Tim Bittlestone defended boyfriend in the case of Baby P

Who? Tim Bittlestone, 31, head of the serious crime unit at London law firm Leslie Franks.

Why is he in the news? He defended the boyfriend in the case of Baby P who died of injuries including a broken back. The boy’s mother pleaded guilty to causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person and, at the Old Bailey last week, her boyfriend and lodger were both convicted of the same offence. The names of the mother and boyfriend are subject to reporting restrictions.

Baby P had been on the register of at-risk children in the London Borough of Haringey, which had been criticised for failing to prevent the torture and murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie in 2000.

Route to the case? Duty solicitor scheme.

Thoughts on the case: ‘Everyone has a right to a defence. My client was very simple and just didn’t regard himself as the child’s carer, with responsibilities for his welfare and protection.

‘I tried to keep the case focused on the evidence rather than let it become an investigation into the local authority, but the fact remains this tragedy could have been avoided. Haringey hadn’t learnt the lessons from Victoria Climbie and nobody has yet resigned or accepted responsibility.’

Dealing with the media: ‘They were understanding about what we could and could not comment upon. There were 20-30 journalists in court during the trial.’

Career low point: ‘I’d spent seven days at Paddington Green police station building a relationship with one of the suspected terrorists accused of the Glasgow airport attack. Then my client was taken off me when another firm persuaded his family in Pakistan that it, and only it, could help him.’

Career high point: ‘Taking responsibility for the serious crime unit at Leslie Franks.’