Oliver
Woolhouse
Head of Chambers | Called 1996
Practice Summary
Oliver has an extensive practice both prosecuting and defending, receiving instructions in the most serious criminal cases, often against opponents in Silk. Renowned for his attention to detail and meticulous preparation, he is well liked by juries and has achieved success on both sides in cases involving murder, manslaughter, serious violence, complex drug and fraud conspiracies, and serious sexual allegations. He has a particular aptitude for the handling of vulnerable witnesses and clients, and achieved recent success in raising the rare defence of insanity.
He has acted as Leading Counsel for the prosecution in a 7 handed conspiracy to pervert the course of justice linked to a murder investigation for the major crime unit of the Thames Valley Police, and Leading Defence counsel in a complex pension fraud in the North East of England.
Previously the Head of the Criminal Team, Oliver became Head of Chambers in 2022.
Oliver was Band 2 ranked by Chambers & Partners UK Bar Guide 2026, having also previously been ranked for a number of years as a Leading Junior in the Legal 500.
Education
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- Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of Leicester
- Bar Vocational Course (BVC), Inns of Court School of Law, London
Oliver’s expertise
Criminal Law
Oliver’s practice is predominantly centered around Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Stafford and court centres in the West Midlands. However, more recently he has travelled further afield to Oxford and the North East for longer trials, acting as leading counsel to Kellie Enever and Amiee Parkes respectively.
He has a strong defence practice, defending at the highest level as a Senior Junior. However, he also has significant experience prosecuting and is appointed to the CPS Advocates’ Panel at level 4, as well as the Rape and Serious Sexual Offences Panel. This means he is approved to undertake a variety of work, including the most serious offences, for the Crown Prosecution Service. These include Serious Sexual offences, including historic offences, conspiracy to supply drugs and driving offences which have resulted in death or life changing injuries.
He has been instructed as both sole and led defence counsel in cases including murder, attempted murder, serious and historic sexual abuse, group violence, drug importation and large-scale conspiracies to rob and burgle.
Oliver has particular skill and experience in dealing with vulnerable defendants, such as those with mental health issues, and witnesses in the most sensitive cases often requiring the use of intermediaries. He has completed specialist vulnerable witness handling and rape and serious sexual offences courses, and he has experience of s28 cases involving the pre-recording of evidence.
Oliver has dealt with a significant number of cases involving a wide variety of expert evidence, including cell site analysis, DNA, facial and body mapping, forensic pathology, road accident reconstruction and fire damage.
With a caseload varying in complexity and gravity, he has established a reputation for early and detailed preparation. He is very approachable, as well as being a determined and persuasive advocate, committed to providing the best possible service to both professional and lay clients. He has enjoyed considerable success in the Court of Appeal, reducing sentences imposed upon clients both after trial and plea.
Oliver accepts both private and publicly funded work.
Notable Cases
Notable Cases
R v JW – (2026: Wolverhampton Crown Court): Defending 18 year old accused of the attempted murder of his terminally ill mother. Harrowing case involving complex psychiatric issues surrounding the defendant’s schizophrenia and consequential delusional belief that possession by a demon had caused his mother’s cancer, and that the only way to save her life was to release the demon from her body which he attempted to do by stabbing her in the neck. Defence of insanity unanimously accepted by the jury, sentence of hospital order with restrictions passed.
Operation Illuminate – (2025: Oxford Crown Court): Prosecution leading junior in multi-handed conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to a murder investigation.
R v GR – (2025: Wolverhampton Crown Court): Defence leading junior – large scale conspiracies to commit robbery, theft and burglary. Multi count, multi-handed trial.
Operation Utah – (2024/2025: Newcastle-upon-Tyne Crown Court): Defence leading junior in 9 month trial of conspiracy to defraud a multimillion pound pension fund.
R v OL – (2024: Wolverhampton Crown Court): Defence junior in Murder.
R v BW – (2024: Nottingham): Defence junior Murder.
R v JW – (2023: Wolverhampton): Defence junior Murder.
R v BT – (2023: Wolverhampton Crown Court): Defence counsel in gross negligence manslaughter (and corporate manslaughter) trial. Nationally reported.
R v A et al– (2022: Wolverhampton Crown Court): Prosecution counsel in 3 week drugs conspiracy trial based upon a very significant number of events – largely based upon phone evidence; communications; cellsite; GPS co-ordinates with complex technical expert evidence.
R v JB – (2022: Gloucester Crown Court): Prosecution. Death by dangerous driving.
R v NG – (2022: Stoke Crown Court): Defence. Sexual offences trial. Acquitted.
R v BW – (2022: Wolverhampton Crown Court): Defence section 18. Acquitted.
Operation Activation – (2021: Wolverhampton Crown Court): NCA investigated online child abuse trial.
Operation Vent – (2021 Stafford): Defence in large scale drugs conspiracy.
R v PP – (2021: Birmingham Crown Court): Defence Junior. Murder. Nationally reported complex baby death trial. Appeal – reported case.
Operation Satchel – (2021: Wolverhampton Crown Court) Defended in one of the largest scale sexual offence conspiracies in the West Midlands.
R v JT – (2021: Birmingham Crown Court). Defence junior in Joint enterprise Murder. Acquitted of Murder.
R v AA – (2020/1): Wolverhampton Crown Court). Defence junior – double Attempted Murder. Nationally reported.
R v CH – (2020: Wolverhampton Crown Court). Defence Junior in joint enterprise Murder.
R v SC – (2020: Birmingham Crown Court). Defence junior Manslaughter.
R v WS – (2020: Stafford Crown Court). Prosecution sexual assault; child cruelty.
R v MB – (2020: Stoke Crown Court). Defence trial. Section 18 stabbing. Reported Court of Appeal case.
Older significant cases
R v JB et al - (2017: Wolverhampton Crown Court) Child Sexual Exploitation case. Defence trial which lasted for in excess of 3 months, involving multiple defendants, multiple complainants and significant 3rd party disclosure issues. The defendant had significant learning difficulties and required an intermediary, as did a number of the complainants. Upon his conviction, the sentence was reduced from 8 years to 4 years at the Court of Appeal.
R v AL et al – (2014: Stafford Crown Court) High profile and widely reported case involving former prison inmate conspiring to supply drugs into prison through a female prison officer with whom he had an intimate relationship.
Testimonials
Legal 500 2023 – Leading Junior in General Crime – “Oliver always has a complete grasp of the details of the case and is able to bring sound tactical judgment. He has expert client care skills.”
Professional Memberships
- Criminal Bar Association
- Midland Circuit
- The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
- Crown Prosecution Service Panel: Grade 4
- Crown Prosecution Service Specialist Panel: RASSO