Profile
Cainan is a Grade 1 Prosecutor. He accepts instructions to prosecute or defend.
Before commencing pupillage, Cainan spent a period of time working at a local firm of solicitors as a paralegal in housing law. In doing so, he gained valuable experience in providing legal advice on various issues. He developed skills on how to advise clients who may be at a low point in their life or had vulnerabilities.
His pupillage has been overseen by Paul Rooney. During his pupillage he has observed his supervisor and other members of chambers throughout entire Crown Court trials from their first hearing to sentencing. Cainan has witnessed several serious, complex trials. Having spent time in a long-running trial involving the discharge of a firearm with his supervisor, Cainan saw experienced counsel deal with professional witnesses including experts from the NCA. He was involved in planning cross-examination of witnesses and had some input on the closing speech. He also helped to track the continuity of an exhibit which was central to one of the counts. Trials Cainan has seen have included cell-site evidence, radio frequency surveys and telephone attribution, so he has had the opportunity to develop a familiarity with these forms of evidence.
Whilst undertaking pupillage has been tasked with drafting opening and closing speeches, examination in chief and cross-examination plans, responses to bad character applications and sentencing notes which have varied in complexity. He has also spent time reviewing voluminous unused material to identify helpful evidence.
During his second six, he has been involved in prosecuting and defending in both the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court. Cainan has prosecuted trials ranging from shop theft to Grievous Bodily Harm. He has been involved in matters right throughout the Criminal Justice procedure, from first hearing to sentence and appeals.
In an appeal against conviction and sentence at the Crown Court for an offence of driving whilst over the prescribed limit of alcohol on a road or other public place, he successfully argued the area where the driving had taken place was private; as such the appeal was not opposed and the conviction was overturned.
Cainan defended in a case of dangerous driving where the defendant had crashed into another oncoming vehicle head on. The crash caused one of the occupants of the other vehicle to have a fractured hip alongside extensive damage to their vehicle and expensive music equipment within, the sentencing judge said Cainan’s “strong submissions in mitigation had saved him from a prison sentence.” The defendant was made subject to a community order with 200 hours unpaid work.
Cainan is a proud Teessider – he was born and raised in Middlesbrough and is excited to practise at the local Bar.
Education, Awards & Scholarships
Teesside University – LL.B. – First Class Honours
Prize: Outstanding Contribution to the LL.B. Programme
Northumbria University – Bar Practise Course and LLM – Distinction
Prize: Best Performing Student on the Bar Course on the Criminal Professional Practice Module.