R v John Cooper
Maria Brannan successfully prosecuted John Cooper, former Lord Mayor of Stoke, for sex offences against three women. The case involved the presentation and cross...
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Maria is a leading junior, specialising in criminal litigation, police discipline and Armed Forces Law.
A category 4 prosecutor, she is regularly instructed to prosecute serious and complex crime, including murder, manslaughter, complex fraud and serious sexual offences.
As defence counsel, she has substantial experience of representing those charged with serious crime, including attempted murder, complex fraud and serious sexual offending.
She has appeared as leading junior and led junior in cases involving murder, manslaughter, large scale complex fraud and money laundering. She is adept in the investigation and presentation of complex phone and financial data, cell site evidence and complex forensic issues. She has considerable experience of multi-handed, document heavy cases, with complex disclosure issues.
Maria is frequently instructed to defend police officers both in criminal proceedings and in professional disciplinary proceedings. Previous cases have included the successful defence of police officers charged with rape and serious misconduct.
Crown Court & appeals
Murder and Serious Violence
R v Z 2023 Coventry Crown Court
Murder – fatal shooting. Prosecution junior. Trial involved presentation of complex video sequences and expert evidence relating to the discharge of firearms.
R v M 2021, Birmingham Crown Court
Attempted murder. Defence of client charged with attempted murder, following the stabbing of another prisoner. Case involved successful legal arguments leading to exclusion of evidence of confessions made to others during investigation.
R v Z 2020, Birmingham Crown Court
Murder – armed robbery by gang leading to fatal shooting. Prosecution junior. Prosecution involved extradition of the defendant from Pakistan, fitness to plead issues, analysis of phone data, and cell site evidence. Complex unused material issues relating to involvement of assisting offender.
R v Donaldson 2019, Birmingham Crown Court
Murder – Gang related stabbing. Prosecution junior. Complex forensic analysis of footage from multiple CCTV cameras. Cell site analysis and mobile phone comparison. Defendant convicted of murder. The case was covered on Birmingham Live.
R v IF 2019, Minshull Street Crown Court
Defence of youth charged with robbery with an axe and kidnapping. Defendant received a community order, following successful mitigation.
R v Patrick 2018, Manchester Crown Court
Murder – Unprovoked attack in front of neighbours. Prosecution junior. Defendant convicted of murder after trial. Trial covered by the Manchester Evening News, The Mirror.
Maria was awarded a Certificate of Commendation from Greater Manchester Police for her work on this case.
R v B, Carlisle Crown Court
Section 18 – successful defence of client accused with his wife of a serious assault in which the victim was left partially blinded. Representations made on client’s behalf led to the assault charge being dropped and the client receiving a suspended sentence for affray. The case was covered on the BBC.
R v Thompson 2019, Manchester Crown Court
Section 18 wounding. Prosecution of male accused of nightclub stabbing. Presentation of complex sequence of CCTV evidence. Defendant convicted after trial. Manchester Evening News.
R v Leighton 2018, Minshull Street Crown Court
Section 18 wounding x 2. Prosecution of male, accused of random stabbings of members of the public in Ashton town centre. Trial involved analysis and presentation of complex CCTV footage, phone data and cell site analysis. Defendant convicted after trial.
R v Dunn 2016, Manchester Crown Court
Section 18 grievous bodily harm. Prosecution of male attacking vulnerable victim with hammer, causing fractured ribs. Further prosecution of same defendant for unprovoked attack upon second vulnerable male, who died hours later. Case widely reported in national press The Independent, Manchester Evening News.
Serious Sexual Offences
R v O 2025, Manchester Crown Court
Defence of male charged with serious sexual offences. Client acquitted after trial.
R v Cooper 2025, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court
Prosecution of John Cooper, former Lord Mayor of Stoke, for sex offences against three women. The case involved the presentation and cross examination of experts in the field of ‘sexsomnia’. The case was reported on the BBC, and on Stoke On Trent Live.
R v Carnochan 2025, Stafford Crown Court
Prosecution of male convicted of rapes and sexual assaults against multiple victims. Defendant conviction after trial. Reported on the BBC and Birmingham Mail.
R v K 2024, Bolton Crown Court
Defence of male charged with serious historic sexual offences. Client acquitted after trial.
R v Moxham 2024, Manchester Crown Court
Prosecution junior in case involving rapes of multiple victims and modern slavery. Reported on the BBC and ITV.
R v Scarratt 2023, Stafford Crown Court
Prosecution of male convicted of violent rape of 12-year-old girl, lured to country park via social media. Defendant convicted after trial and sentenced to life imprisonment. Received coverage on worcesternews.co.uk.
R v H 2020, Bolton Crown Court
Successful defence of young autistic male charged with serious sexual offences.
R v Hodgin 2020, Minshull Street Crown Court
Successful prosecution of male who had pursued campaign of terror against ex-partner, including posting indecent images of her online. Case preparation involved analysis and presentation of hi-tech evidence relating to creation of false Instagram accounts and linking accounts to specific IP addresses. The case was covered in Manchester Evening News.
R v M 2019, Nottingham Crown Court
Successful defence of off duty police officer accused of sexual assault.
R v H 2018, Blackburn Youth Court
Prosecution of youth with learning difficulties accused of serious sexual assault other another child. Case involved intermediaries, vulnerable and reluctant child witnesses. Defendant convicted after trial.
R v MH 2017, Minshull Street Crown Court
Non-recent sexual abuse trial involving defendant (an auxillary nurse), accused of sexual abuse of a child whilst administering treatment. Defendant convicted after trial.
R v Rak 2015, Manchester Crown Court
Successful prosecution of male, accused of serious sexual assault upon an unconscious woman in Manchester City Centre. Case involved contested forensic and medical expert evidence regarding significance of DNA recovered and rate of healing of internal injuries. Successful legal argument against admission of complainant’s sexual history. Case reported Manchester Evening News.
R v Ahmed 2015, Manchester Crown Court
Taxi driver accused of sexual assaults upon two women. Both witnesses were vulnerable and expressed reluctance to give evidence at trial. Arrangements made to meet witnesses prior to trial to reassure them regarding court procedures. Successful legal argument against admission of complainant’s sexual history. Defendant convicted after trial.
Serious Motoring Crime
R v E 2020, Minshull Street Crown Court
Defence of woman charged with causing the death of a child through careless driving. Case attracted substantial press interest. Defence preparation involved successful application to prohibit publication of client’s address, in addition to instructing experts in connection with post-traumatic stress disorder. Client received a short suspended sentence.
R v T 2019, Liverpool Crown Court
Successful appeal against the conviction of an off duty police officer charged with driving with excess alcohol. He had been found unconscious in a vehicle, four times the prescribed limit for alcohol.
R v K 2019, Mold Crown Court
Defence of RAF member accused with two others of racing high powered cars at speeds of up to 120 mph and uploading footage of driving onto YouTube. Client received a fine following successful mitigation, referring sentencing Judge to Queens Regulations (military law). Case received national media coverage on the BBC, Daily Post, and Shropshire Star.
Fraud & financial crime
Large Scale Conspiracies and Fraud (Including Proceeds of Crime)
Operation Riverside 2024, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court
Prosecuted as lead counsel (leading James Hudson) multi-million pounds drugs conspiracy involving 12 defendants.
Operation Bryson 2024, Leeds Crown Court
Instructed to represent female accused by Trading Standards of fraudulent trading in relation to sale of estate planning instruments. Alleged fraud valued in excess of £5m. Client acquitted at the conclusion of prosecution case following successful legal argument.
R v Kavanaugh 2020
Successful prosecution of defendant who had defrauded a series of car dealerships. Case involved analysis and presentation of dealership records and bank accounts. Defendant received 15 months’ imprisonment.
R v Chaudry and others 2019, Manchester Crown Court
Large scale multi million pound money laundering conspiracy. Prosecution junior. Case involved analysis and presentation of financial data and phone data. All defendants convicted. The Mirror, Manchester Evening News.
R v C 2019, Stafford Crown Court
Successful defence of businessman accused of storing stolen cars and running cannabis farm from his business premises. Client acquitted of all charges.
R v Ward and others (Operation Wessex) 2017, Manchester Crown Court
Manslaughter and conspiracy to steal. Prosecution junior. Large scale conspiracy to steal high value motor vehicles. Van owner killed during one of the thefts. Case involved analysis and presentation of large volume of phone and cell site data, and forensic evidence. All defendants convicted. Case received national coverage: BBC, Manchester Evening News, Daily Mail.
R v Akhter and others (Operation Hamilton) 2016, Manchester Crown Court
Conspiracy to defraud. Prosecuting junior. Large scale conspiracy ‘courier fraud’ – gang targeting elderly and vulnerable persons by telephone, persuading them to reveal bank account details. Over 300 victims. Case involved analysis and presentation of large volume of phone data relating to over 50 phones, together with analysis of bank evidence and CCTV footage. All defendants convicted. Case received national coverage. Received coverage on ITV and Manchester Evening News.
Professional discipline
Police Discipline
Police officer M (2025) Manchester Crown Court
Defence of police officer charged with assault of male. Client acquitted after trial.
Police officer C (2025)
Defence of police officer charged with misconduct in public office. Case dismissed following legal argument.
Police officers B and M (2025)
Representation of police officers facing disciplinary proceedings following exchange of social media messages. Appeal pending.
Police officer J (2024), Bolton Crown Court
Defence of officer charged with rape. Client acquitted after trial.
Police officer S (2021)
Representation of police officer charged with gross misconduct following allegations of bullying and racism. Significant number of allegations dismissed or reduced to findings of misconduct. Client received final warning.
Police Officer M (2020)
Successfully argued against dismissal in gross misconduct proceedings, following an officer’s conviction for driving with excess alcohol. Case also involved successful defence in proceedings concerning allegations of domestic violence.
R v T (2019)
Defence of police officer accused of driving whilst three times the prescribed limit. Acquitted after trial.
R v M (2019)
Successful defence of police officer accused of sexual assault.
Courts martial & service law
R v D (2023)
Defence of army Major accused of sexual assault.
R v SS (2021)
Defence of church minister serving with the RAF charged with serious sexual offences. Acquitted after trial.
R v S (2019)
Defence of aircraftsman accused of sexual assault. Acquitted after trial.
R v A (2019)
Defence of solider accused of disobeying lawful orders and threatening a senior officer. Acquitted after trial.
Magistrates Court
R v A 2019, Manchester Magistrates Court
Successful defence of motorist, accused of driving whilst three times over the prescribed limit following a car accident. Defence involved legal challenge to police evidence alleging admissions made at the scene.
R v R 2019, Stockport Magistrates Court
Defence of motorist, found to be three times over the prescribed limit following accident, in which young children were in the rear of car. Client received a community order and disqualification following mitigation regarding client’s good character and personal circumstances. Case received national media coverage Daily Mail, Metro, The Mirror.
Appointments
- CPS Specialist Fraud Panel – Level 3
- Approved Defence Advocate for the Military Union
