Top States lawyer heading to private practice

Thursday 04 December 2014

One of Jersey’s top prosecutors – who led the cases against drugs baron Curtis Warren and the man behind the six Victoria Crescent killings – is leaving his job and moving to the private sector.

Solicitor General Howard Sharp QC will leave the post of Solicitor General next July, after just over five years in office.

After his stint as number two in the office that prosecutes criminal cases and advises States departments, he is heading towards a new job in the private sector here in Jersey.

In a statement released yesterday, Advocate Sharp wrote: “It has been my honour to serve as the Island's Solicitor General and I could not have done it without the support of all the staff at the Law Officers' department whom I wish to thank for their help.

“I feel the time has come for a new challenge in Jersey and I hope that I will still be able to make a contribution in the public interest in the years ahead.”

It is a time of change at the Law Officer’s department - Advocate Robert Macrae has recently been appointed Attorney General, and will take over that job from Tim Le Cocq, who will take up the role of Deputy Bailiff next year.

Advocate Le Cocq praised Advocate Sharp’s work at the Law Officer’s department, where he said he had served with great distinction.

He said: “He has contributed a great deal to our work and has taken on some major prosecutions with conspicuous ability and success. I wish him very well indeed in his future endeavours and I am very grateful to him for the support that he has given to me personally and to others within the department.”