Bethany Baggaley

Barrister

Bethany became a tenant in January 2024 following the successful completion of her pupillage.

Bethany completed her first-six under the supervision of Dominic Thomas, her second-six under the supervision of David Wood and her probationary tenancy under the supervision of Sheryl Nwosu.

Before commencing pupillage, Bethany acted as a caseworker within a public law firm assisting clients with community care and homelessness challenges against local authorities. She has considerable experience working with young and disabled clients. Bethany regularly prepared matters for the High Court, as well as bringing Judicial Review claims out-of-hours in order to secure urgent remedies for clients.

Prior to this, Bethany worked for Redthread, where she conducted youth violence support work and research from hospital sites. The charity has been successful in diverting young people from violent crime and embedding them in useful support networks. Bethany analysed London and nation-wide patterns of violence, exploitation and abuse. Bethany’s role incorporated advocacy and reporting, working with local safeguarding agencies and parliamentary groups as a charity representative.

Bethany has conducted research for the Human Rights Implementation Centre regarding torture prevention in prisons, and assisted the Coroner’s Court at an inquest. She has contributed to the Women’s Centre for Justice Sisters in Law blog.

Memberships

The Honourable Society of Inner Temple
Criminal Bar Association
The Young Fraud Lawyers Association
Women in Criminal Law

Qualifications and Awards

LLB Law, University of Bristol (2018)
BPTC LLM, The University of Law, London (2019)
Inner Temple Exhibition Award (2018)
Inner Temple Duke of Edinburgh Award (2018)
Lamb Building Prize for Judicial Review (2019)

R v PS – Defendant charged with aggravated burglary, coercive and controlling behaviour, ABH and threats to kill. Acquitted on all counts after trial.
R v PP – Defendant charged with threatening with a bladed article. Acquitted after trial.
R v DR – Defendant charged with and pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment which included a threat to kill. Defendant had significant mental health difficulties. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order.
R v IT – Defendant was a security guard charged with assaulting a member of the public. Acquitted following a successful submission of no case to answer at trial.
R v MM – Defendant sentenced to a conditional discharge after entering guilty pleas on the day of trial to criminal damage and drunk and disorderly behaviour.
R v KC – Defendant faced trial on a two-count indictment of burglary and assault. A plea to assault was advanced and accepted with the defendant sentenced to a fine on the day of trial.
R v BM – Defendant charged with burglary. Defendant suffered with significant mental health difficulties at the time of the offending. Upon representations being made to the CPS this was dealt with as an out of court disposal.
R v ZH – Represented the defendant in FBO proceedings, following guilty pleas to communication offences relating to Hillsborough. The prosecution withdrew their application for an FBO following service of the defence skeleton.
R v IT – Defendant was a professional security guard charged with assault. The defendant was acquitted following a submission of no case to answer.
R v MA – Defendant sentenced to a conditional discharge following after pleading guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place.
R v AE – Defendant was sentenced to a suspended sentence order following guilty pleas to arson and criminal damage.
R v R – Represented a defendant charged with robbery in a multi-handed case. The defendant had neurodevelopmental difficulties making him particularly vulnerable. Following representations at court on the day of trial the prosecution offered no evidence.
R v S – S, a child, fell to be sentenced for 4 charges of assault and burglary after a trial. Following a full sentencing hearing, a YRO was imposed with less onerous conditions than those recommended by YOT.