We are delighted to announce that Caroline Middleton, formerly of 1GC, has joined our Family Team, undertaking matrimonial finance and private-children law, and Clare Fear, formerly in-house counsel at Reeds Solicitors, has joined our Crime Team. Their arrival brings our total number of members to 75.

David Sapiecha prosecuted at trial, Neil Carpenter, a farmer found guilty of Gross Negligence Manslaughter when a volunteer-worker became entangled in an inadequately-guarded power-take-off shaft to a milling machine, and died. The defendant claimed he was not present at the time and that the victim had operated the machine without permission. The prosecution were able to demonstrate that it was the defendant who must have been operating the machine assisted by the deceased.

Anna Midgley successfully prosecuted Lisa Savage, who was charged with attempted murder, after a frenzied attack upon her friend during a train journey, in Cardiff Crown Court. The defendant initially pleaded guilty to section 18 but ultimately accepted the specific intent to kill required on an attempted murder charge and changed her plea to guilty. She had stabbed her friend repeatedly in the face and neck for a period of nearly four minutes, causing permanent injuries.

David Sapiecha successfully prosecuted Himwanth Ramkishun, a man working in the laundry of a care home in Plymouth, who raped a female resident in her seventies and who was suffering from dementia. A condom was found by carers when changing her incontinence pad, which had his DNA on it. He was convicted after trial and has received 16 years' imprisonment.