribution of 889 kilos of cocaine on 8 July 2024, the drugs having been smuggled in a freighter in international waters and brought ashore in a rigid inflatable boat. He faced counts of conspiracy to evade the prohibition on importation of Class A drugs, conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, possession of criminal property and two counts of driving whilst disqualified. On 9 August 2025 he pleaded guilty to three of the four charges, the money laundering charge being left to lie on file, and a sentencing hearing was listed for 11 and 12 September 2025. His basis of plea asserted a limited role as support driver, minimal awareness of the scale of the enterprise and little anticipated financial advantage, the Crown contending for a significant role. HHJ Feest KC sentenced him on the basis of a lesser role to 12 years' imprisonment with a six-year extended disqualification. The Appellant claimed a trial fee on the footing that a Newton hearing had taken place; the Legal Aid Agency's Determining Officer allowed only a guilty plea fee, and the Appellant appealed.