Sexual offences News

3PB’s Head of Chambers David Berkley QC is delighted to announce that criminal law barrister and child cruelty Silk, Ms Jo Martin QC, has joined 3PB as a door tenant. Jo qualified as a solicitor in 1996 before being called to the Bar in 2005 and becoming a QC last year. Prior to moving to Plymouth, Devon she worked for both the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office in London and then became...

Jane Rowley was instructed by West Midlands Solicitors to defend a 22 year old man suffering from anxiety and ADHD in a case involving multiple counts of rape, coercive and controlling behaviour by his ex-partner during the three years of their relationship. The trial involved the services of an intermediary to assist a vulnerable defendant with communication difficulties. Unanimous verdicts of not guilty were retuned on all 8 counts of the indictment after 4 hours...

Berenice Mulvanny successfully defended a man of good character charged with rape of a 16 year old and rape of a 12 year old. Both allegations were non recent and involved young witnesses and extensive complaint evidence. The defendant had significant mental health vulnerabilities which required adaptations to the trial process. The Jury returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty on all counts after a six day trial. Click here to view Berenice Mulvanny's profile.

Gemma White acted for the second defendant, aged 16 at the time of the alleged offences, who faced multiple charges of rape and possession of indecent images of a child along with three other co-accused. The trial lasted several weeks and involved complex matters of law as well as forensic evidence and young and vulnerable witnesses who required careful and sensitive cross examination. A number of the charges were dismissed at the close of the prosecution case and the...

Jane Rowley was Lead Defence Counsel for one of 5 men accused of trafficking for sexual exploitation, sexual activity with a child, conspiracy to facilitate the prostitution of children and the supply of drugs, in R v Asad and others (Operation Wren) Newcastle Crown Court 2017. The trial arose as a result of Operation Sanctuary/Wren which was one of the largest police investigations into the sexual exploitation of vulnerable girls/women ever mounted in the UK. The...

Jane Rowley has been instructed as Leading Counsel for a Defendant facing Serious Sexual Assault charges in Newcastle Crown Court. The trial commenced on 21st August and is expected to conclude early October. The case arises from a series of complex investigations conducted by Northumbria Police, into alleged sex rings operating in the North East by a network of males sexually abusing young women and girls. Operation Sanctuary/Operation Wren.