East Midlands Forces Unite for DEWVA organised CPD on Ketamine and Expert Witness testimony skills.
- Ashley Clark
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
On Friday 20 June 2025, the Drug Expert Witness & Valuation Association (DEWVA) arranged for forty drug expert witnesses from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire to attend a regional CPD event. The conference was held at Nottinghamshire Police Force Headquarters and was led and organised by the East Midlands DEWVA committee representative Shemane Marsh, a respected Drug Expert Witness herself, who curated the agenda to promote professional networking, knowledge exchange and courtroom proficiency.
Morning Session: Finley Worthington’s Insight into Ketamine Abuse
The first presentation was delivered by lived experience speaker Finley Worthington, a recovered ketamine user and now an ambassador for Acorn Recovery and founder of Ketamine Education Services. Finley recounted his experience of regular ketamine consumption—often exceeding £200 per week—and the gradual toll it took on his personal life and health. He explained how social media facilitated his access to the drug:
“You can get ketamine within an hour anywhere in the country on Snapchat… dealers advertising drugs on Facebook,”
He also observed that:
“It’s common knowledge that anyone on social media can get hold of anything … it’s a dangerous thing.”
Finley described the consequences of addiction, including physical health issues, relationship strain and mounting debt. In describing his journey towards rehabilitation, he emphasised the pivotal role of aftercare and community support once formal treatment ended. He concluded by urging social media companies to restrict the promotion of drug use, underlining the urgent need for digital awareness and prevention strategies.
Finley’s unique testimony gave delegates a profound understanding of how ketamine addiction evolves, where it flourishes, and the personal cost it bears, enhancing their ability to personalise expert reports with real-world context.
Afternoon Session: Jonathan Cox on Expert Evidence and Courtroom Practice
Links: Jonathan Cox - 36 Group
In the afternoon, Jonathan Cox, a Grade 4 barrister instructed almost exclusively by the Crown through The 36 Group, provided a comprehensive and disciplined analysis of expert witness responsibilities in criminal proceedings.
Mr Cox, renowned for his prosecutorial work in serious organised crime, drugs conspiracy and supply cases, homicide, proceeds of crime and digital data cases, is regularly commended for his rigorous preparation and tactical acumen. He has led prosecutions involving large-scale drug supply, firearms, and county-lines operations, and frequently appears as counsel in multi-defendant cases represented by King’s or Queen’s Counsel.
Addressing attendees, Mr Cox emphasised that expert witnesses must assert their authority from the outset in court, maintaining direct engagement with the court rather than relying on documents. He explained that witness credibility is bolstered by a clear and measured vocal delivery alongside transparent reasoning. He outlined the importance of presenting original data, such as phone logs, in full and supported by explanatory glossaries for jargon and value metrics. He noted that experts are empowered, and indeed expected, to request further information where gaps appear in their instructions. Crucially, he maintained that pre-trial discussions with the CPS and the investigating officer is invaluable in clarifying evidential expectations and aligning presentation strategies.
Each practical insight was anchored in the legal framework governing expert evidence, highlighting the overriding obligation to assist the court and the requirement to disclose any material that could undermine one’s opinion.
Event Summary
The DEWVA conference succeeded in uniting both lived and legal expertise. Finley Worthington's testimony brought vivid personal realities to the harms of ketamine addiction, while Jonathan Cox's address imparted rigorous courtroom methodology and an understanding of expert obligations under criminal procedure.
Delegates noted that the blend of emotional insight and forensic discipline deepened their capacity to craft credible, empathic, and legally robust expert testimony. They left the conference equipped with refined skills in narrative delivery, report preparation, legal best practice and professional ethics—advancing DEWVA’s mission to strengthen the role of Drug Expert Witnesses in the justice system.
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