3PB

Crime and Regulatory Crime

Criminal barrister Laura Deuxberry has expertise in criminal, regulatory, public law and quasi-criminal/civil matters.

Laura is praised for her tenacious and robust approach in court, whilst outside of court, she has an approachable and reassuring manner with clients and witnesses, with whom she is quick to establish a rapport. Laura gives sensible, realistic advice. She has an ability to manage client’s and witnesses’ expectations, whilst also ensuring that they feel that their views have
been listened to.

Due to Laura’s manner, she is able to reach agreement with her opponents which results in successful resolutions to cases that otherwise may not have been possible.

Laura acts as a junior mentor for pupils within Chambers. She also mentors students who are thinking of pursuing a career in law and at the Bar. She has appeared as a guest speaker at events and she is keen to encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

Laura is a Level 3 Prosecutor on the CPS Advocate Panel General Crime List.

• Crime and Regulatory Crime

Laura Deuxberry prosecutes and defends in all areas of general crime including; drugs (possession and supply), violence offences, arson, burglary, fraud, rape and sexual assaults (both historic and recent), child offences (images, contact offences and child neglect/ill-treatment), weapons offences, public order offences, breach proceedings, harassment and stalking.

Laura also acts in Youth Court proceedings. Her reassuring and approachable manner means that youth clients and their parents/carers are put at ease. Laura has defended in court martial hearings and is a keen supporter of military charities.

Recent cases include:

R v Moon Swee How and XiaoXia Yang (Court of Appeal Criminal Division 2026). Initially led by Daniel Sawyer (now HHJ Sawyer) at trial in Portsmouth Crown Court, prosecuting three defendants for conspiracy to control prostitution for gain and human trafficking. Two of the three defendants were convicted of both counts after trial and sentenced. Laura was instructed to prosecute the sentencing and the POCA hearings.

The defendants appealed their convictions on the human trafficking charge to the Court of Appeal. Laura drafted the Respondent’s notices and the skeleton argument for the appeal in conjunction with Kevin Dent KC who led her at the appeal hearing. The appeal relates to the statutory interpretation of section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The outcome of the appeal is awaited.

R v AF (2026) Bournemouth Crown Court, prosecuting: the Defendant failed to attend their trial, they were convicted of two charges of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and of two charges threatening another with an article with a blade

R v DC (2026) Bournemouth Crown Court, prosecuting: the Defendant was found guilty after trial of having a bladed article in a public place

R v JC (2025) Winchester Crown Court, defending: the Defendant was found not guilty of dangerous driving and causing GBH with intent (s.18) after trial.

Feedback from the Judge in that case was as follows:

‘…That was a very nice result - you made a tricky case seem easier than it was. You got everything you could in relation to the evidence and disclosure (which it was obvious that you were completely on top of) but more importantly your examination-in-chief was really efficient, your closing speech was punchy and to the point, and you have really nice manner in front of the jury.’

R v SH (2025) Portsmouth Crown Court, defending: the Defendant accepted possession of controlled drugs but denied supplying them. Not guilty verdicts on the supplying charge after trial

R v SR (2025) Newport Crown Court IOW, defending: charge of cruelty to a child, not guilty verdict after trial

R v Damien Heaven [2024] EWCA Crim 88: defending: appeal against conviction in the Court of Appeal regarding a conviction for witness intimidation. Miss Deuxberry, defending Mr Heaven, argued that the Crown Court Judge made an error when they rejected a submission of no case to answer. The Court of Appeal upheld the appeal and the conviction was quashed.

Year of Call: 2013

BPTC, The University of Law, 2013 - Very competent

LLB (Hons), The University of Bristol, 2012 - 2:1

Level 2- CPS Advocate Panel-General Crime