Sexual offences
3PB Barristers have extensive experience in defending and prosecuting allegations of serious sexual offending. Our members are renowned for their handling of cases involving allegations of a serious sexual nature. Members of chambers have appeared in high profile trials generated by ‘Operation Yewtree’ as well as the much-publicised, multi-defendant grooming and child exploitation cases.
Routinely instructed to defend or prosecute in these types of cases, many members of chambers have extensive experience in dealing with the following types of sexual allegations including:
- Rape and sexual assault
- Child abuse and allegations involving vulnerable witnesses
- Grooming and child exploitation
- Human trafficking
- Historic sexual abuse
- Indecent images
Barristers at 3PB specialising in this area of law are frequently called upon to advise pre-charge and are able to assist at each and every stage of the investigation. Our members are at the forefront of the vulnerable witness training courses and are adept at witness handling in the most sensitive and difficult cases. Whether the case involves expert evidence, the use of intermediaries or cross examination of a young/vulnerable witness, barristers at 3PB have the skill and expertise required in this highly specialised area of criminal law.
Our Crime Barristers...
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3PB's specialist criminal defence barrister Nick Robinson, pictured here, has successfully defended four different clients in four separate Crown Court trials during January 2024. AC was unanimously acquitted of a Sexual Assault. AC was experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder and paranoid schizophrenia. He was being pursued by a group of youths when he hid behind a tree in a public park. After a short time, AC approached a 7-year old girl, and asked for her...
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3PB specialist crime and regulatory barrister Jonathan Underhill's client, a serving police officer, was accused of raping and sexually assaulting his boyfriend during the period of their relationship; following their having met on Grindr in 2017. Jonathan's client denied that the sexual activity complained of ever took place; despite the complainant approaching the police several years later in 2022 and providing detailed and lengthy accounts of a controlling, coercive and sexually violent relationship. At the...
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Criminal law specialist, Holly Fagan, pictured here, has become a member of chambers and will work from 3PB's Winchester office. She will be supported by 3PB's new criminal law and regulatory pupils Kate Davies and Jack Felvus. With a strong following and active client base for a barrister of her level of call, Holly has a busy practice both prosecuting and defending in the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court across the Western Circuit. Holly has...
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3PB's specialist criminal and regulatory barrister Jonathan Underhill’s 28 year-old client was acquitted of charges of rape and intentional strangulation less than a week before trial. Despite prolonged and protracted attempts to gain access to his client’s phone, which had been retained by police investigators; a comprehensive review of that telephone material was undertaken by his defence team following its provision being directed by the Court. Jonathan uncovered vital exculpatory evidence which fundamentally undermined the...
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3PB criminal barrister Thomas Acworth (pictured) saw his client, X, acquitted of rape. X was accused of raping another student after they had been clubbing together. Following the production of text message and telephone evidence, which undermined the complainant’s credibility, the Crown decided to offer no evidence against X on the first day of his trial. Thomas was instructed by Paige Schooley of Tang, Bentley & Jackson. To instruct Thomas, please email his clerk, Practice...
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3PB is delighted to welcome leading criminal law barrister Kate Lumsdon KC (pictured here) as a door tenant. Joint Head of Chambers at 23ES, Kate was called to the Bar in 1993. She practised exclusively on the Western Circuit at 2KBW until moving to 23 Essex Street in 2010. Prior to taking Silk in 2018, she was a Grade 4 prosecutor on both the Western and South Eastern Circuit, and defended across the country. Rated...
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3PB criminal barrister Jonathan Underhill (pictured here) has secured acquittal for his client in a case concerned with multiple allegations of same sex sexual assault. Jonathan’s client, a young woman of good character, was acquitted after a fully contested trial of four charges of Sexual assault. The offences were alleged to have taken place in a small bedroom in sight of an independent eyewitness. Further, the offences were said to have taken place against the...
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3PB criminal barrister, Jodie Mittell, (pictured here) was instructed to represent a man from the Isle of Wight who was accused of raping six women over a period of 10 years. The 26 year old man of previous good character had been due to stand trial at Portsmouth Crown Court and his trial had been scheduled to last for four weeks from 4th April 2022. As part of his defence, Miss Mittell made a number...
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The case centred on whether the defendant committed a serious sexual assault against his 5-year old niece. The defendant denied the allegation and contended that his niece was either mistaken or wrongly attributing to him the behaviour of another family member. The case involved sensitive third party disclosure and an application pursuant to section 41 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The social services records indicated previous reports by the complainant to her parents and a...
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3PB criminal defence barrister Nick Robinson (pictured here) represented PS who was sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment for serious sexual offences against two victims. Nick’s written grounds of appeal persuaded the Single Judge Mr Justice Jacobs to grant leave to appeal against sentence. Following oral submissions before the Full Court, Lord Justice Bean, Mr Justice Sweeny and HHJ Griffiths-Jones QC The Recorder of Maidstone, Nick successfully argued that the sentence of 6 years was manifestly...
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3PB criminal defence barrister Nick Robinson (pictured here) successfully defended Hongwei Dong, a Chinese doctor and acupuncturist at his trial at Bournemouth Crown Court. Dr Dong was charged with seven counts of sexual assault against a disabled patient, aged in her 30's, between October and December 2018 at We Care Remedy in Commercial Road. Six of the allegations involved penetration. After a trial lasting eight days the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all counts...
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3PB's crime and regulatory barrister Tom Horder, pictured here, recently represented the Appellant in R v Badawi in an appeal against a 13-year sentence for rape (an 8-year term of imprisonment and 5-year extended licence period). The sentencing judge had found the Appellant ‘dangerous’ on the basis of a previous acquittal for rape. In reducing the original term to a determinate sentence of 6 ½ years the Court of Appeal accepted Tom’s submission that a...
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