Ella Fornsworth

R v KK, 2025 – Defending in an aggravated burglary case, with a 20-year-old client who was also facing several other matters. Judge persuaded not to make a finding of dangerousness. Achieved a sentence both client and client’s family were pleased with.

R v AO, 2025 – Prosecuting finding of fact in relation to a defendant unfit to stand trial who was found by the jury to have committed the act of chasing a fellow resident with a knife in supported living accommodation.

R v MR, 2024 – Defended a client facing trial for an allegation of dangerous driving. Made a s.78 PACE 1984 application for the identification evidence to be excluded at trial. When the application was served on the Crown Prosecution Service, they offered no evidence to the indictment on the day of trial.

R v ND, 2024 – Defending, robbery of a local shop owner. Judge noted that Ella’s submissions in mitigation made a significant difference to her client’s sentence.

R v MH, 2024 – Prosecuting, Newton hearing for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. Court found in favour of Prosecution case.

R v AP, 2024 – Prosecuting, attempted robbery of a delivery driver at Centurion Retail Park, Doncaster involving threats to stab the victim. Guilty verdict.

R v AA, 2024 – Defending, Class A drug supply offences and client in breach of a community order for controlling and coercive behaviour and threats to kill. Secured a suspended sentence despite the severity of the charges.

R v JB and others, 2024 – Defending a 20-year-old client of previous good character found to have played a significant role in a group attack on a couple during a night out in Cleethorpes. The incident was reported in the local media [link]. Ella’s submissions on behalf of her client achieved the suspension of her sentence.

R v DB, 2023 – Defended at trial a client charged with controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional suffocation and assaults. Involved making successful applications for specific disclosure and admission of defence hearsay evidence.

R v NA, 2023 – Prosecuted a defendant charged with carrying out a bomb hoax at the Northern General Hospital. A complex sentencing exercise involving consideration of a range of case law. The incident was reported by the local media.

Ella has a wide scope of experience prosecuting and defending in the magistrates’ court. Ella has acted or is currently acting on behalf of a range of different clients, including a number of professional clients who have been accused of offences (teacher, pharmacist, police officers) as well as youths.

R v JM, 2025 – Defended a member of staff at a local school accused of assaulting a student. Client was acquitted, enabling him to return to his career.

R v Youth, 2025 – Defending a youth in a s.18 wounding case.

R v Youth, 2024 – Defending a case of causing grievous bodily harm. Secured the desired outcome regarding sentence.

R v JS, 2024 – Defending a client charged with threats to commit criminal damage. Acquittal.

R v DB, 2024 – Prosecuting. Defendant convicted of careless driving following a road traffic collision causing significant damage to three other vehicles. Involved cross examination on an alleged mechanical defect of the vehicle driven by the defendant.

R v PO, 2023 – Prosecuting. Newton hearing in relation to a sexual assault on a 19-year-old victim by a defendant in his 80s. Involved therefore, handling of vulnerable witness and defendant. Court found in favour of the Prosecution’s factual basis.

R v NB, 2023 – Prosecuting. Harassment case spanning months of unwanted online and telephone contact. Convicted after trial.

Ella has gained some experience since pupillage in the field of health and safety law. She is keen to expand this area of her practice.

Cases

• TO, 2024: Defendant a client charged with multiple breaches of health and safety regulations at a food business. Negotiated with the prosecuting authority to secure a result that was favourable to what the client was hoping to achieve.

Ella has gained some experience since pupillage in the field of environmental law. She is keen to expand this area of her practice.

Cases

• RY, 2023: Instructed by Bassetlaw District Council to prosecute a littering offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Ella studied French with English Literature at King’s College London, graduating with a First Class Honours degree. As part of that degree, she completed a year abroad in France teaching English in a French high school.

She then went on to secure a ‘Distinction’ on the GDL law conversion course and a ‘Very Competent’ on the Bar Course.

During her legal studies, Ella completed an internship with the death penalty charity Amicus ALJ UK, assisting with discovery and analysis of large volumes of evidence in relation to death penalty cases in the US alongside assisting in a study monitoring the implementation of the death penalty in the judicial districts of Florida. She also volunteered supporting complainants of crime at Victim Support UK and assisted with notetaking for self-represented doctors in the Medical Practitioners’ Tribunal Service.

• Exhibition Scholarship, Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (2021)
• Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Award, Inner Temple (2021)
• BPP GDL Career Commitment Scholarship (2020)  

• The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
• Amicus ALJ UK
• The Schools Consent Project UK
• The Criminal Bar Association
• North-Eastern Circuit