The jury have been unable to reach a verdict as top tax barrister Robert Venables KC, 78, of Old Square Tax Chambers has faced three counts of dishonestly cheating the public revenue in criminal proceedings before a jury at Southwark Crown Court.
Our reporting of this case:
✍️ Jan 2025: Barrister accused of falsifying tax returns – the indictment revealed
✍️ May 2026: Trial date set for barrister accused of falsifying tax returns
✍️ May 2026: Barrister’s barrister tells jury: “There is nothing legally wrong with avoiding tax and exploiting loopholes”
✍️ May 2026: Wise gardener gives evidence in KC Tax Cheat case
✍️ June 2026: Venables’ Bookkeeper Gives Evidence in KC Tax Cheat Case
✍️ June 2026: R v Venables KC: The HMRC Interviews: “wouldn’t it be wonderful if tax law were always simple and logical”
✍️ June 2026: HMRC’s criminal probe against Tax KC had “Red Risks”, jury told
✍️ June 2026: HMRC’s ‘menacing’ correspondence meets Tax KC’s threats of defamation, jury hears
✍️ June 2026: R v Venables KC: The Agreed Facts
✍️ June 2026: Top Tax KC: “I’ve been cancelled” as jury told of humble beginnings
✍️ June 2026: Tax KC’s ‘private working notes’ were attempt to ‘pull the wool over the eyes of HMRC’, jury told
✍️ July 2026: Jury to consider verdicts as the trial of KC accused of dodging £2m in tax comes to an end
✍️ July 2026: “It has become clear that a serious problem has arisen between you” – Judge urges jury to be respectful
✍️ July 2026: “Now you’re a jury of 11” – KC Tax Trial latest
✍️ July 2026: Venables jury down to 10
✍️ July 2026: Venables Trial Collapses
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Reporting by freelance journalist Daniel Cloake
Robert Venables (left) with barrister Stuart Biggs KC outside Southwark Crown Court
On three counts of cheating the public revenue contrary to Common Law the jury have been unable to return a majority verdict on each of the three counts.
Count 1:
ROBERT VENABLES between the 1st January 2013 and 30th November 2022 dishonestly cheated the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of income tax by submitting self-assessment tax returns for tax years 2014/2015 to 2020/2021 which falsely declared the amount of his income for taxation purposes by not including in his return the profits of other partners of the RVQC Partnership, thereby depriving HMRC of revenue to which he knew (because of the operation of either the Settlements Code or the Mixed Member Rules) that HMRC was entitled.
Count 2:
ROBERT VENABLES between the 1st January 2013 and 30th November 2022 dishonestly cheated the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of income tax by submitting self-assessment tax returns for tax years 2014/2015 to 2020/2021 which falsely declared the amount of his income for taxation purposes by not including the share of profits of the RVQC Partnership which had been used to pay for services provided to him, thereby depriving HMRC of revenue to which he knew that HMRC was entitled.
Count 3:
ROBERT VENABLES between the 1st January 2018 and the 30th November 2022 dishonestly cheated the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of income tax by submitting a self-assessment tax return in which he falsely declared the amount of his income for taxation purposes by not including Citadel Ltd’s profits as income of his own, and thereby depriving HMRC of revenue to which he knew that HMRC was entitled.
Robert Venables KC remains an innocent man, and a man of good character. He can walk out of court with his head held high.
In addressing the jury Mr Justice Calver said:
Members of the jury, I’m going to discharge you from reaching verdicts on the three counts in this case in the light of your jury note which informs me that, on each of counts you’re unable to reach a majority verdict … and that you will not be able to
I want to thank you very much for your time and your hard work on this case. I know that it has required a significant amount of your time and energy, and that you have patiently and diligently listened to all of the evidence in the case.
I recognise that this trial has made many demands upon you and I’m grateful that over the course of nine weeks, there’s not been a single day when any of you has arrived late for court. That’s a testament to your commitment to jury service, particularly during a heat wave.
It’s a fact members of the jury that juries sometimes cannot bring in a verdict. But please bear in mind that does not belittle the dedicated service which each one of you has given.
I particularly would like to thank the chairperson for his intelligent and tactful handling of the deliberations.
As you’ll be aware by now, I do have to remind you that, you may now discuss with others your experience of being on a jury and you’d be able to speak about things that took place in open court.
You must never discuss or reveal what took place in the privacy of your jury room whether by talking about it, or writing about it.
For example, in a letter, text message, any electronic message such as Twitter, WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook, you name it.
That is absolutely forbidden by an Act of Parliament, and if done would amount to a contempt of court. It’s really important.
Members of the jury, thank you very much, and if you would please now go with the jury bailiff, who will help you to leave court.
Julian Christopher KC, representing the prosecution, said he had already “had an opportunity to consult with those instructing me” and “the prosecution would seek a retrial in this case”.
The court adjourned to allow the parties to consult the listing office.
UPDATE AT 1PM:
After a short adjournment Mr Justice Calver explained that as a result of making his own enquires the earliest date for a retrial is October 2027.
Citing the defendants age Mr Biggs KC said his position was the retrial should take place “as soon as possible”.
The hearing concluded with Mr Justice Calver telling counsel that:
I think the case has been handled by both of you and your teams in an absolutely superb way… It’s exactly what I admire about the criminal bar when you have the excellence of advocacy and representation that both you and your teams have given to this case, so I just wanted to thank you for that.
It’s been a pleasure to sit on the trial, as well, because of that.
Thank you very much.
All right, maybe we’ll meet again.
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The CPS are represented by Julian Christopher KC, Marika Lemos KC, and Michael Hick. Mr Venables is represented by Stuart Biggs KC and Erin McKee.
Mouse in the Court 