Clerking team

Andy Booth

Lead Criminal Clerk

Shell Edmonds

Criminal Clerk

Nageena Mahmoud

Junior Criminal Clerk

Stephanie Casey

Junior Criminal Clerk

Jessica specialises in Crime. She joined Chambers in October 2024 after completing pupillage at a leading London set where she was frequently instructed in cases ranging from threatening behaviour, serious violent assaults, possession of indecent images, and youth robbery.

Jessica regularly appears for the prosecution and defence in matters across all areas of General Crime in the Youth Court, Magistrates Court and Crown Court.

Jessica prosecutes at CPS Grade 1.

In addition to Crime, Jessica accepts instructions in Regulatory and Professional Disciplinary proceedings.

While completing her pupillage, Jessica gained a strong proficiency in drafting and was often tasked with assisting other members of chambers with advices on unduly lenient sentences, half-time submissions, and a response to the grounds of appeal in a High Court case.

Before coming to the Bar, Jessica volunteered for The Witness Service in Manchester Crown Court. Jessica is known for her ability to put both victims and defendants at ease, whilst ensuring that they remain confident and assured in her capabilities as their advocate.

Crown Court & appeals

R v H (2024 – ongoing): Represented an elderly man charged with assaulting a police officer. Successfully persuaded the Crown to reduce the charge to obstructing a police officer, based on detailed submissions on both the lack of evidence against the defendant and the public interest test.

R v T (2024): Secured a 12-month Suspended Sentence Order with requirements for a defendant charged with three offences, including ABH aggravated by hostility based on sexual orientation where the victim suffered burn injuries.

R v RA (2024): Successfully argued an appeal against sentence in that the sentences imposed should be concurrent, securing a reduction of 100 days from the defendant’s term of imprisonment and his immediate release.

R v B (2024): Represented an 81-year-old man at sentence for dangerous driving where the two victims suffered injuries and vehicle damage. Secured a 12-month Suspended Sentence Order.

R v C and Others (2024): Successfully made a reporting restriction application for the name of the defendant’s estate to be withheld from the public in future reporting of the case.

R v C (2024): Secured a Suspended Sentence Order for the theft of a Range Rover Sport, even though it fell into High Culpability due to the sophisticated nature of the offence.

R v S (2024): Secured a Suspended Sentence Order for two counts of racially aggravated harassment against police officers, alongside one count of assaulting an emergency worker. This is despite the defendant having several previous convictions for the same offences.

Magistrates Court

R v M (2024): Defended a man who faced two charges of malicious communications against JK Rowling and Rosie Duffield MP. Appearing in front of the Chief Magistrate, Jessica secured an 8-week suspended sentence with requirements based on her sentencing note alone. Reported in The Telegraph.

R v C (2024): Defending in an allegation of the criminal damage of a fence. Successfully persuaded the Court that there were doubts over the ownership of the fence and the state of the fence before the incident, and the defendant was acquitted. This is despite there being video footage of the defendant kicking the fence.

R v H (2024): Represented a defendant charged with drunk driving, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance. Secured an 8-week Suspended Sentence Order with requirements.

Youth Court

R v K and K (2024 – ongoing): Defending two brothers in an allegation of attempted section 18, robbery, and threats to kill against a 13-year-old.

R v P (2024): Represented a youth for robbery and possession of an imitation firearm during the commission of the offence, namely a replica of a Glock Self Loading Pistol. Persuaded the Court to impose a Youth Rehabilitation Order with Intensive Supervision and Surveillance, even though he had the same Order at the time of the offence, for six robberies of a similar nature.

R v S (2024): Represented a youth at sentence who had pleaded guilty to four offences of making and distributing indecent images of children, including Category A. Successfully resisted an application for a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Education

  • Bar Training Course, BPP University: Distinction
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Law, BPP University: Distinction
  • BA English Literature, University of Manchester: First

Memberships

  • The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple