Top tax barrister Robert Venables KC, 78, of Old Square Tax Chambers is currently facing two counts of dishonestly cheating the public revenue in active criminal proceedings before Southwark Crown Court.
The existence of the charges were first revealed by Dan Neidle, of Tax Policy Associates, in a report headed “Robert Venables, senior tax KC, is being prosecuted by HMRC for tax evasion“.
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Reporting by freelance journalist Daniel Cloake
Robert Venables (left) with barrister Stuart Biggs KC outside Southwark Crown Court
In January 2025 this site exclusively reported details of the underlying indictment.
On Count 1, the Defendant is charged with cheating the public revenue contrary to
common law. The particulars of the offence are:
That between the 1st January 2013 and 30th November 2022 Robert Venables dishonestly cheated the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of income tax by:
(i) submitting self-assessment tax returns for tax years 2014/2015 to 2020/2021 which falsely declared the amount of his income for taxation purposes;
(ii) depriving HMRC of revenue which he knew HMRC was entitled to.
On Count 2, the Defendant is charged with cheating the public revenue contrary to
common law. The particulars of the offence are:
That between the 1st January 2018 and the 30th November 2022 separately from Count 1, and in respect of money he received from Citadel Ltd., Robert Venables dishonestly cheated the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of income tax by:
(i) submitting a self-assessment tax return in which he falsely declared the amount of his
income for taxation purposes;
(ii) depriving HMRC of revenue which he knew HMRC was entitled to.
In a statement issued to Tax Policy Associates by Old Square Tax Chambers, it was said that “The charges are denied… Mr Venables is confident that he has paid all tax lawfully due“.
In March 2026, the Law Society Gazette reported that Mr Venables entered not guilty pleas to both charges.
At this 46-minute hearing before Mr Justice Calver we were told that the trial is expected to start on Monday May 18th 2026 and last for 4-5 weeks. Mr Venables, wearing a dark grey suit, sat in the well of the court.
We were told the identity of at least two witnesses – Mr Dean Wise, Mr Venables’ gardener, and Ms Amanda West, Mr Venables bookkeeper. A tax expert is also expected to give evidence on behalf of the prosecution.
Pre-trial hearings are subject to strict reporting restrictions. At this hearing the CPS were represented by Julian Christopher KC. Mr Venables was represented by Stuart Biggs KC.
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