Sarah specialises in cases of serious sexual and violent assault, and those involving victims of domestic abuse, but has substantial experience of the full-range of criminal offences including manslaughter and murder. She is regularly briefed in cases with vulnerable, young, or traumatised victims and/or defendants, as well as cases involving witnesses or defendants with severe mental-health and psychological issues.
She has substantial experience of cases requiring special measures to assist one of the parties, including the use of intermediaries and applications for anonymity or for evidence to be given from a remote location. She is regularly requested to advise on issues of fitness to plead and stand trial, as well as the availability of a defence of insanity. She has also built a respected practice prosecuting public officials for misconduct, in particular police and prison officers and is familiar with the IPCC investigations into this area and, in particular, the report into the abuse of police powers to perpetrate sexual violence.
Sarah has an interest in cases involving novel and complex issues of disclosure and has substantial experience of cases with involving issues of PII.
She advises and lectures police and prosecutors on best practice in respect of vulnerable witnesses.
Cases 2018:
Rafferty – defence of a man aged 19, at the time, for offences of rape http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5755551
Harrison - defence of man accused with four others of rape
Fortune – defence of a man accused of sexual assault when the complainant was asleep
Turner – prosecution for death by careless after a car carried out a U-turn into the path of an oncoming motorcycle
Bartlett – defence of man accused of rape
Davis – prosecution of man for the rape and assault of his ex partner, allegations made following the conclusion of family proceedings
B – defence of man accused of historical sexual offences against a foster child and against his step granddaughter
B – defence of man accused of historical offences against his daughter
Harris, Thomas and Villious – prosecution for s.18 following a number of related stabbings at nightclub
Eastwood – defence of man accused of stabbing a male completely unknown to him in an unprovoked attack
Blannin – prosecution of historical sexual offences on two male victims - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-44627399
Gigg – defence of farmer accused of fraud and breaking EU regulations - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jul/02/chicken-farmer-given-suspended-sentence-for-free-range-egg?CMP=share_btn_link
Reported Cases:
Mills and Poole (2003) 1 WLR 2931, (2004) 1 C R App R 7, (2004) Crim LR 60 (murder/disclosure);
R v Pace West Wiltshire JJ (2002) 2 Archbold News 2 DC (judicial review of justices decision to accept jurisdiction) ;
R v Pronick (2006) EWCA 2517;
R v Peter James Knight (2007) EWCA Crim 3027 (counsel at trial and who drafted the Crown’s response and skeleton argument although not present at hearing due to maternity leave).
Cases that have been reported in the National media:
Colin Stokes – Gloucestershire care home rapist.
Smith and Yeates – Man found dead with two boiled eggs inside his bottom.
Jordan Powell – Married policeman jailed for having sex with victim of domestice violence.
Darren Heath – Police officer jailed over sex with vulnerable women.
Julie Gatty – Woman accused of banking more than £800,000 from running two brothels.
Adam Beeney – Bristol man jailed for raping 63-year-old man.
Lester – Child sex offender guilding of horrific crime.
Dina Metiass – Couple jailed for tying up their maid for three days.
Gordon and Wood – Owner of haulage company and mechanic jailed over Bath tipper truck tragedy.
Steven Letts – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-41983565
Crime Clerks:
Bonnie Colbeck
E: bonnie.colbeck@albionchambers.co.uk
T: 0117 311 0301
Ken Duthie
E: ken.duthie@albionchambers.co.uk
T: 0117 311 0368
Joanna Cload
E: joanna.cload@albionchambers.co.uk
T: 0117 927 1253
