JAY NUTKINS
BARRISTER
Gray’s Inn
Criminal Litigation Accreditation Scheme
Fraud Lawyers Association
Criminal Bar Association
Portsmouth University
College of Law (now the University of Law)
Jay was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2010 at Gray’s Inn and is one of the firm’s supervisors having worked for Lloyds PR Solicitors since 2011. Jay is a pupil supervisor and advises on terrorism and serious crime such as homicide as well as regulatory matters. Jay is also a Grade A fee earner for legal aid VHCC contract cases.
Jay has a calm and mature approach in court and is persuasive even in the most difficult of arguments. Jay has good judgement in the court room and ably presents his cases to judges and juries alike.
In the last year Jay has been instructed as an advocate in four terrorism cases (one involving Russia, and two allegedly involving Iran) as well as in a number of murder cases. He has produced a significant amount of written and analytical work as well as working alongside some of the country’s top silks.
Jay was due to be led by Kings Counsel in a murder case at the Central Criminal Court, however after the defence statement was served, the Crown reviewed the case and offered no evidence.
Jay is also qualified as a duty solicitor and has a wealth of experience right from the inception of cases in the police station to the end in the Court of Appeal.
Jay is also a litigator and instructs chambers in matters that he litigates. As a litigator Jay has recently represented someone accused of conspiring to import almost 900 kilograms of Class A drugs into the UK by boat to the south coast.
Jay has a number of murder and terrorism related cases coming up in 2026.
Jay has recently led Amelia Mckey of Lloyds PR Solicitors in an 8 week trial at Southwark Crown Court where the offence alleged was people trafficking.
Jay has also recently acted on his own in a drugs and firearms case which lasted a number of weeks at Snaresbrook. The only defendant to have a trial was Jay’s client. He was acquitted.
Practice Areas
R -v- SC & Others - Central Criminal Court [Trial in 2026]
Defendant accused of conspiring to set fire to property associated with Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Jay was sole counsel for the defendant but is no longer representing him. Jay settled the defence statement on his own.
R -v- FJM & Others - Central Criminal Court [Trial in 2026]
Offences charged under the new National Security Act 2023 involving the Iranian Regime. Jay is sole counsel for the defendant at this time. Jay is being led by Ali Bajwa K.C. of QEB Hollis Whiteman.
R -v-NB & Others – Central Criminal Court [Trial in 2026]
Jay is the advocate for a man accused of working for the Iranian Regime in the course of which he committed serious crimes on UK soil. Jay is being led by David Spens K.C. of QEB Hollis Whiteman.
R -v- IS & Others – Central Criminal Court [2025]
Jay is being led by Kings Counsel in a case where his client is accused of espionage working against the interests of the UK for the Russian state. Jay is Grade A for this VHCC case
R -v- AI – Snaresbrook Crown Court [Trial 2026]
Jay is instructed to represent this defendant accused of supplying class A drugs to others as part of a gang.
R -v- NM – Snaresbrook Crown Court [2025]
Jay was sole counsel in a case where his client was accused of being the leader of a gang in east London who deal class A drugs on a large scale and possess firearms. The defendant was acquitted of the firearms offences after trial. He was the only one.
R -v- KF – Winchester Crown Court [2024]
Client accused of conspiring to import almost 900 Kg of Class A drugs into the UK by boat.
R -v- KS – Luton Crown Court [2024]
Jay was sole counsel for a man accused of repeated Class A drug dealing.
R -v- YT – Lewes Crown Court [2024]
Jay represented a Chinese National accused of importing and selling hundreds of thousands of pounds of cannabis.
Conspiracy
R -v- IA & Another – St Albans Crown Court [2024]
Jay was sole counsel instructed to represent a defendant accused of conspiring to steal motor vehicles.
R -v-DJ & Others – Guildford Crown Court [2024]
Jay was instructed to represent a man who is said to head an organised crime group who conspired to steal and handle stolen goods of significant value.
Jay has acted in a number of conspiracy cases over the years, including conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to murder.
R -v-JU - Central Criminal Court [Trial 2026]
Jay is being led by Gillian Jones K.C. in a case where the defendant and his partner are said to have starved their daughter to death.
R -v- KK – Central Criminal Court [Trial 2026]
Jay is being led by James Scobie K.C. in this case where one man is accused of fatally stabbing another after an argument in West London.
R -v- AI – Central Criminal Court [Trial 2026]
Defendant accused of attempted murder by shooting a gun out of a moving car and then destroying the evidence.
R -v- MC – Central Criminal Court [Trial 2026]
Jay is sole counsel instructed to represent a man accused of fatally stabbing another after an argument in West London.
R -v- SD – Central Criminal Court [Trial in 2026]
Jay is instructed as sole counsel to represent a defendant accused of attempted murder by shooting, S18 GBH, possession of a firearm with intent and possession of live ammunition.
R -v- MS – Southwark Crown Court [2025]
Jay was led by Michael Turner K.C. in this case where the defendant was accused of beating his mother to death.
R -v- KO & Others – St Albans Crown Court [2025]
Jay was instructed to represent a defendant in July 2025 accused of being the head of a gang who kidnapped someone using firearms and knives. Jay is sole counsel for the defendant.
R -v- NM & Others – Central Criminal Court [2025]
Jay was being led by James Scobie K.C. in a trial where the defendants were accused of murder in the context of drug gang disputes. After the defence statement was settled, the crown reviewed the case and offered no evidence on murder.
R-v-SC Luton Crown Court [2025]
Jay was led by Zoe Johnson K.C. in a case where a mother was accused of killing her two year old.
R -v- JG & Others (Operation Ingrid) Reading Crown Court [2024]
Jay was led by Alexandra Felix K.C. defending defendant one of five accused of murder and armed robbery, and two further separate allegations of attempted murder arising out of behaviour whilst on remand.
R -v-DG – St Albans Crown Court [2024]
Jay litigated this case and instructed Jenni Dempster K.C. and Nicola Roberson as counsel. This client was accused of murdering his wife. There was significant legal argument relating to the defence of automatism that was resolved firstly in the Court of Appeal, and then by Mr Justice Cavanagh sitting as a Crown Court Judge on the retrial.
R -v- EM & Others – Reading CC [2026]
Jay is currently representing this defendant accused of conspiring to take drugs and mobile phones into His Majesty’s Prisons by using a drone along with a number of others.
R -v- DC – St Albans Crown Court [2026]
Jay is instructed to represent this defendant who is accused of conspiring with others, and actually stealing over £1 million worth of goods from new build housing developments
R -v- IA & Another – St Albans Crown Court [2024]
Jay was sole counsel instructed to represent a defendant accused of conspiring to steal motor vehicles.
R -v-DJ & Others – Guildford Crown Court [2024]
Jay was instructed to represent a man who is said to head an organised crime group who conspired to steal and handle stolen goods of significant value.
Jay has acted in a number of conspiracy cases over the years, including conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to murder
R -v- ZH – Snaresbrook Crown Court [Trial 2027]
Jay is leading Ayanthi Palihawdana in this case where the defendant and his associates are accused of perpetrating a fraud worth hundreds of thousands of pounds against Royal Mail.
R -v- HA – Isleworth Crown Court [Trial 2027]
Jay is instructed to represent this defendant accused of fraudulent trading by virtue of his being involved in the running of a number of alleged sham car parking businesses at Heathrow Airport.
R -v- AR & Others – Harrow Crown Court [2026]
Jay is acting as sole counsel in this case where the defendants are accused of duty fraud amounting to over £900,000.
R -v- TV – Inner London Crown Court [2024]
Jay acted as sole counsel at trial for a client accused of an intricate banking fraud amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
R -v- GN – Isleworth Crown Court [2024]
Jay acted as sole counsel at a trial which lasted 31 days and had 8 defendants accused of conspiring to steal and convert items of property worth over £1 million.