Michelle practises across serious crime, with particular experience in serious sexual offences, complex and organised crime, and general crime.

She is regularly instructed in cases involving vulnerable defendants, including youths and individuals with significant mental health difficulties. She has also been invited to contribute as a panel member to academic work examining autism and the criminal justice system being undertaken by Bath University.

Michelle is recognised for a practical, methodical approach and is instructed both as leading or junior alone in cases requiring careful management of vulnerability, intermediaries, and expert evidence.

Key cases

Sexual Offences

·       R v V – Defence in historic allegations of intra-familial rape; complex issues arising from dementia and witness management.

·       R v J T – Defence in a rape trial involving parties with special needs; intermediary evidence and structured questioning directions.

·       R v W C – Leading junior in a complex historic intra-familial sexual offences trial involving a father and daughter.

·       R v B G – Defence in a second rape trial following an earlier acquittal; further complainants; acquittal secured.

·       R v P – Defence in allegations of child sexual abuse; sensitive cultural and religious issues impacting welfare and effective participation.

·       R v C R – Defence for an autistic defendant in allegations involving online contact with children; psychological evidence on autism and criminality.

·       R v D C – Defence in allegations involving kidnap and sexual offences within a multi-defendant case; issues of grooming and vulnerability; proceedings discontinued for her client.

·       R v D – Defence for a profoundly vulnerable young defendant facing allegations of intra-familial sexual assault.

·       R v I – Defence in an allegation of sexual assault arising in a detention setting; safeguarding and vulnerability issues.

Homicide and Serious Violence

·       R v M – Defence in a serious violence allegation; proceedings stayed as an abuse of process; prosecution appeal refused.

·       R v A-L – Defence in a serious cruelty prosecution involving very young animals.

·       R v W Leading junior in Attempted murder involving Defendant who had been Sectioned.

·       R v N Defence in group attack involving knives and machetes with racial undertones and religious sensibilities

·       R v K Defence in violent disorder with two different communities involved in a street battle.

Organised Crime

·       R v B – Defence in complex bank fraud involving impersonation of account holders; client vulnerability required careful handling.

·       R v B W – Defence in modern slavery proceedings; issues of grooming and vulnerability central to the case.

·       R v T – Leading junior in a large-scale sham marriage conspiracy; case prompted changes to registrar practice.

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