Rachael Woods

Call 1992

woods@exchangechambers.co.uk

Photo of Rachael Woods

Criminal

Rachael is a specialist criminal advocate regularly instructed by defence and prosecution in serious and complex cases involving:

  • Armed robbery
  • Homicide
  • Drug conspiracies
  • Fraud
  • Serious sexual offences including allegations of a historic nature and child cruelty and neglect

She has been a Grade 4 Prosecutor for a number of years. Rachael has practised at the Bar for over 14 years and prides herself on being approachable and providing advice and representation in a direct and robust manner.

Criminal cases

HOMICIDE

R v Lin & others (1996) (prosecution) – manslaughter of 21 Chinese cockle-pickers on Morecambe Bay – advised on all aspects of disclosure working with the investigation team a year prior to trial.

R v Fisher (2007) (defence) – Ten Defendant murder arising from a serious incident of public disorder, issues of joint enterprise and cut throat defences.

ARMED ROBBERY

R v Knight (2010) (defence) – armed robberies of Securicor vans with evidence based on cell site analysis – successful application of no case to answer.

R v Grant & others (2009) (prosecution) – armed robbery of a taxi driver – case rested on vulnerable eye witness & chronology of phone evidence.

DRUG CONSPIRACIES

R v Manzoor & Ibrahim (2010) (prosecution) – £1 million conspiracy to supply heroin operation investigated by SOCA.

Operation Walrus 3 (2012) (prosecution) – money laundering arising from multi-million pound drugs ring.

R v Craven (2010) (defence) – large scale drugs importation – successful application made to dismiss the case.

R v Wisdom (2011) (defence) – money laundering of £140,000 cash found hidden under the bed with traces of heroin.

R v Lendiak & Aktar (2011) (prosecution) – conspiracy to supply cocaine with issues of sensitive disclosure/PII which potentially assisted one Defendant but incriminated the other.

SERIOUS SEXUAL OFFENCES

R v Bates (1998) (defence) – multiple teenage victims (paperboys) subjected to sexual grooming and serious assaults.

R v Lines (2010) (prosecution) – historic rape against family members including extended family members who made additional disclosures following the first set of allegations coming to light.

R v Head (2011) (prosecution) – advised CPS & Police Discipline & Complaints re repercussions of behaviour of OIC – approved by DPP.

CHILD CRUELTY

R v Mahmood (2010) (defence) – mother jointly charged with husband of assault and neglect of young child who was admitted into hospital with multiple injuries including fractured ribs.

R v Newstead and Roseshaw (2009) (prosecution) – baby shaking case causing brain injuries.