Great James Street Chambers

02/04/2026

Poppy Cleary, instructed by Dexter Henry Solicitors, secured an acquittal for her client charged with production of a controlled drug, possession with intent to supply and assault on an emergency worker.

Following a three-day trial at Inner London Crown Court, the jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts on all counts.

Poppy cross-examined four police officers and conducted detailed analysis of body-worn footage, identifying key weaknesses in the prosecution's case.

Poppy had previously secured an acquittal for the same client when charged with cultivating cannabis in a separate trial.

Poppy's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/Poppy-Cleary/

To instruct Poppy, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 4404949.

Adam Smith Email Poppy Download CV Privacy Policy 2022 Practice AreasCrimeExtraditionPoppy completed pupillage at GJS in 2024. She was taken on as a full member of Chambers, having impressed with her standard of advocacy and display of excellence throughout

31/03/2026

Great James Street Chambers welcomes Dapinder Singh KC

28/03/2026

23/03/2026

Paul Edwards, instructed by Francesca Baynham of the CPS South East RASSO Unit, successfully prosecuted a defendant facing multiple serious offences, including five counts of r**e and a range of domestic abuse allegations.

Following a trial lasting nearly three weeks at Guildford Crown Court, the jury returned guilty verdicts on four counts of r**e, causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent, attempting to pervert the course of public justice, controlling and coercive behaviour, threats to kill, and blackmail. The defendant also pleaded guilty to threatening to share intimate images of the complainant.

The complainant and the defendant started their relationship when they were 16 and 17 years old respectively. The relationship lasted just under 3 years. From the early stages of the relationship, the defendant used the threat of violence to make her submit to his sexual demands, to isolate the complainant from her friends and family and to control what she wore and who she spoke to.

This case highlights the devastating impact of coercive and controlling behaviour within relationships, as well as the courage shown by victims in coming forward and giving evidence.

Sentencing is listed for June 2026.

Paul's full profile: https://lnkd.in/dE3_6RXk

To instruct Paul, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 440 4949

22/01/2026

We are delighted to congratulate Brereton Horne on his appointment by the new Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

While this prestigious role will take Brereton away from his current legal practice, we are pleased that he will remain closely affiliated with Great James Street Chambers, becoming a door tenant from February 2026 when he formally begins his work as High Commissioner.

This appointment is a testament to Brereton’s exceptional professionalism, integrity, and commitment to public service. We wish him every success as he takes on this important diplomatic role.

Brereton, we wish you all the very best — Your Excellency.

15/01/2026

Helen Douglass-Dixon, instructed by Stefan Sutherland of Carson Kaye Solicitors, secured the acquittal of her client, a teacher of good character, following a 9-day jury trial at Harrow Crown Court.

The client faced allegations of sexual assault and assault by beating of an on-duty female police officer. The trial involved evidence from 12 police officers who attended the incident, alongside complex legal argument, including issues concerning the admission of hearsay evidence.

Central to the defence case was a detailed examination of police conduct during the incident. Helen robustly cross-examined officers on their use of force against the client and members of his family, the manner in which the situation was handled, and the escalation of events during what was accepted to be a chaotic encounter. The jury heard that the incident followed the family making an allegation of assault against one of the attending officers, and that it was during the client’s restraint on the ground by multiple officers that the allegation of sexual assault was made.

Following deliberation, the jury returned not guilty verdicts on both counts. As a result of the acquittal, the client retains his good name and is able to continue his professional career.

Helen's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/helen-douglass-dixon/

To instruct Helen, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 440 4949.

Adam Smith Email Helen Download CV Privacy Policy 2017 Practice Areas Crime Helen is an empathetic, personable, and compassionate advocate who is able to develop positive working relationships with both her lay and professional clients. She is thorough and meticulous

15/12/2025

Harry Piercy, instructed by Leslie Kisseih of Charles Allotey & Co, has secured an acquittal for his client, an asylum seeker charged with attempting to arrive in the UK without entry clearance.

The case raised important and sensitive issues concerning modern slavery and the interaction between asylum claims and criminal proceedings. Following Harry’s detailed and carefully drafted public interest representations, the prosecution agreed to offer no evidence, leading to a formal verdict of not guilty.

An excellent outcome that highlights the importance of rigorous advocacy and a principled approach to cases at the intersection of immigration, criminal law, and human rights.

Harry's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/harry-piercy/

To instruct Harry, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 440 4949.

Adam Smith Email Harry Download CV Privacy Policy 2024 Practice Areas Crime Regulatory Harry completed his pupillage at a leading criminal defence firm in September 2025. Prior to pupillage, he worked as a caseworker at a niche law

18/11/2025

Ann Tayo, instructed by Sean Richards of TV Edwards Solicitors, secured a unanimous Not Guilty verdict at the Central Criminal Court for a young man who faced a grave allegation dating back to his teenage years.

The case involved a complex factual background. The complainant, an older woman, had seduced the defendant when he was a minor and later falsely accused him of r**e. Shortly after consensual in*******se, she covertly recorded him during an emotionally charged exchange, attempting to guilt-trip him into believing he had harmed her. The prosecution relied heavily on this recording, which the complainant had engineered in an effort to create evidence to support a false allegation.

A key issue in the trial concerned her history of making multiple previous complaints against different individuals. Following R v Hurley [2025] EWCA Crim 642, it was not possible to demonstrate that these prior allegations were false, and therefore they could not be admitted through the bad-character provisions. However, under s.41(5) of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, the defence was able to rely on prior “similar experiences” that the complainant herself had discussed with the defendant, references that appeared in both her ABE interview and the covert recording. These communications were central to understanding the defendant’s state of mind and supported his reasonable belief in consent. This material had also been properly signposted within his defence statement.

This case highlights the importance of a meticulous, principled approach to admissibility, and the vital role of Section 41(5) in ensuring fairness where contextual evidence informs a defendant’s belief in consent.

Congratulations to Ann and the team at TV Edwards for their diligence and advocacy in securing justice in a challenging and sensitive case.

Ann's full profile: https://greatjames.co.uk/members/ann-tayo/

To instruct Ann, please contact the clerking team at [email protected] or on 0207 440 4949.

Ann Tayo Email Ann Download CV Privacy Policy 1991 (E&W) 1989 (N) Public access: Yes Qualified to practice in England, Wales and Nigeria and guided by the proverb that “a man’s story seems good until

13/11/2025

We are delighted to announce that Great James Street Chambers has been awarded the Wellbeing at the Bar – Certificate of Recognition for 2025.

This award reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting the wellbeing of everyone within our Chambers and across the wider legal profession. We are honoured to be recognised for work that is deeply important to us.

A thank you to the The Bar Council of England and Wales and to Barbara Mills KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales 2025, for this acknowledgment.

We remain dedicated to fostering a healthy, supportive, and flexible professional environment.

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