'...SEES THE KEY ISSUES, FOCUSES ON THEM AND DRIVES HOME HER POINTS EFFECTIVELY.' - The Legal 500

Year of Call

1993

Described in the leading legal directories as one who, “sees the key issues, focuses on them and drives home her points effectively”. She is a “perceptive and precise advocate”. Recommended in 2009 for trading standards and environmental health work and “she makes her case very effectively”.

Appointments

Grade 3 Prosecutor
General Medical Council Legal Assessor

Specialism

• Serious crime, principally violence, sexual violence and fraud.
• Regulatory crime, including trading standards and environmental health.
• Professional disciplinary and misconduct proceedings.
• Firearms, taxi and security authority licensing.
• Ancillary Relief

Experience

Crime
Has prosecuted and defended serious sexual offences, murders, kidnap, money laundering and fraud. She has a reputation for handling cases that involve particularly vulnerable individuals (witnesses or defendants) either because of their age or their ability.

R v Samuel Walsh [2008] 1 Cr.App.R.(S.) 33 – sentence of detention for life for a young offender upheld. Dangerous offender provisions.

R v David Ruddick [2004] 1 Cr.App.R.(S.) 7 – confiscation, procedural irregularity does not make the order a nullity.

Regulatory offences
Has appeared on behalf of Local Authorities and defended in regulatory prosecutions, for example;

i. Health and Safety
• North Tyneside Council v PMS International Group PLC - Toy safety (lead in paint on imported toys).
• Durham County Council v Northumbrian Water Ltd – duties of street undertakers.

ii. Food safety
• North Tyneside Council v Asda (foreign bodies in bread)
• Salmonella poisoning in restaurants

iii. Trading standards
• animal welfare, fallen stock and cattle database regulations.
• Trade Marks Act infringements.
• Trade Description Act infringements
• Tree Preservation Order infringements

Disciplinary Proceedings

• Has recently (June 2010) been appointed as a Legal Assessor to the General Medical Council and will regularly advise Panels who sit to consider the conduct of doctors.

• Regularly appears for the “Appropriate Authority” in Police disciplinary proceedings. Has advised both Durham and Northumbria Chief Constables in Reviews of decisions.

Email

r.scottbell@trinitychambers.co.uk