Practice Overview
Having completed a three month secondment with the Crown Prosecution Service back in 2020, Harriet was able to gain experience that ordinarily only employees of the Crown Prosecution Service would have. She is now a confident Level 3 prosecutor and has been instructed by the Complex Case Unit in her own cases. She has prosecuted large scale drug supply cases involving Encrochat evidence.
Harriet has developed an equally busy defence practice. She has experience in defending in the most serious cases, including murder and Class A drugs supply. Confident and approachable, Harriet has shown she has the necessary “soft skills” which allow her to communicate effectively with others as well as support clients through the process. She is well equipped to deal with the most vulnerable clients.
As part of the Exchange Driving Team, Harriet gained considerable experience defending summary only offences and formulating arguments on special reasons and exceptional hardship.
More recently, her specialist training and experience of defending in Crown Court matters involving issues of dangerous and careless driving has equipped her to deal with the influx of new instructions on the new serious injury by careless driving cases.
Harriet has also applied her skills as a criminal advocate in regulatory work and inquests. Some examples include representing a local council in taxi licensing cases and presenting on behalf of Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Please see below for notable cases.
Cases
Serious Violence
R v Karl Murphy and Others – Client acquitted of participating in activities of an organised crime group
[See press report]
R v BC – Client was charged with attempt s.18 (grievous bodily harm with intent) and affray in respect of an allegation that he shot a crossbow at his two young children. Client acquitted by the jury after a trial.
R v SR – Client was charged with s.20 (grievous bodily harm) however was unfit to stand trial due to having learning difficulties. Client acquitted by the jury after a four day finding of fact hearing.
Drug offences
R v CY – prosecution of defendant in drugs conspiracy of multi kilos of Class A using Encrochat device.
[See press report]
R v Omar Ebanks – prosecution of defendant in drugs conspiracy involving Class A drugs worth over £2 million pounds
[See press report]
Sexual offences
R v Darren Coathup – prosecution of police officer convicted of sexual misconduct
[See press report]
R v Marc Manning – prosecution of health worker who sexually assaulted nine men in the workplace.
[See press report]
R v Ghani and Others – prosecution of eight defendants for alleged grooming of two young girls.
[See press report]
Driving offences
R v Wesley Royle – driver avoids immediate prison sentence
[See press report]
Football related offences
R v Callum Wright and Others – Client avoided immediate prison sentence after plea deals made in two separate football disorders
[See press report]
R v Mark Rosbottom and Others – Client was the only defendant who avoided imposition of football banning order. This was appealed by the police to the Crown court and was ultimately dismissed.
[See press report]
Other
R v Yahya Werfalli [2020]
[See press report]
