Stefan Fox

Stefan is a specialist criminal law practitioner and is a CPS Grade 3 prosecutor. He defends and prosecutes across the broad spectrum of criminal law.

He has a wealth of experience in cases involving offences of serious violence and public order, drugs, sexual offences, and dishonesty. He prides himself on being approachable, hard-working and dependable, whilst always appreciating the importance of effective case preparation and advocacy for those he represents.

In 2024, Stefan was appointed by the Lord Chancellor to be an Independent Member of the Parole Board for England and Wales. Prior to his appointment Stefan accrued a wealth of experience across a broad range of prison law including representing life and indeterminate sentenced prisoners in a wide variety of proceedings concerning their ongoing detention, including applications for release, progression to open conditions and licence recall. Stefan has also represented prisoners in high security / dispersal conditions including Category A Reviews against the Secretary of State and TACT hearings involving prisoners serving sentences for terrorism offences. As a result of his previous experiences, Stefan is in a unique position to be able to bring his erudite prison law knowledge to the criminal cases in which he is instructed.

However, since his appointment Stefan no longer accepts instructions in connection with any Parole Board work. He continues to represent prisoners at Independent Adjudication hearings for disciplinary offences against the Prison Rules 1999. 
Stefan is always prepared to assist with written submissions at pre-charge stage in criminal matters, and in cases involving Category A prisoners seeking to argue for their re-categorisation or their requests for an oral hearing to determine their downgrade application.  

Leading Junior in the Legal 500 directory:

“Stefan’s advocacy is clear and concise. His persuasive advocacy, excellent preparation and execution of legal arguments are his key strengths.” [2024]

“Stefan is a pleasure to work with. His knowledge on the law is phenomenal. He is also very good in court and advocates in such a way that juries understand and connect with him.” [2025]

Stefan Fox

Inn: Lincoln’s Inn
Degree: Nottingham Law School, LL. B (Hons).

Prizes

Wolfson Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn)
Hardwicke Award (Lincoln’s Inn) 

Affiliations

Criminal Bar Association
New Zealand Bar Association
Midland Circuit
Human Rights Lawyers’ association
Nottingham Bar Mess

Appointments

Member of the Parole Board for England and Wales

Solicitors and other practising lawyers are invited to contact the clerks on: +44 (0)115 824 9090

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Recent Cases

Crime:

R v TM (Nottingham Crown Court, 2025). Defendant charged with 9 counts of sexual assault against three different care workers. Acquitted by the jury. 
R v BA (Nottingham Crown Court, 2025). Defendant charged with assault by penetration. Acquitted by the jury. 
Operation Loki (Derby Crown Court, 2025). Led by Laura Hocknell. Successful prosecution a gang of 7 defendants involved in a conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs. 
R v SH (Nottingham Crown Court, 2024). Defendant charged with a dwelling burglary in which they were forensically linked to inside of the burgled property without any reasonable explanation. Acquitted by the jury. 
R v Luke Neal and others [2024] 2 Cr. App.R (S.) 40, [2024] EWCA Crim 747. Successfully opposed a reference to the Court of Appeal by HM Attorney General in relation to a suspended sentence imposed for conspiracy to steal fibre optic equipment from BT vans. 
Operation Jamesia (Nottingham Crown Court, 2024). Led by James Horne KC. Representing a defendant charged with participating in a ‘Ponzi’ style fraud running to millions of pounds. 
R v S (Nottingham Crown Court, 2023). Represented a youth defendant charged with conspiring to supply Class A drugs. Following a guilty plea and extensive mitigation the defendant was sentenced to a Referral Order. 
R v M (Derby Crown Court, 2023). Defendant charged with sexual assault on his support worker. 
Operation Hornet (Derby Crown Court, 2023). Represented a defendant prosecuted for his part in a large county lines drugs conspiracy. Minimal custodial sentence imposed despite being a second-strike drug trafficker. Reference to the Court of. Appeal by HM Attorney General not pursued. 
R v K (Nottingham Crown Court, 2023). Successfully argued for a suspended sentence on behalf of a defendant charged with perverting the course of justice. 
R v A (Leicester Crown Court, 2022). Defendnant charged with ABH and threatening another with a bladed article. Successful half time submission of no case to answer. 
R v J (Nottingham Crown Court,2021). Successful application to dismiss on behalf of a defendant jointly charged with possession with intent to supply Class B drugs. All counts on the indictment dismissed. Not guilty verdicts were recorded. 
R v E (Nottingham Crown Court,2020). Represented a defendant charged with breaching a restraining order in place to protect a well known BBC journalist. The case was reported nationally by the BBC and Sky News. 
R v Wood (Ashley) [2018] EWCA Crim 1273. Appeal against sentence in relation to an offence of dangerous driving. Submissions described by Martin Spencer J as “attractively presented”. Referenced in Wilkinson’s Road Traffic Offences, 29th ed [5-216]. 
R v Waplington (Alex) [2017] EWCA Crim 2010. Successful appeal against sentence in relation to offences of possessing indecent images of children. Written and oral submissions described by Davis LJ as “impressive”. Referenced in Banks on Sentence, 14th ed [2-1240].

Prison Law:

Re: P (Parole Board). Successfully argued for the release of a recalled IPP prisoner where the tribunal determined that the decision to recall was unlawful. 
Re: W (Parole Board). Secured the release of an IPP prisoner from closed conditions. The tribunal was persuaded that risk could be managed in the community contrary to the recommendations of the professional witnesses, including a psychologist. 
Re: M (Category A Review Oral Hearing). Successfully argued for the downgrading of a prisoner who had been detained in Category A high security conditions for over 20 years. The oral hearing had been convened following a successful application for judicial review before the High Court. 
Re: R (Parole Board). Secured the release of a life sentenced prisoner from closed conditions. The tribunal agreed that testing in open conditions was not necessary.