Francisca da Costa

Call 2006
Email francisca.dacosta@3pb.co.uk
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Francisca is a busy criminal and public regulatory law specialist. She acts for all sides, enjoys a good rapport with clients and remains calm in tricky situations.

In addition to her Court practice, Francisca provides CPD accredited lectures in both of her practice areas. Previous lecture topics have included ‘ASBOs and Ancillary Civil Orders’, and ‘The role of the Welfare Officer in Education Act investigations’.

Please see her specialist profiles for more information.

Francisca devotes her spare time to singing, theatre, food and wine, travel, literature, Private Eye, Amnesty International, and all things Portuguese.

Notable Cases

Dorset County Council v D
Acted for the local authority in a sensitive matter where a 16 year old was placed on the Sex Offenders Register.

Dorset Police v AS
Successful application for forfeiture of £25,000 cash found buried in a garden.

Dorset Police v CW
Defence of the Respondent involved the first ‘VOO’ application in the county.

Dorset Police v KP
Successful application for forfeiture of approximately £14,500 cash found concealed on a Respondent who had travelled from Guernsey to Weymouth to purchase cannabis.

Longs Cellar Bar v New Forest District Council
Represented the Appellant in a premises licence appeal. The case involved cross examination of 14 Police Officers.

R v Alcantara
Representation of a Brazilian ‘flasher’ who was acquitted on a technical mens rea defence.

R v Carroll
Acted for a schizophrenic Defendant the Daily Mail dubbed ‘The Goldilocks Burglar’.

R v Chisanga
Acted for the Appellant in an appeal against sentence. The Court of Appeal quashed a life sentence for rape and replaced it with 10 years determinate.

R v Gibbon & others
Junior in a 9 handed conspiracy to supply cocaine. The prosecution was brought following the recording of 150 hours of audio surveillance material. The evidence raised PII difficulties.

R v Graham
Acquittal of a self confessed stalker on a ‘reasonable in all circumstances’ defence.

R v Jelley & Nunn
Junior in a £3 million ‘ponzi scheme’ conspiracy to defraud. The case involved over 30 Complainants who had been coaxed into investing in an illegal property venture.

R v Lloyd
Defence of a teenager charged with sexually assaulting 2 minors aged 8 and 9. The case involved cross examination of 4 children under the age of 10.

R v Ndidi & others
Junior in a 2 month 5 handed kidnap, rape and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs trial.

Samuel Robie v The Queen
Junior for the Appellant in an appeal against conviction to the Privy Council. The Appellant had been convicted of murder in Jamaica and sentenced to 15 years hard labour.

Sky TV v Arkles Pubs Ltd
Acted for the Respondent in a dispute over broadcasting Premiership football matches.

Slough Borough Council v M & A
Prosecution of a landlord and tenant charged with multiple occupancy offences.

South Oxfordshire District Council v M
Secured the revocation of a taxi license on behalf of the Local Authority.

Trading Standards v Veritas
Representation of a company charged with offences under the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008.

Wavely Borough Council v Buckland
Successfully represented a Defendant charged with benefit fraud.