Career Overview
Verity joined Chambers following the successful completion of his pupillage under the supervision of Molly Pinkus.
Prior to joining chambers, Verity worked at a national criminal defence firm for a number of years. She assisted instructed counsel and in house advocates on cases from historic rape to drugs to serious violence. Verity represented clients in Independent Adjudications and Parole Hearings through the firms growing Prison Law department. Verity became a qualified police station representative whilst at the firm. She ably represented clients in interviews under caution never hesitating to interrupt and prevent inappropriate questions being put or pressure being exerted by officers. This first hand experience of interviews has given Verity a solid foundation in PACE and the Codes of Practice.
Verity enjoys a busy criminal defence practice and prides herself on being a defence advocate through and through.
Since being on her feet, Verity has been instructed on a variety of cases in the Youth, Magistrates' and Crown Courts. Verity quickly builds repour with her clients leading to trust and confidence that they will have their voices heard and their case put. Verity has particular experience in disclosure issues, regularly reminding the Court and the CPS of their respective duties.
Verity accepts instructions in all areas of criminal law and has developed experience in a wide range of criminal matters including drugs, violence, sexual offences, dishonesty and driving offences. She has also represented clients in quasi criminal-civil orders such as Closure Orders in both the Magistrates and Crown Court. Verity intends to expand her practice in this area with a particular focus on Sexual Harm Protection Orders (SHPO)
Verity fearlessly defends her clients come what may. She has been praised for her thorough preparation, dedicated approach to each case and recognised for going the extra mile for her clients.
Areas of Expertise
- General crime;
- Sexual offences;
- Driving offences;
Notable Cases
R v CK (2019) - Possession of a bladed article
-
The Defendant was stopped with a Stanley knife in his pocket. Successfully advanced a defence of a reasonable excuse for possession of a bladed article.
R v HM (2019) - Driving offences
-
Special Reasons on the basis of ghost brokering was accepted and no driving disqualification was imposed.
R v DB (2019) - Driving offences
-
Exceptional Hardship was successfully advanced and accepted avoiding a driving disqualification.
R v KW (2019) - Assault
-
Not guilty verdict was returned when self-defence was advanced by a university student after an SIA security guard used excessive force.
R v DY (2020) - GBH (s. 18)
-
Successfully defended a youth charged with s.18 GBH where identification was the issue.
R v CS (2020) - Failure to provide a specimen
-
Successful submission of no case to answer where the police failed to follow the correct procedure in a failure to provide a specimen for analysis case.
R v AR (2020) - DV assault
-
Not guilty verdicts were returned in a DV case when the 'complainant' was called as part of the defence case.
R v DF (2020) - Bladed Article
-
Persuaded the sentencing judge not to increase the 6 month mandatory minimum sentence for a bladed article despite it being DF's third relevant offence.
R v KC (2020)
-
Application to reopen was granted resulting in the original sentence of a Community Order being replaced with an Absolute Discharge.
R v TT (2020) - Affray
-
Not guilty verdict was returned in a 3 handed Affray trial, self-defence was accepted.
Education
BPP University, Holborn – BPTC
Frist place McLaren Criminal Law Moot 2014
Eric Kemp prize winner, Ecclesiastical Law Society 2014
Bangor University, Wales – LLB with Honours
Other Information
When she is not at work, Verity is an avid amateur dramatics fan having appeared in several local productions of plays including pantomime.
Honourable Society of Middle Temple
Criminal Bar Association