Sara Woodhouse Davie

Practice

Criminal defence

Sara has a genuine passion and commitment to her clients. She is well regarded by Solicitors and Defendants alike and her meticulous approach to preparation has earned her the reputation as a safe pair of hands in court. She has established a busy Crown Court practice, has acted for clients in the Court of Appeal and has also been led in more serious and complex matters. Sara has experience defending the full spectrum of criminal offences, including: serious violence and offences against the person; violent disorder and affray; kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail; firearm offences and possession of offensive weapons; child cruelty (involving cross-examination of child witnesses); robbery, burglary and theft; a wide variety of fraud and dishonesty offences; sexual offences; drug trafficking; immigration act offences and motoring offences such as dangerous driving.

Recent cases:

• Section 16(a) firearms - possession with intent to cause fear of violence - acquitted (2012)
• R v J - Youth jointly charged with attempted robbery. Following legal argument, the Crown offered no evidence (2011).
• R v S - Despite unfavourable CCTV footage, successfully defended a taxi driver who faced a charge of unlawful wounding (2010).
• R v G - Multi handed supply of cannabis, theft of a large quantity of money, kidnap, false imprisonment and blackmail. A particularly successful cross examination of the complainant led to a very favourable basis of plea being entered (2010).
• R v I - Representing one of eight young defendants charged with Violent Disorder and Criminal Damage(2010).
• R v D - Multi-million pound benefit fraud case. The allegations involved a large number of Romanian suspects and a highly organised conspiracy operating over a number of years. The case is believed to be the first of a number of similar prosecutions(2010).
• R v N - ABH and False Imprisonment. As a result of cross examination and material disclosed during the trial, the complainant was charged with two fraud offences related to the case(2010).
• R v W Junior - Counsel in multi handed trial involving counts of conspiracy to do acts which facilitated the breach of immigration law; conspiracy to sell goods which infringed copyright and trademark; converting criminal property and mortgage fraud(2010) .
• R v T - Vietnamese client acquitted for possession of nearly 100 kilograms of cannabis with an intention to supply it to others (2009).

Articles and media comment

> 24/4/12 - Hearsay rules clarified but further guidance is needed (Lexis Nexis Current Awareness)

Background

Previously a tenant at Nexus Chambers (London). Before coming to the Bar, Sara worked for the Glasgow Homelessness Network. Sara held the only specific equalities role and remit within the organisation and worked closely with a number of individuals and families who had experienced varying forms of exclusion and discrimination. In particular she gains experience of vulnerable groups including women working in prostitution and women fleeing domestic abuse; dispersed asylum seekers and those with mental health illnesses and / or physical disabilities.

Before practising at the Criminal Bar, Sara also worked as a Freelance Advocate (Legal Practice Clerk) undertaking a wide variety of County Court hearings, including mortgage possession proceedings; charging orders; landlord and tenant cases; bankruptcy hearings and small claims work.