Hannah Edwards

Barrister

Hannah has a busy criminal defence practice across the spectrum of criminal offences.

Hannah has been praised for her thorough preparation, attention to detail and tactical insight.

Hannah has particular expertise working with vulnerable clients, including those with mental health problems and/or learning difficulties. Hannah is often sought after to represent vulnerable youth clients, including those with Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism and ADHD, due to her excellent client care and communication skills. Hannah is adept at identifying and instructing appropriate experts and has experience in dealing with cases requiring the involvement of an intermediary. Hannah is also experienced in representing youth clients including those that have crossed significant age thresholds.

Background

Prior to joining Chambers, Hannah worked at Brett Wilson LLP, assisting with the firm’s serious fraud, asset recovery and private criminal defence practice. Hannah gained exposure to cases where civil claims ran parallel to criminal prosecutions and frequently acted for defendants who were subject to worldwide freezing injunctions. Hannah is also experienced in defending high-profile prosecutions by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Qualifications

Bar Professional Training Course, University of the West of England (Very Competent)
BA in Jurisprudence, The University of Oxford

Associations and Memberships

The Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn – Albion Richardson Scholar (2015)
Criminal Bar Association
Women in Criminal Law
South Eastern Circuit

Articles

Bail: breaches and coronavirus, Westlaw

Violence

R v T – Led junior in murder of a youth on a London bus.
R v S – Attempted murder – Acting for defendant charged in a multi-handed attempted murder. Secured bail in the magistrates’ court.
R v C – Aggravated burglary involving the ransacking of property. CCTV showed the defendant entering the address. Defence raised was that the burglary had been a set up. Defendant unanimously acquitted following trial.
R v LW – GBH with intent (stabbing) - Several applications for disclosure resulted in the Crown offering no evidence.
R v BP – GBH with intent (stabbing) - Negotiated a plea to ABH and secured a suspended sentence.
R v J – GBH - Defendant acquitted following trial. The trial centred on the issues of mistaken belief and defence of another. The jury deliberated for a total of 14 minutes before returning a unanimous not guilty verdict.
R v H – Robbery - Secured a plea to an affray in a knife point domestic robbery. Defendant was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, having previously been facing a sentence in excess of 7 years’ imprisonment.

Drugs

R v M – Led junior in conspiracy to supply class A drugs through Encrochat.
R v V – PWITS (Class B) – Junior alone acting for defendant accused of the supply of 90kg cannabis.
R v D – PWITS (Class A) – Defendant unanimously acquitted following trial.
R v BD – PWITS (Class A) – Secured a suspended sentence for defendant who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply (significant role) on the day of trial.
R v T – PWITS (Class A) – Secured a suspended sentence for defendant convicted of two counts of possession with intent to supply (class A) in a nightclub.
R v DB – PWITS (Class B) – Secured a suspended sentence for defendant convicted of two counts of possession with intent to supply (class B).

Modern Slavery

R v D – Led junior in conspiracy to facilitate travel with a view to exploitation – successful submission of no case to answer.
R v C – PWITS (Class A) – Crown offered no evidence following multiple expert reports and defence raised under s.45 Modern Slavery Act
R v CP –Youth defendant acquitted of 4 x possession of a bladed article and 1 x possession of class A drugs following a two-day modern slavery trial. Defendant was fifteen and had learning disabilities.

Sexual Offences

R v G – Sexual assault – Represented defendant charged with sexually assaulting a woman whilst completing maintenance work at her home address. Trial resulted in a hung jury and the Crown offered no evidence at the re-trial.
R v DB – Sexual assault - Defendant acquitted following trial.
R v P – Indecent images – Secured a suspended sentence for a defendant convicted of three counts of making indecent images (including single category A image), one count of distribution of indecent images and two counts of possession of class B drugs. Involved submissions on case law concerning categorisation where a single category A image is located in volume of Category B and C images.

Youths

R v M – ABH - Secured a conditional discharge for a defendant who had pleaded guilty to ABH and criminal damage. The actual bodily harm comprised of a 2cm laceration to the complainant’s face requiring hospital treatment and multiple sutures. This case involved submissions on the law concerning crossing a significant age threshold. The defendant was seventeen at the time of the offences but due to a delay in charging, had just turned eighteen by the first appearance.
R v F – Acted for vulnerable youth facing seven charges. Youth was autistic and required an intermediary. Charges dismissed on the day of trial.
R v P – Secured a conditional discharge for vulnerable youth charged with obstruction of an engine/ carriage using the railway. The obstruction had resulted in a loss of over £45,000 to TFL. No compensation was awarded.

R v C – Secured suspended sentence for defendant convicted of fraud valued at £120,000. The fraud involved abuse of trust through power of attorney.

Confiscation

R v B – Successfully resisted the Crown’s s.22 application to vary the defendant’s confiscation order. This involved both written submissions and a full contested hearing.
R v A – Conspiracy to defraud and money laundering - Secured a reduction in the benefit figure from c.£690.00 to c.£50,000.
R v B – Drugs conspiracy (class A) – Secured a reduction in benefit figure from c.£450,000 to c.£185,000.