Benjamin Long

Year of Call: 2006

Specialist practice areas: Serious Crime, Criminal/Civil Fraud, Serious Sexual Offences, Asset Forfeiture, Police Disciplinary

Benjamin has a broad range of experience in all areas of criminal law including all types of violent and sexual offences appearing in his own right in all criminal courts for both prosecution and defence including sex cases involving young defendants and witnesses in trials requiring video links and other special measures. In addition he has undertaken Prosecution work on behalf of local borough councils including noise abatement prosecutions, ASBO applications and traffic matters and represented and advised serving prisoners at Adjudication and Parole Board hearings.

Benjamin has also recently gained experience as a led junior in a long running complex drug importation case involving the importation of some 12.5 tones of cannabis resin via trans-Atlantic tugboat.

With a background in Clinical Psychology, Benjamin has a particular interest and experience in defending and prosecuting cases involving defendants and victims with mental health difficulties as well as regulatory work within the field.

Notable Cases

R v D (2010, Southampton Crown Court)

Defence of four-count sexual touching case involving multiple victims under the age of 13

R v D and Anor (2010, Southwark Crown Court)

Prosecution of multi-handed GBH and ABH

R v V (2009, Southampton Crown Court)

Defence of multiple defendant double cannabis factory case

R v C (2009, Southampton Crown Court)

Defence of ABH and Affray (Domestic Violence)

R v J (2009,  Maidstone Crown Court)

Prosecution of Drug importation into prisons

R v A (a minor) (2009, Southampton Youth Court)

Defence of multiple count sexual touching

R v Smith (2007, Oxford Crown Court)

Successful defence of s18 Wounding by a Defendant with severe mental health difficulties suffering from Schizophrenia

R v Ferry (2008, Portsmouth Crown Court)

Successful prosecution of Portsmouth Taxi Driver for Dangerous Driving leading to a review of Hackney Carriage Licence monitoring in the city

R v Hersh and others (2009, Winchester Crown Court)

16 week trial as led junior in serious Drug Importation trial

Other

Outside of work, Benjamin is a keen sportsman, musician and actor and is founding director of the Western Circuit's resident chamber choir Carmina Iudicibus. He also has a knowledge of French and German and is currently attempting to learn Mandarin.

Benjamin is also an honorary guest lecturer in advocacy and jurisprudence at the University of Dayton, Ohio.

Blackstone Entrance Exhibition Scholar, Middle Temple

Memberships: Criminal Bar Association and Western Circuit