Thorpe Bay barrister Chris Whitcombe retires after 25 years

The barrister, from Thorpe Bay, has seen his fair share of south Essex characters in his time, from those committing low-level offences in the magistrates’ courts to defendants accused of serious crimes in the crown court.

This includes the high-profile case of the gang of Southend United supporters who attacked Cambridge United fan Simon Dobbin in March 2015, which saw Mr Whitcombe represent one of the men who received the most serious conviction of violent disorder.

Mr Dobbin was left brain-damaged and died last year.

But now, at the age of 53, the barrister is stepping away from the world of law after working for more than 25 years of advising and representing thousands of people.

Mr Whitcombe, who worked for JSP Solicitors, said: “I did the Southend football trial a few years ago for the case of Simon Dobbin. I had one of the defendants, that was difficult but challenging.

“You do form a view, but the general rule is if they tell you until they are blue in the face that they are not guilty, despite what your opinion on the case is, that’s what the trial is for.

“Some trials are no hopers, and some trials are guaranteed wins. But that’s the jury system.”

He admitted it isn’t always easy dealing with some of the country’s “most interesting people” but there is “always a story with every case”.

Chris Whitcombe has been qualified as a barrister since the 1990s

Mr Whitcombe said he took the decision to step down as the pandemic has taken its toll. It has encouraged him to go travelling with his wife.

He said: “Last year, I lost my mum and close friend, and I was furloughed for a few weeks.

“It was a lightbulb moment that there is more to life. My wife didn’t take much persuading.

“It’s going to be more of a series of short trips, but we’re definitely waiting for it to be safer to do.

“We’re hoping for the back end of this year.”

On Thursday at Basildon Crown Court, fellow barristers, court staff and judges bid farewell to Mr Whitcombe, who sat in the dock where defendants usually sit, while resident Judge Samantha Leigh recapped his career.

Mr Whitcombe shared how in the first case in the magistrates’ court he had gone up against Judge Leigh, who was the prosecuting barrister of the case.

He told the court: “The first trial I defended was in Southend Magistrates’ Court, your honour prosecuted and I lost spectacularly badly.

“It was somewhat of a wake up call for the standard that was required.”

In a farewell to Mr Whitcombe, Judge Leigh said: “We wish you the best of luck in your travels when you’re allowed to do that.

“We will miss you terribly as we are all so close in Basildon. We’re sad that you’re going.”

Mr Whitcombe praised every member of the court staff and fellow barristers for their help and support during his career.

He said: “It’s definitely the best court I have worked at.

“The judges are all very human and very sensible, there is a complete lack of ego.

“You don’t get that everywhere.

“It’s a career that’s always interesting.

“It’s not always easy and we are dealing with some of the country’s most interesting people - to put it lightly - but there is always a story with every case”

.