Chris Aspinall
Practising almost exclusively in criminal law, and only defending. Previously a solicitor with Higher Rights of Audience.
Chris Aspinall was originally a mining engineer, working with an international company in Lancashire until mining began its dramatic demise under Mrs Thatcher. After his return to full-time education in London and York, where he studied labour studies and political philosophy, Chris joined the well-known solicitors firm of Howells in Sheffield.
He took Higher Rights of Audience in 2005, qualifying by the old exemption route of appearing before the Crown Court on appeals and committals for sentence. In 2008 he transferred to the Bar and has never looked back.
Chris was initially invited to join Park Court Chambers in Leeds; however, as most of his work was in Sheffield, it was natural to transfer in due course to Bank House Chambers.
Chris Aspinall practises almost exclusively in criminal law, and only defends. He is a plain speaking counsel who quickly forms a no-nonsense rapport with his clients.
Significant Cases
R v L – Armed robbery of shops with the co-accused; evidence centred upon DNA and CCTV.
R v N – The defendant in a rape and sexual assault case was not identified until a DNA hit four years after the incident. Acquitted of one of the offences after a jury trial.
R v W – A youth of good character was charged with attempted GBH, having entered a property with a firearm and shot at the complainant while inside.
R v B – A couple was charged with the assault of their next-door neighbour, perverting the course of justice, and witness intimidation. Convicted after trial; sentence successfully appealed at Court of Appeal.
R v D – Defendant (one of five) was charged with assisting an offender in a case of attempted murder. This was one of the first cases to use downloaded data from in-car navigation systems to track people’s movements.
R v B – The only one of multiple defendants to be acquitted by the jury after a multi-week trial for group rape.
R v Clark – The defendant was charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of their father. There were elements of mental health issues.
R v Horner – The defendant was charged with murder after a fatal stabbing in Sheffield city centre.
R v F – A historical racist murder dating back to 1987, where the defendant was charged after a single witness came forward nearly 20 years later and later acquitted at trial.
R v D – A multi-handed, multiple Section-18 offence in Oxford, where one victim was left paralysed and bedridden. Successfully sought acquittal for the client while the co-accused was convicted.
R v W & W – Represented both defendants in a Section 20 wounding allegation, whereby it was alleged the defendants attacked the victim with a machete. Successfully sought an acquittal.
R v B – The defendant was alleged to have raped a 13-year-old complainant multiple times. After a two-week trial, the defendant was acquitted.
R v D – Historical allegations of systematic sexual abuse within a family setting. The defendant was acquitted after trial.
R v H – Allegations of rape and sexual abuse of children. The defendant was charged with 22 counts.
R v D – The defendant was charged with the rape of their daughter, which resulted in a 14-year sentence and a further 10-year extension under the 1956 Act.
R v Manning – Appealed sentence in the Court of Appeal for possession of a ‘stun gun’. The case has subsequently been referred to as guidance over the term seriousness.
Chris appears before the Parole Board and has done so since he was a solicitor.
How much will Chris Aspinall’s services cost?
Chris mostly works on a fixed-fee basis for the main hearing, with a daily refresher rate for any subsequent date of hearing, although this depends on the type of work you request. If you’d like a quotation for his legal services in a particular matter, please contact our clerk using the details below and we’ll be very happy to help. Please also refer to Bank House Chambers’ standard terms & conditions.
What might influence the timescales of the services Chris offers?
Chris would normally expect to arrange a preliminary conference with your client within 7 days of first contact from you. After that, despite our best intentions, we can’t always control timescales or the amount of time we spend on a case. These can be affected by factors such as urgency; complexity; your own (or your client’s) availability; Chris’ availability and that of any third parties; the volume of documents he needs to review or must request; and the court’s availability.
Can you have confidence in Chris’ work?
He is regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
How can you contact Chris Aspinall?
In the first instance, please contact our senior clerk, Wayne Digby, on 0114 275 1223 or email him at w.digby@bankhousechambers.co.uk.
