Practice Overview
Helena was called to the Bar in 2018 and has built a busy criminal practice both prosecuting and defending in the Crown Court. She has appeared in a variety of cases including:
- Serious violence, including cases involving youths
- Drug offences
- Firearms offences
- Dishonesty offences including fraud, burglary and robbery
- Motoring offences
- Sexual offences
She is a Level 3 prosecutor and as well as being regularly instructed as sole counsel across a range of cases, has been instructed as prosecution junior in cases involving multi-handed drugs conspiracies and firearm offences.
Helena has experience in complex confiscation matters, as well as having appeared for the defence in a four day contempt of court hearing relating to breaches of a restraint order.
She has experience dealing with applications to vacate pleas, abuse of process arguments and applications to admit hearsay evidence into proceedings.
Helena has experience in regulatory matters having represented the local council in taxi licensing cases and a Minister in disciplinary proceedings within the United Reformed Church.
She has gained a reputation as a hardworking and capable advocate. Prior to her career at the Bar, Helena worked as a paralegal at a criminal defence firm as well as volunteering with the Free Representation Unit, where she represented clients at the Social Security Tribunal and the Personal Support Unit. As a result, she gained particular experience working with those who had never attended court before and vulnerable clients.
Notable cases
Drug offences
R v ER and others – Led by Andrew Smith in the prosecution of 17 defendants charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs valued at 75kg. Following two lengthy trials 16 of the defendants were sentenced for their involvement in the conspiracy.
R v SD and others – Led by Andrew Smith in the prosecution of 10 defendants charged with conspiracy to supply both class A and class B drugs. Following a 9-week trial 9 of the defendants were convicted.
R v TD and TT – prosecuted two defendants charged with the production of class B drugs.
Violent offences
R v WM and others – defended one of three defendants charged with an offence of kidnap.
R v DC –Resisted an application for the crown to admit evidence of res gestae in a victimless prosecution on the basis that the material did not meet the relevant test. Not guilty verdicts were recorded against client charged with offences of assault and threatening with a weapon.
Acquisitive offending
R v JR – Client charged with attempted robbery, assault and theft. An application to exclude identification evidence was made, resulting in the crown offering no evidence.
R v RD and others – Led by Andrew Smith in the prosecution of 6 defendants charged with conspiracy to commit burglary. The offending involved the targeting of shops containing high value goods across the country.
Firearms offences
R v OF and others – Led by Jonathan Rogers in the prosecution of 6 defendants charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life.
R v LG – Prosecution of defendant charged with possessing a firearm with intent to cause fer of violence. Following a 4-day trial defendant was convicted.
Sexual offences
R v RE – Represented a client who was found unfit to plead in a fact finding relating to multiple counts of indecent assault. Jury found two of the counts not proved.
R v AW – Led by Steven Swift defending a client who was charged with offences of indecent assault.
Motoring offences
R v AM – Client charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was acquitted after a 3-day trial.
R v CB –Resisted an abuse of process argument made on behalf a defendant charged with causing serious injury by careless driving.
