Nate Lara successfully defends client facing serious sexual charges

28th April 2026

3PB criminal barrister Nate LaraNate LaraCall: 2024 (pictured here) has successfully represented a client who was charged with multiple offences including rape and serious violence.

After substantive advice, Nate's client entered pleas of guilty to serious allegations of violence, which mitigated his exposure to questions on his credibility and meant the cross-examination of the complainant would be both succinct and effective.

Through cross-examination, Nate effectively challenged the reliability of the complainant’s evidence, exposing inconsistencies with the earlier video-recorded interview.

Nate was then able to persuade the court that there was no case to answer on the two counts of rape (one being a multiple incident count, alleging 10+ incidents) because of the insufficient and tenuous evidence offered by the prosecution.

Nate relied on the second limb of Galbraith [1981] 2 All ER 1060 and the often-cited criminal case of Shippey [1988] Crim LR 767 in his submissions.

The judge directed that the jury return not guilty verdicts to the charges of rape and ordered that Nate's client be released from custody. Nate's client awaits to be sentenced on his guilty pleas to allegations of violence.

Nate was instructed by Rachel Wigley from the criminal defence team at Churchers Solicitors.

If you wish to contact or instruct Nate, please contact his clerk Ellie Bloomfield on [email protected] or call her on 01202 292102.