Ella Fornsworth

Defence

R v SO, 2026 – Intentional strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The defendant was acquitted of all three counts on the indictment.

R v RB, 2026 – Client faced allegations of controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional strangulation and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. Following Ella’s application for specific disclosure, significantly undermining material was uncovered, and the Prosecution accepted a plea to s.2 harassment only, resulting in a conditional discharge.

R v MB, 2025 – Robbery and s.20 grievous bodily harm. Application to dismiss made on behalf of the defendant. Upon receipt of the application to dismiss, the Crown conceded there was no reasonable prospect of conviction and the case did not proceed against Ella’s client.

R v DW, 2025 – Client acquitted of intentional strangulation and assaults.

R v KK, 2025 – Aggravated burglary, defending a 20-year-old client. Learned Judge persuaded not to make a finding of dangerousness. Achieved a sentence both the client and client’s family were pleased with.

R v MR, 2024 – Dangerous driving. Ella made an application under s.78 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 for the identification evidence to be excluded at trial. The Prosecution upon receipt of the application offered no evidence resulting in a Not Guilty verdict for Ella’s client.

Prosecution

R v TP, 2026 – Child abduction case. Involved dealing with legal argument relating to an application to vacate plea.

R v CH & JH, 2025 – Section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm and other associated assaults. Involved dealing with child witnesses. Guilty verdict to all counts on the indictment.

R v DM, 2025 – Kidnapping pursued as a ‘victimless prosecution’ in which the victim gave evidence for the defence. Successful admission of res gestae evidence in the form of police body worn footage. Successfully resisted a submission of ‘no case to answer.’ Guilty verdict.

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

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 in 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.

Defence

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 EL, 2025 – Defended a police officer charged with using her mobile telephone whilst driving. Special reasons argument advanced on the basis she was in the process of checking details about an emergency she was on her way to whilst on duty, with no second officer to help her with checking police systems. Special reasons argument successful, and client avoided a driving ban.

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

R v Youth, 2024 – Defending a youth in a s.20 causing grievous bodily harm matter. Secured the desired outcome regarding sentence.

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

Prosecution

R v DB, 2024 – 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.

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

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

Ella is developing a practice in the Special Educational Needs Tribunal in relation to Education, Health and Care Plans and would welcome instructions in this area.

Ella has experience prosecuting and defending matters such as environmental offending and breaches of health and safety regulations.

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