Darrell Ennis-Gayle

Partner

0330 822 3451

Criminal Defence

Falsely Accused of Crime

General Crime

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About Darrell Ennis-Gayle

Darrell is a Partner in the Criminal Defence Team and Head of the Data Deletion team. He joined Hodge Jones & Allen in 2016.

Darrell specialises in all areas of criminal defence, representing clients at all stages of the criminal justice system. He appears regularly as an advocate in the Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court and Crown Court. He runs a varied caseload including cases such as murder, serious violent offences, drug offences, terrorism and sexual offences. He also represents clients in ancillary proceedings such as confiscation and forfeiture.

Darrell has an excellent track record in dealing with data deletion matters. He regularly represents clients in applications to have their criminal records deleted and applications to be removed from professional barred lists.

Darrell has represented clients as litigator and counsel in a number of high profile cases. These include murder, terrorism and computer misuse. He has represented high profile individuals and is regularly instructed by record labels to represent their acts. He has a reputation for representing music artists in relation to criminal cases and civil injunction proceedings where the police have tried to prevent artists them from performing their music.

Darrell has a strong network of expert witnesses and specialist counsel which he regularly instructs. He utilises this network to enable him to prepare his cases to the highest level in order that he can achieve the best possible results for his clients.

Darrell also acts as a consultant for television productions. He was famously characterised in the HBO series Landscapers, a BAFTA award winning television drama depicting his first murder case. He acted as consultant on the show, working closely with the writer and production team. He also appears regularly on television and radio providing expert legal commentary.

Darrell has a very loyal client following. He represents both privately paying and legally aided clients. He prides himself on providing excellent representation to all his clients, no matter their circumstances. He firmly believes that access to justice should be provided to all.

Notable Cases

R v KL [2020] – Represented a youth who was charged with attempted GBH. The client was a youth who was accused of attempting to attack a police officer with a machete. He was acquitted as the defence were able to establish that he was acting in self-defence.
R v CK [2022] – Represented a female school teacher who was charged with murdering her partner during lockdown in the Pandemic. She accepted stabbing him to death but was acquitted of murder and found guilty of manslaughter. She received a reduced sentence as the defence were able to demonstrate with expert evidence that she was the victim of abuse at hands of her partner.

R v AM [2023] – Represented a youth charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs. The client who was 14 years-old was charged with seven other defendants in relation to a large ”county lines” drugs operation in Essex. The client was the only defendant to be acquitted in the proceedings as the defence were able to demonstrate with the use of expert evidence that he was an exploited child and the victim of modern slavery.

R v SB [2024] – Represented a defendant who was charged with attempted murder and possession of firearms. The prosecution alleged that the client was involved in a gang related shooting. The defendant was acquitted of all charges as the defence were able to establish that he had been acting under duress.

Durrell Goodall, Reano Williams and Nathanial Williams [ongoing] – Representing three clients in a joint application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The clients were three of eleven defendants convicted of murder under the doctrine of joint enterprise. Applications have been made to the CCRC to review the convictions on the basis that the prosecution adopted a false and racist gang narrative against them in the proceedings. A decision is pending. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-65756935

R v Thomas Harriman (& others) [2016] – Represented a client in a multi-handed trial in the Crown Court. The client was charged with affray and criminal damage following the eviction of “squatters” who had occupied a school. I acted as the trial advocate and secured his acquittal.

Metropolitan Police vs Terrell Doyley (& others) [2019] – Represented clients in civil proceedings as litigator and advocate. The Metropolitan Police brought “Drill” injunctions against the clients who are prominent rap musicians.

R v Susan Edwards (& other) [2014] – Represented client charged with the double murder of her parents. This was an extremely high profile case that attracted significant media attention. A dramatic television series about this case is currently being produced by Sky and HBO television.

R v James McCormack (& other) (2013) – Represented client charged with computer misuse and fraud. This was a high profile case where the defendants were charged with hacking into Sony Music Ltd’s server and stealing unreleased music from artists such as Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.

Data Deletion cases

TC [2023]: Represented a client who had been convicted of a serious sexual offence when he was a youth. When he turned the age of 18 years he was added to the children’s barred list which prevented him from working with children. With the support of expert medical evidence we were able to establish that the client posed no threat to children and successfully applied to have him removed from the barred list.

SC [2024]: Represented a teacher who had been cautioned for a dishonesty offence when she was a youth. She needed to immigrate to China for personal and professional reasons but would have prevented from doing so because of the caution appearing on her ACRO Police Certificate. We successfully applied to have the caution expunged resulting in the client having a “no trace” ACRO Police Certificate.

Client Comments

“Just wanted to follow up from my hearing that was represented by Hodge Jones & Allen in Febuary 2023. Sending out a BIG THANK YOU for all your hard work and support throughout these court hearings as justice got served the right way After continuous complications. As well as (Barrister) Ms Compton gaining results exceeding my expectations due to history that has been repeating itself until now, her due diligence highlighted things that the CPS and Cafcass overlooked and my (Solicitor) Mr Gayle producing a positive outlook from start to finish has immensely restored faith in my case which will now hopefully help my family court case from here on. So once again thank you for your effort throughout this and referring Gabby to assist my case. I would recommend yourselves to any party experiencing cases simular to mine within Criminal Law.”

"The solicitor present was excellent."

“Thank you very much to you and the firm for your support. I really appreciated. Darrell was a great help at the interview and a very reassuring presence. I have received a letter from the police station saying they are not taking any further action in relation to the incident. If the situation changes in the future, I will be sure to approach your firm again.”