George Penny
George has a strong general crime practice, appearing regularly in the Crown and Magistrates’ courts defending and prosecuting cases ranging from drugs to serious violence and fraud.
George is highly knowledgeable on Rent Repayment Orders, having appeared in most of the major appellate and first-instance cases since 2021 and regularly appearing in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal. He has appeared as a junior in the Court of Appeal in widely-reported RRO cases. He undertakes other housing work in the County Court.
George has gained experience in regulatory law as a case presenter for the Nursing and Midwifery Council and has been instructed as review counsel for a core participant in a major inquiry.
George also undertakes pro bono work in a range of fields and was shortlisted for Advocate’s Young Pro Bono Barrister of the Year award 2024.
Outside of practice George is engaged in academic projects on the regulation of AI and outer space, and can provide advice on both the existing law and probable future developments in each of these rapidly-developing areas.
Ranked In
Cases
Criminal Defence
R. v. D
George is representing a client accused of a 6-figure fraud.
R. v. S
George’s client was accused of robbery. After successful legal argument, previous convictions for robbery and other dishonesty offences were excluded, as was evidence of identification byf a police officer.
R. v. A
George’s client was acquitted of criminal damage and assault, despite the prosecution presenting photographs of the damaged items and injuries to the complainants.
R. v. B
George’s client was acquitted of coercive and controlling behaviour and associated offences following a 2-day trial in which he demonstrated key elements of the complainant’s account to be false.
R. v. P
George’s client was acquitted of racially aggravated s.20 GBH after self-defence was successfully demonstrated.
Criminal Prosecution
R. v. J & Ors.
Prosecution junior in an 11-handed drug supply case involving extensive cell site and ANPR evidence.
R. v. B & Ors.
3-handed drug supply and vehicular violence case; a police officer was rammed by a car fleeing other officers and containing evidence of drug supply.
R. v. F & Anor.
2-handed burglary case. A successful resistance of an application to dismiss led to the entering of guilty pleas.
Rent Repayment Orders and Housing Law
George is frequently instructed to appear in appellate and high-value first-instance Rent Repayment Order cases. He also provides advice to those facing or considering Rent Repayment Order proceedings.
Recent significant cases include:
Global 100 Ltd. v Jimenez and Ors. [2023] EWCA Civ 1324
George appeared (lead by Justin Bates, Landmark Chambers) for the occupant respondents, having appeared alone for the majority of the occupant respondents at the First-tier and Upper tribunal hearings (the others self-representing at that time). His clients were successful on each occasion on technical questions of statutory construction.
Cottam & Ors. v. Lowe Management Limited [2023] UKUT 306 (LC)
George appeared for the applicants in this case at first instance and by written representations on appeal, concerning the definition of a “person managing” or “having control” of a property. Findings against his clients at first instance were overturned on appeal. George also appears for both local authorities and landlords in other kinds of housing criminal prosecution, and provides advice on all areas of housing law.
Professional Memberships
- The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn
- CPS Grade 2 panel for Fraud, Serious Crime, and General Crime
- GLD “junior junior” panel of counsel
- Criminal Bar Association
- Young Fraud Lawyers’ Association
Awards, Qualifications & Other
- LLM (BBK) Law & New Technologies
- LLM (BBK) Law & New Technologies
- PGDiP (KCL) Bar Practice
- BA (Oxon) Jurisprudence
- Ann Goddard scholar (2023)
- Sir John Holt scholar (2021)
- Michel scholar (2017-2019)