YEAR OF CALL 2002

Sally both defends and prosecutes.  She specialises in homicide and serious and organised crime and is a highly sought-after junior for heavyweight and complex cases.

She has a practice with a particular emphasis on fatal road traffic cases, and criminal conspiracies. She is regularly instructed in large multi-handed cases, as leading counsel. She combines meticulous court preparation with excellent legal advice, a jury friendly countenance and, when necessary, fearless courtroom manner.

As leading counsel, Sally has appeared in large scale drug and money laundering conspiracies. She has defended in a multi-handed human trafficking conspiracy.  As a led junior, she is instructed in an attempted murder and causing serious bodily harm with intent to children.  As a junior alone, her instructions include attempted murder, kidnap, false imprisonment, sexual assault, armed robbery, and white-collar fraud. 

Cases / instructions include:

HOMICIDE

R v. O-A (Central Criminal Court, 2024) – Prosecution Junior alone.  Fatal road traffic collision. The Defendant was convicted after trial of two charges of causing death by dangerous driving and one of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Reported in The Times online (3.4.24).

R v. T (Wood Green Crown Court, 2023) – Prosecution Junior alone.  Fatal road traffic collision. 

R v. F (Croydon Crown Court, 2021) – Prosecution Junior alone.  Fatal road traffic collision.   The Defendant was convicted of causing death by careless driving.  This case involved fitness to plead.   Admissibility of interview following a deterioration in health due to dementia and being no longer fit to stand trial.  Admissibility of evidence of drink/drugs where the level falls below the prohibited legal limit.  

DRUGS OFFENCES

R v A & ors (Isleworth Crown Court, 2023).   Junior alone.  Multi-handed Drugs Line conspiracy.  Four defendants pleaded guilty.  Fifth defendant was convicted after trial. 

Operation Redcoat (Ipswich Crown Court, 2024).  Leading junior.  Mult-handed drugs conspiracy.  7 defendants.    Current instruction from the East of England. Complex Case Unit.

VIOLENT CRIME

R v. Tausif Uddin (Wood Green Crown Court – 2022) – Junior alone.  Kidnap, false imprisonment, blackmail, two charges of having an offensive weapon.  Instructed by Mohsin Arif of Lloyds PR.   The other four defendants pleaded.   The Defendant was acquitted of all offences following a two week trial.  

R v. L (St Albans Crown Court, 2021) – Defence Junior alone.   Perverting the course of justice in an attempted murder/possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.   Suspended sentence. 

R v. G A (Hove Crown Court – 2021).  Junior alone.  The Defendant was convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.  The Defendant pleaded guilty to careless driving.  At the time of the trial, there was no offence of causing serious injury by careless driving on the statute book.  Involved cross-examination of the Defence forensic collision investigator.  This established the Defendant could not have looked properly before pulling out into the path of the victim.  The victim suffered life changing injuries. 

FINANCIAL CRIME

R v. M (Snaresbrook Crown Court, 2023) -Junior alone.  The Defendant was convicted after trial of possession with intent of the largest ever seizure of counterfeit currency £960,000 not at the counterfeiter’s premises.  

FRAUD

R v. M (Southwark Crown Court, 2023) – Led junior for part of a trial.  Barclays white collar bank fraud.  Led by Mark Paltenghi.

R v. A and W (St Albans Crown Court) - Junior alone.   Defence counsel for husband in a husband and wife benefit fraud of the DWP.   This case was the subject of a BBC Panorama documentary.  

SEXUAL OFFENCES

R v. C – Junior alone.  Prosecuted sexual assault of.   The Defendant was a member of the Mental Health Crisis Team who was accused of sexual assaulting two of his patients in their homes.

R v. C— Junior alone.  Prosecuted the re-trial of C who was alleged to have sexually assaulted a biochemist on the escalator at Tooting Bec Station.  Mr C was on his way to Wandsworth prison on the day of the offence.  He held the position of prison governor in prisons in the Southwest of the country.  He was convicted.

R v. G - Junior alone.   Prosecution of the Sports Editor of the Sunday Telegraph for sexual assault and assault PC. 

REGULATORY

Instructed to present cases for the NMC, the HCPC, and on the approved list of counsel to present cases for the TRA (the “Teaching Regulation Agency”).

I am currently instructed junior prosecution counsel in an attempted murder at the CCC (R v NT).   The defence have issued an injunction in the High Court to prevent the police from taking a further DNA sample from the defendant.    I am instructed by the CPS but am assisting counsel instructed by the Director of Legal Services for the MPS in the preparation of their response.

OTHER CASES

Operation Daphnis (Derby Crown Court – 2024) – Leading junior.   Conspiracy to steal cars in excess of £1,000,000.   Money laundering.  Leading Amy Oliver/Joe Weeks.  Prosecution of seven defendants.  Four defendants pleaded guilty.   The remaining three defendants were convicted following a six week trial.  

R v Amit Kerai (Central Criminal Court, 2024).  Prosecution Junior alone.  The Defendant pleaded guilty to harassment causing fear of violence of a member of the Hampshire Dental Council and his daughter, and to threatening to kill Barry Gardiner MP.   This was reported on the BBC website.

Operation Twinchip (Woolwich Crown Court, 2023).  Leading junior.  Conspiracy to import Class A drugs/money laundering.  Leading Charles Drinnan.  

R v. Mockford & ors (Snaresbrook Crown Court, 2023).  Prosecution Junior alone.  Organised Crime Group conspiracy to burgle ATMs (7 handed).  Flying Squad.    All defendants either pleaded or were found guilty following a three week trial.

R v Mockford & ors (Snaresbrook Crown Court, 2023).  Prosecution Junior alone.   Organised Crime Group conspiracy to steal high value goods from ports (8 handed).   All defendants pleaded guilty.

R v Thompson & ors (Inner London Crown Court, 2022).  Prosecution Junior alone. Organised Crime Group conspiracy to burgle a Post Office and an ATM (4 handed).  Flying Squad case.  All defendants were convicted.

R v. Rahpeyma (Isleworth Crown Court, 2019) – Prosecution Junior alone.  Involved consideration of sensitive material.  Prosecution allowed to withdraw admissions made in first trial.   The Defendant was convicted.   Appeal to Court of Appeal.   Senior TC instructed.   Appeal refused. 

R v. Tara Stout (Southwark Crown Court, 2008).  Prosecution counsel.   Harassment of Simon Jordan, the then Chairman of Crystal Palace FC.   Reported in The Times.

POCA

Southampton City Council v Knightgate Ltd(Portsmouth Crown Court, 2021).  Prosecution Junior alone.   Reported on BBC News website (Hampshire v Isle of Wight).  

Previously worked for Law Debenture, Deutsch Bank as a Relationship Manager and JP Morgan in fiduciary services.

SMertens@2hb.co.uk