Dr Rowan Jenkins

Called:	1994
Qualifications:	DPhil; MA (Hons)

Contact & Clerk

Email:

rowanjenkins@colletonchambers.co.uk

Clerk: Josh Warren

joshuawarren@colletonchambers.co.uk

Profile

Rowan practises exclusively in Crime and Regulatory matters. He joined Colleton Chambers in February 2022 from the South eastern Circuit and is highly sought after in serious cases.

With his scientific background, he has wide experience, especially in cases involving contested expert opinion. Much of his work involves death or serious injury, and he is used to dealing with such cases sensitively.

He is very experienced in appellate courts, including criminal appeals to the Court of Appeal and judicial review and case stated appeals to the High Court. Much of his practice lies in the cross over between criminal and civil disciplines.

Crime

Rowan has particular experience in sexual offences, rape and historic child abuse, as well as serious traffic offences. Rowan is a CPS level 4 prosecutor and an approved rape panel advocate.

‘He is without doubt silk material.’ Legal 500 2021

Selected Cases

• R v Milton (2024): junior defending in two defendant murder. Both defendants teenagers at time. Issues of self-defence in use of knife set against a history of violence by deceased and others. Acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter.
• R v Rawle (2024): junior prosecution counsel in 8 week murder trial. Defendant stabbed husband in back. Defence argued duress and victim of controlling and coercive behaviour over many years. Multiple psychological/psychiatric witnesses, medical history of parties and witnesses as to behaviour by both parties going back decades. Prosecution able to prove that defence was untrue and convicted of murder. Case widely reported in national media.
• R v Steve Bouquet (2021): prosecuting 10 day serial cat-stabber in Brighton area. Case based on circumstantial evidence using defendant’s mobile phone data. National/international press coverage. Instructed due to specialism in animal welfare prosecutions.
• R v Williams and others (2019): prosecuting 3 defendants in conspiracy to rob. The complainant was targeted in a London club and followed to his home where attacked with knives for a £30,000 Rolex watch. Evidence primarily based on ANPR, mobile cell site and Uber data.
• R v Gasson (2019): Leading Junior for Crown in 3 week murder trial. 17 year old defendant stabbed deceased twice in altercation in residential street. Both parties had a history of violence and drug dealing. Defence claimed self-defence/loss of control manslaughter. Relying on key aspects of pathologist report, jury rejected alternatives and convicted of murder. Widely reported after restrictions lifted.
• R v Downs (2019): defending double death by careless driving trial. Defendant had tiredness/eyesight issues when collided with party walking in country lane in dusk. Collision investigation evidence central when assessing whether careful driver might also have failed to see. Convicted but sentence reduced by Court of Appeal.
• R v M (2018): Defending man charged with historic sex offences against family members. Required detailed analysis of unused counselling and medical records.
• R v Lucy King (2017): Successfully prosecuted high profile case of gross negligence manslaughter at Maidstone Crown Court. Defendant, represented by QC, had negligently left out methadone which child consumed. On realising this, failed to seek appropriate help in time. Issues of causation and very vulnerable witnesses, prone to changing evidence. Significant media interest.
• R v Keyte (2016): Obtained triple attempted murder conviction. The defendant, represented by QC and junior, had been in declining mental health when he attended an address in Hastings and launched an unprovoked stabbing frenzy on three men present. He initially denied any involvement, but in cross-examination admitted that he had done the act. The issue became his capacity to form the necessary intention to kill.
• R v R & Others (2016): Obtained convictions at Guildford of 9 defendants in £1 million national conspiracy to steal cars from hire companies and retailers using stolen driving licences.
• R v Thompson (2015): Leading defence counsel alongside QC’s in 5 week rape and sexual assault trial of the utmost gravity. Evidence of sexual abuse by family members of children as young as 12 months’ old.

Regulatory

Particular areas of specialisation include Health and Safety prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and associated regulations; trading standards, environmental health and pollution-related offences. Rowan is on the Specialist Regulatory Panel for Health and Safety and Environmental Prosecutions.

Animal Welfare

Rowan’s work for the RSPCA has involved a number of their most important public law cases involving statutory interpretation.

Selected Cases

• Lamont-Perkins v RSPCA 176 J.P. 369 & (2012): High Court Case stated appeal on interpretation of Animal Welfare Act 2006, involving analysis of issues of status of private v public prosecutors. Has wide implications on procedure. Upheld decision of Crown Court.

Inquests

Rowan accepts instructions from all interested person, he has represented families several times, including an inquest into the death of a patient at dental practice following anaphylactic reaction to antiseptic, and deaths of elderly inpatients to hospital which failed to identify sepsis. Additionally, Rowan has represented care homes concerning death of vulnerable patients, one by choking and another involved in a road traffic accident.

Direct Access

Rowan accepts instructions from members of the public if the matter meets the requirements of the Bar Council. Please telephone the clerks on 01392 274898 if you wish to instruct Rowan or visit our Public Access page here.

BSB Register

The Bar Standards Board Barristers’ register (BSB register) shows the barristers who hold a current practising certificate and whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings. A link to the BSB register is here.

Call

1994 Lincoln’s Inn

Education

University of Oxford DPhil (Botany)

University of Oxford MA (Hons)

Memberships

CBA

HSLA

Recommendations for Rowan:

‘Particularly recommended for sexual offences cases involving vulnerable defendants’ Legal 500 2019

‘Recent work includes historic sexual abuse trials.’ Legal 500 2018