Shusmita Deb

Shusmita accepts instructions across all areas of criminal law. She has experience being a led junior as well as being privately instructed.

In addition to her criminal law practice, Shusmita accepts instructions in professional discipline hearings. Shusmita has presented, on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, a case concerning three charges of dishonesty.

She has defended in a variety of criminal cases such sexual offences, serious violence (including domestic), dishonesty, harassment/stalking (fear of violence), drug offences, criminal damage and weapons.

• Crime
• Professional Discipline
• Regulatory

General Crime

R v G

Instructed to defend as a led junior for a G who was charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/transfer/criminal property in a trial lasting approximately four weeks at Isleworth Crown Court.

R v P

Instructed to defend the first defendant in a conspiracy to steal cars trial at St. Alban’s Crown Court. The Crown’s case consisted of CCTV, ANPR maps and cell site evidence. The trial lasted nine days.

R v B

Instructed to defend in a trial at St. Alban’s Crown Court where B was charged with robbery that was armed. The Crown’s case was that B together with others, robbed an individual of items such as cash and a laptop from where they had been staying temporarily.

The complainant had positively identified the defendant in a video identification parade and knew a name the defendant was known as. The Crown also relied on maps and photographs. Another individual charged with robbery had pleaded guilty.

The defence was mistaken identity. The defendant denied being present during the robbery. At the end of the trial, the jury unanimously acquitted the defendant.

R v P

Instructed to defend in a trial at Croydon Court where P was charged with controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship, criminal damage, and assault by beating.

The Crown’s case included photographs, video doorbell footage, cell site evidence, and schedules of phone contact. After the close of the Crown’s case, the judge directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict for assault by beating.

At the end of the trial, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts for controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship and criminal damage.

R v N

Instructed in a defend in a trial at Maidstone Crown Court where N was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. N relied on self-defence as well as denying allegations of violence alleged by the complainant. The Crown relied on photographs of injuries. The defence called two witnesses. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict.

R v R

Instructed to defend in a trial at Canterbury Crown Court where R was charged with s.18 GBH, controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship, and three counts of assault of occasioning actual bodily harm.

The case involved thorough analysis of the complainant’s medical records, exhibits provided by the complainant and photographs of injuries.

The trial was listed for ten days. At the end of the trial, the jury returned verdicts on all counts. The jury returned not guilty verdicts for s.18 GBH, and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. 

R v R

Instructed to defend in a trial where R was charged alongside another with robbery and causing grievous bodily harm with intent at Maidstone Crown Court. It was a joint enterprise with R being the second defendant who assisted or encouraged the first defendant. Towards the close of the prosecution’s case, the Crown amended the indictment to add inflicting grievous bodily harm and to change robbery to assault with intent to rob. For R, the jury returned a not guilty verdict on causing grievous bodily harm with intent but returned guilty verdicts for inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault with intent to rob.

R v T

Instructed to defend in trial where T was charged with four counts of theft, one count of having an offensive weapon and having an article with a blade or point at Isleworth Crown Court sitting at Holborn Nightingale Court. The jury returned verdicts on all counts. The jury returned not guilty verdicts for all four counts of theft.

R v A

Instructed to defend in a breach of non-molestation order at Snaresbrook Crown Court sitting at Holborn nightingale court.

R v R

Instructed to defend in a possession with intent to supply (class B) trial at Kingston Crown Court.

R v M

Instructed to defend in having an article with a blade or point trial at Inner London Crown Court. The jury returned a not guilty verdict.

R v T

Instructed to defend in an assault against an emergency worker trial at the Harrow Crown Court sitting at the Old Bailey. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict.

R v CS

Instructed to defend in a trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence, committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence, assault by beating, and threatening with a bladed article in a private place trial at Wood Green Crown Court. The jury returned verdicts on all counts. The jury returned not guilty verdicts for trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence and committing an offence with intent to commit a sexual offence.

R v D

Instructed to defend in an intentional strangulation, ABH and assault by beating trial at Kingston Crown Court. The jury returned verdicts on all counts. The jury returned not guilty verdicts for intentional strangulation and assault by beating.

R v S

Instructed in a sentence hearing, before Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb, at Leeds Crown Court. S was due to be sentenced for three counts of burglary (non-dwelling), three breaches of criminal behaviour orders, and criminal damage. S had a lengthy antecedent history. S received a 24-month community order with requirements.

R v J

Instructed in a sentence hearing for possession with intent to supply class A drugs, at the Royal Courts of Justice annex. J received a suspended sentence with requirements.

R v G

Instructed in a sentence hearing for making/supplying article for use in fraud (3 complete fake driving licences and 20 incomplete fake driving licences), possess/control a false ID document, and custody/control of a counterfeit currency at Kingston Crown Court. G received suspended sentences, with requirements and a financial penalty.

R v Z

Instructed in a two-day trial concerning stalking (fear of violence), two charges of assault by beating and theft at Willesden Magistrates’ Court. Z was acquitted of all charges.

R v H

Secured an acquittal in a criminal damage trial at Colchester Magistrates’ Court.

R v B

Secured an acquittal in a careless driving trial at Stratford Magistrates’ Court

Professional Discipline

NMC v O

Instructed to present a case on behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Council concerning three charges of fraudulent entries to the register. All charges were proven, and an application for an 18-month interim suspension order was granted.

HCPC v R

Instructed in a ten-day hearing representing a registrant facing several allegations such as sexual abuse. The majority of the allegations were not proven. R’s fitness to practise was not found to be impaired.

HCPC v D

D’s interim suspension order was replaced with a conditions of practice order at a review hearing.

Bar Professional Training Course (Very Competent), City Law School

LLB Law (First Class Honours), University of Birmingham

Scholarships and Awards:

BPTC Major Scholarship, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

BPTC Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Award, The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

BPTC Scholarship, City Law School

CEPLER Award for Outstanding Achievement in Extra-Curricular Endeavour, University of Birmingham

Aitchison Memorial Prize, University of Birmingham

Winner of the Birmingham Law School Debating Competition 2017

Winner of the Birmingham Law Society Debating Competition 2017

Shusmita can speak Bengali and Hindi.

• Member of the Criminal Bar Association 
• Member of the South Eastern Circuit 
• Member of the Society of Asian Lawyers