Crime

Catherine is a CPS Grade 1 prosecutor who is regularly instructed in criminal matters for both prosecution and defence. She has appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, Youth Court and Crown Court. Her practice encompasses a broad range of offences and includes cases involving vulnerable defendants and sensitive personal circumstances. 

Notable Cases

R v S: Defended a client charged with three counts of intentional strangulation and one count of possession of a bladed article. The jury returned unanimous verdicts of not guilty on all counts. 

R v U: Defended a client charged with one count of intentional strangulation. The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty after one hour of deliberations.

R v O: Defended a client charged with intentional strangulation, false imprisonment and ABH. The jury returned not guilty verdicts on two of the counts.

R v P: Defended a client charged with s.18 GBH and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. Following negotiations, the Crown accepted a guilty plea to s.20 GBH and did not proceed on the second count. Catherine represented her client at the sentencing hearing and, following oral submissions, the client received a 9-month suspended sentence order. 

Regulatory and Local Government

Catherine is developing her regulatory practice through various instructions from local authorities. Catherine’s experience includes matters involving education law, environmental law, animal welfare law and Trading Standards prosecutions. Her work in this area encompasses statutory enforcement and proceedings involving legal and factual issues. 

Corporate Risk & Compliance

Catherine is a member of the Corporate Risk and Compliance team and is keen to develop her practice in this area. Drawing on her criminal and regulatory experience, she brings a rigorous, evidence-led approach to assisting potential liability and identifying legal risks. Her work for local authorities provides a foundation for further drawing her practice in regulatory compliance, investigations and corporate misconduct. She is interested in assisting organisations navigate regulatory obligations and manage legal and compliance risks. 

Police Law

Catherine accepts instructions from police forces in relation to applications under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. She regularly appears in contested hearings involving Community Protection Notices, Sexual Risk Orders, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and Closure Orders. These cases frequently involve complex factual backgrounds and sensitive safeguarding concerns. 

Property and Social Housing

Catherine acts for local authorities and housing associations in a wide range of social housing matters. Her practice includes representing landlords in possession proceedings as well as anti-social behaviour injunctions. In addition, Catherine is regularly instructed in access injunctions.