Nicholas Wragg
Senior Associate and Advocate
“I want to see my clients straight away. I ask them if they are ok; they almost never are. That leads straight into the diverse field of how to mend people and, where necessary, get the right agencies/experts involved. I know that my clients are nervous about meeting a lawyer. Making them comfortable right from the off is my priority. My ambition is that by the time they leave their first conference they understand all of the courses their case might take and how it might affect them and those close to them and how much it will cost. Everyone is interesting, everyone is different. I do not think I will ever tire of this work.”
Summary
Nicholas is a specialist criminal solicitor and advocate with substantial 'high level' experience in the criminal law arena. A brilliant advocate with courage and flair, who commands the respect of all with whom he works. He has a meticulous eye for detail and a natural respect and warmth for the human at the heart of each case, he is a winner who fiercely protects his clients.
Nicholas’ background as a scientist explains much of his technical expertise. He qualified firstly as a barrister and later cross-qualified as a solicitor. Practicing in London at that time, Nicholas’ increasing specialism in complex and privately funded defence work saw him join the expert niche criminal law team now at Stone King in 2012. His practice is nationwide.
Nicholas has a particular depth of expertise in cases involving all alleged sexual offending from the least to the most serious. He has been involved in hundreds of such cases in recent years, and is a leading expert in his field. Every case is different, but cases involving illegal imagery, vigilantes, undercover stings, contact offending and historic allegations are frequent instructions. Those with Autism Spectrum disorders or mental health issues will feel particularly well supported and reassured by Nicholas’ substantial experience in handling such cases.
Nicholas conducts his advocacy in Crown Courts, the Court of Appeal and the High Court all over the country.
He is also one of a few specialist practitioners in shotgun and firearms licensing breaches and appeals.
Professional Experience
Nicholas’ scientific background in Geology saw him offer professional expert advice in respect of the hazards and risks associated with contaminated land, landslides and collapsed mine workings. Through this profession Nicholas became of necessity a natural speaker and advocate. It is no surprise that Nicholas’ professional experience remains founded in rigorous expert knowledge delivered in a real world setting. He qualified first as a barrister, called to Lincolns Inn, and later cross-qualified as a solicitor within a well-respected, substantial and varied practice based in London. Nicholas cut his teeth on heavyweight Metropolitan practice, with a varied caseload both individually and leading a team, including very high value frauds, serious Sexual Offences, domestic and other serious Violence, Homicide, and Domestic Violence.
Nicholas has been judicially commended for his work in respect of multi-handed undercover drug dealing operations. He chose to adapt his extensive experience to develop a rare and specialist service to private individuals and organisations facing criminal allegations or engaged with law enforcement agencies. Nicholas is able to provide advice and representation from the inception of an allegation or investigation to the final conclusion in any court in the land. This continuity of service is rarely available in legal practice, but ensures that individuals facing life changing allegations are able to have the very best advice, support and representation whether at the police station, Magistrates Court, Crown Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, High Court or beyond. Having appeared in various precedent setting cases from Sexual Allegations to Rights of Entry, Nicholas’ skillset has his influence bear across the wider Criminal Justice Arena.
Case Studies
M v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, September 2021: Successfully applied to the Court for discharge of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) following successful completion of a community order and without breach of the notification requirements or the SHPO.
D v Chief Constable, June 2021. Our client had been made subject to the notification requirements for life following an extended sentence following conviction for indecent images some 10 years ago. A detailed application was completed and submitted to the Chief Constable. The Public Protection Unit agreed that he no longer posed a risk of harm and as a result the application was successful.
Feb 2021: Represented a student for three offences of possession with intent to supply drugs including cocaine. Such cases almost inevitably result in an immediate custodial sentence. In appropriate cases Stone King are keen to engage those who wish to reduce their risk and address their offending behaviour. In this case close liaison with the family in respect of interventions and addressing offending behaviour resulted in a high degree of confidence that the defendant showed a real prospect of rehabilitation. The student was in his first year at university and had left the family home a month before. He was immature and naïve and dealing to recreational users only. Exceptionally the defendant received a suspended sentence.
R v H 2020 Crown Court: H had been arrested for the making/possession of indecent images. A significant number were found on his computer but they were not accessible as all had been deleted. H denied accessing these as a deliberate act and said he was appalled by such images and deleted them immediately when he found them. He was charged with three counts of making such images and sent to the Crown Court for trial. There were no indicative search terms on his computer and no other supporting evidence that H accessed this content intentionally. Nick commissioned an independent expert to assess the police expert’s report which was found to be flawed and following this the Crown offered no evidence on all charges days before the trial was listed.
R v A 2020 Crown Court: distribution of indecent images denied – making/possessing admitted. Distribution automatic via peer to peer software on Emule. Starting point 3 years imprisonment. Application to dismiss distribution - distribution would have been in packets and the Crown could not prove that an entire file was sent. Distribution dismissed. Sentence - 2 year community order, 5 year SHPO.
R v P and others 2020. Court of Appeal guideline case on the sentencing of sex offenders in cases where there is no victim i.e. undercover police officers or vigilantes.
W v Chief Constable of North Wales Police 2020. Administrative Court, Queens Bench Division. Judicial Review of decision of Chief Constable to impose a caution.
W v Chief Constable of North Wales Police 2020. Contesting decision of Chief Constable in respect of a Sexual Risk Order.
D v Crown Prosecution Service 2019. Administrative Court, Queens Bench Division, Judicial Review of decision of Crown Prosecution Service refusing to divert juvenile away from prosecution in respect of indecent images offences.
H v R 2019. Court of Appeal. Appeal length of Sexual Harm Prevention order.
R v H 2019. Crown Court. Trial on historical sexual offences.
R v O 2019. Crown Court. Trial on indecent images offences. Expert evidence and legal submissions resulted in Crown ending the case days before trial. Not Guilty verdicts.
R v M 2019. Crown Court. Sentence for offences of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Undercover police officer posing as child. Client avoided a custodial sentence.
R v W 2019. Crown Court. Sentence for offences of sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Vigilante croup posing as child. Vulnerable defendant with schizophrenia and autism.
R v T 2019: South Wales Police. Indecent images case. No evidence defendant had deliberately and intentionally made indecent images. No further action taken.
Interests
When Nicholas isn’t working he is likely to either be out riding his motorbike, (avoiding his many DIY tasks), listening to his music collection or trying to find a quiet corner in his favourite coffee shop with a crossword and cake.
Nicholas has travelled widely in South East Asia and Europe.
"Nicholas is fantastic with clients and he works very hard."
Chambers feedback 2025
"Nick has a personal and compassionate approach to working with clients."
Chambers feedback 2025
"Nick has provided fantastic client service and has been a rock during this difficult time."
Chambers feedback 2025
"He is always clear on the legal issues, what actions we might take and the implications of various outcomes from each part of the process."
Chambers feedback 2025
"Nick is truly a very conscientious and caring lawyer, who is absolutely at the top of his game when in Court, and always available when needed."
Chambers feedback 2025
"His advice was literally a life saver at times."
Chambers feedback 2025
"Nick's talent is in making difficult and complex topics easier to process and understand for his clients."
"Nick Wragg is an extremely hard working individual who provides excellent client care and can think laterally about how to approach difficult aspects of a case."
Legal 500, 2021
"Thank you for your unfailing kindness and respect. It means so much to feel you are being treated in a non judgmental way especially when you are feeling so vulnerable. Nick has been a tower of strength to me over this awful period of my life."
Client Feedback
"I feel as though enlisting the help of Mr Nicholas Wragg was one of the best decisions I have made, a true gentleman with a professional team to back him up.
"The team took full control of any situation with absolutely no problems and updated me as to what would happen next at every opportunity, I was treated fairly and spoken to respectfully.
"I think of myself as incredibly fortunate to have had the care and professionalism that was offered to me by Mr Wragg and the team at Stone King, they know exactly what they are doing and you can rest assured they will help."
Client Feedback
"Thank you Nick for everything you and the team have done for us. Throughout this awful time you gave us hope and kept our spirits up, you told us the truth about what to expect but you did so with humility and kindness. Throughout it all we really felt that you were on our side and I feel sure we would never have got the outcome we did without you, you’re professionalism and knowledge are a credit to you."
Client Feedback
"The outcome was the best that could reasonably have been hoped for, and I put that down to your persistence in advocating for me and your attention to detail. Throughout the whole process you were honest with me, but also compassionate and sensitive to the emotional demands I faced at every stage. I know my wife greatly valued your support during the two hearings, which were very stressful times for her. I am hugely grateful."
Client Feedback
“Without you I don’t think I’d be here in my own home today”
Client Feedback
“Above and Beyond is a Cliche that doesn’t even come close”
Client Feedback
"This firm is ahead of the market in terms of its client care and its attention to detail. They offer a blend of essential qualities that are required in dealing with stressful and delicate matters."
Legal 500, 2020