The criminal defence community is mourning the loss of police station representative Steve Knight, who died in the early hours of Tuesday – his 70th birthday. The Gazette was told that Knight died in hospital, where he was admitted last month after contracting Covid-19.

Knight became a fully accredited police station representative after spending 25 years with the Metropolitan Police, retiring as a detective sergeant. He was based in Folkestone, Kent, and did police station work for several firms.

His supervising solicitor was Richard Graham, of Kent firm Graham & Co Solicitors, who knew Knight for about a decade. Graham told the Gazette that Knight’s advice was superb. ‘He was a fantastic lawyer. The way he related to clients was fantastic – almost the perfect grandfather. He was the best around. All local firms would use him because he was that good.’

Knight’s notes were ‘meticulous’, Graham said. ‘In the Crown court QCs would look at them and the papers were all there. There were no gaps. He had a cellside manner that would put people at ease. He built up a really strong rapport with clients. People would come back and say they wanted Steve to represent them.’

Knight ‘would always go to the police station, no matter what time of the day it was, very dapper and well presented. He really did look the part,' Graham said. He played golf regularly and worked until the very end.

Solicitor Andrew Gurney used Knight as a police station representative for 15 years. He said Knight was a 'lovely, kind man... who always went the extra mile for clients. More importantly, he was a family man and his family meant the world to him. It's a tragic loss'.

Knight leaves behind his wife, Jenny.

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