Homepage

Tom Gent

Year of Call:

1998

Education:    

Leeds Grammar School

Emmanuel College, Cambridge, MA (law)

Inns of Court School of Law, BVC, very competent

Career:          

Called to the Bar 1998, Gray’s Inn

Pupillage at Sovereign Chambers 2002-2003 supervised by Patrick Palmer

Member of the Criminal Bar Association

CPS Level 2 prosecutor

Tom has become increasingly specialised in this area and regularly appears on behalf of prisoners at hearings before the Parole Board (including recall hearings and Lifer Panel hearings) and independent adjudicators in relation to offences against prison discipline.

In addition to advocacy at hearings he can advise on pre-hearing submissions in respect of witness requirements, expert evidence and any further work that may assist the prisoner. 

He has advised in relation to the judicial review of decisions of the Department of Justice and the Parole Board. In 2007, he advised in relation to a life prisoner who had been transferred to HMP Leeds and was suffering from a brain tumour. The prisoner was unable to take part effectively in any rehabilitative work and the opinion of a Consultant Clinical Psychologist was that his incarceration added to the distress and confusion he experienced as a result of his impoverished cognitive functioning. Judicial review proceedings were commenced, requiring that the prisoner’s allocation be reviewed in light of his medical and psychiatric needs and the level of care he required. The prisoner was transferred to a rehabilitation unit outside of the prison estate.

His advice in relation to judicial review has covered such areas as challenges to re‑categorisation decisions and temporary release. He can provide advice and assistance from the point of letter before action right through to the final hearing.

In appropriate cases, Tom will provide pro-bono advice in relation to appeals by serving prisoners, against both sentence and conviction.

He has recently advised, and successfully appealed, against sentence in cases where Imprisonment for Public Protection pursuant to the CJA 2003 had been imposed. Such appeals are obviously made out of time, due to instructions being received long after the sentence was imposed, usually at around the time of tariff expiry.

For further details contact Yvonne Crosbie on 0113 245 1841