THIS LIFE:HOME MADE 

GRAHAME Stowe was raised in a Jewish family in north Leeds and attended Allerton Grange High School, leaving with just one O-Level to his name. Now 59, he’s senior partner of one of the most high-profile and respected practices in Leeds, the 27-year-old Grahame Stowe Bateson, specialising in criminal and mental health law. But he didn’t have an easy start in life.He was just 19 when his father died at the age of 80 leaving young Grahame as the man of the house.As a result he took on numerous part time jobs while studying to retake his qualifications and get himself through a law degree at Leeds University. He met his wife Marilyn, also a highly successful lawyer, while they were both offering their legal advice to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Chapeltown – and five weeks later they were engaged. They have a 19-year-old son called Ben and the family still lives in north Leeds.Mr Stowe deals with cases ranging from fraud, representing both the Department of Trade and Industry and HM Revenue & Excise, up to ‘unwitting crimes’ where people breach legislation enforced by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities and he also handles around six murder cases every year.

I think a lot of people see this rather tall chap, smooth voice and capable but I haven’t always been this confident or had much reason to be. But that’s a bonus in my mind because it’s given me the ability to talk to anyone and empathise with anyone.We run free weekly advice surgeries at the practice and sometimes I deal with people with no money who live in a skip but I’ll treat them in exactly the same way as I would a high court judge. I cannot abide snobbery.My first crush was on a girl I met when I travelled to America.To me she was like the vision of Cindy Crawford and I fell head over heels with her – so much so that I actually made her a written proposal of marriage after a matter of days, sadly I had to come back to the UK though.Favorite things…..Food: Bread and cheeseTV Show: Fawlty Towers and One Foot in the GraveActor: Sean ConneryMovie: Sleepless in SeattleAuthor: Bernice Reubens (author of Brothers)Star sign: GeminiFINE EXAMPLE - EDITORS COMMENTSIN his own words Grahame Stowe was ‘a short, fat kid’ who was bullied mercilessly and developed a stammer.  He left school with barely a qualification to his name and sold sandwiches door-to-door around Leeds.  Now he’s a top Lawyer who heads up one of the city’s most successful legal practices. 

Court staff face disciplinary

A disciplinary inquiry was under way last night after a report found that thousands of convicted offenders had not been listed on the Police National Computer because of a catalogue of court errors, while hundreds of other suspects had escaped trial. Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, announced that an investigation would take place into the “lamentable” failings at Leeds Magistrates’ Court, possibly leading to criminal charges against court staff involved. Up to 555 defendants who had their warrants to appear in court withdrawn may now be recalled over the 1,709 charges that they faced. Most were for motoring or other minor matters, but 115 were for serious offences that should be recorded on the Police National Computer. Yesterday’s report by four independent criminal justice inspectorates also found that Leeds Magistrates’ Court had failed to record the outcome of cases concerning 2,206 defendants in respect of 3,260 offences, of which 1,568 were serious.

·         Court staff reject ‘postcode’ pay offer

·         Solicitors strike to hit court cases

At worst, 1,200 defendants have not had the outcomes of the 1,568 most serious offences, including grievous bodily harm, wounding with intent and possession of a firearm, recorded on the computer. The report calls for an inquiry into whether checks run through the Criminal Records Bureau have been compromised. Nick Herbert, Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary, said the “catalogue of negligence and poor record keeping” had undermined the justice system in West Yorkshire and let down victims of crime. He added: “The systemic nature of the errors, widespread managerial failings and length of time over which they occurred raises the question of whether these failings might be occurring in other courts.” The report, by the inspectorates of Court Administration, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Constabulary and the Probation Service, shows a pattern of “historic failure” dating back to 1980, although most incidents occurred between 2001 and 2004. Mr Straw said he accepted the findings entirely and insisted that the Government was acting on them. A separate report was being sent to the Lord Chief Justice, he said. Disciplinary action has already begun against the court staff involved. Two managers have been found guilty of gross misconduct on the basis of “neglecting official duties and failing to ensure accurate records were maintained”. Grahame Stowe, a solicitor in Leeds for 35 years, said that the blunders resulted from a “national obsession” with statistics. “The general ethos of modern justice is ‘the cheaper the better’ – with little regard for standards,” he said. “The clerks, by processing cases themselves, ensured the number of cases ‘awaiting decision’ remained low – and they met government targets. “Whilst it may appear an administrative trick, serious offenders have gone completely unpunished as a result.” Off the recordThe failings led to: — Court results not being recorded and possibly being lost for good — Removal of numerous cases where the outcomes had not been recorded from computer system — Fabrication of results, with legal advisers “guessing the result of the case where the true court adjudication could not be traced”, and entering them as convictions — In 2007 588 cases for which results could not be traced were ordered to be marked as “untraceable”. All but three were then entered as “convicted” — Some results have now been traced but there are still 523 cases for which results cannot be found  

Ex-spy suspect’s relief as bomb charge dropped

A FORMER Territorial Army officer-cadet initially suspected of spying for Russia last night spoke of his relief after an explosives charge against him was formally dropped.The decision by the Crown Prosecution Service to halt the court case against Peter Hill, formerly of Skipton, brings to an end a near-six month police inquiry which began when he attempted to pass information to the Russian embassy in London last year. Mr Hill, 23, said: “I’m very relieved. I knew I was innocent all along but you never know how far they will take it.

“It led to me losing my job and my home – the last six months have been horrendous.”

He was initially arrested on suspicion of breaching the Official Secrets Act but was informed he would not be charged in connection with spying in January.

The CPS has now informed Mr Hill, 23, that a charge relating to an alleged bomb-making kit at his home has been dropped.

His solicitor, Grahame Stowe, said: “This decision is a vindication of what we have said all along – the charges were based on spurious intelligence and had little basis in fact.

“Despite several months of investigation – at the taxpayer’s expense – no proceedings have been worthy of pursuing against Mr Hill, yet his career and personal life have been utterly devastated.

“After being detained for five harrowing days, the subsequent investigation led to Peter losing his home and his reputation within the local community being destroyed. Mr Hill is now considering the avenues of redress available to him.”Mr Hill was first arrested last November under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 and following police searches he was charged under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.

He had been due to reappear at Leeds Crown Court next month after police found an alleged bomb-making kit at his home in Lambert Street, Skipton.

Mr Hill initially came to the attention of MI5 after contacting the Russian embassy with the alleged aim of passing information relating to his involvement with the military.

He was arrested in a Metropolitan Police sting operation at Henry’s Bar on Greek Street in Leeds city centre after arranging to meet what he thought was a Russian contact.