Rebecca McKnight > Chambers of David Berkley KC > Winchester, England > Barrister Profile

Rebecca McKnight

Work Department

Crime.

Position

Rebecca McKnight is a criminal barrister who is instructed to defend and prosecute across the spectrum of criminal offences. Recent work includes defending an affray and possession of a blade at trial, a successful appeal against sentence at Bristol Crown Court and defending in a possession with intent to supply Class A drugs matter.

Based in Winchester and living near Reading her practises covers a wide geographical area outside the Western circuit and includes London. She has built a busy criminal defence and prosecution practise, appearing daily in the Crown Court, Magistrates’ Court and Youth Court, and has previously conducted some extradition work, as well as applying for and opposing civil measures such as Stalking Prevention Orders.

Rebecca accepts instructions in general crime, regulatory and court martial work. Her respectful and fair approach allows her to form strong relationships with clients and across the criminal justice system.

Rebecca enjoys working in the youth courts and has a straightforward, personable and patient manner which allows clients to be made to feel at ease and to understand the process. She will always fight for the best result possible for clients.

Rebecca prosecutes on behalf of the CPS, Probation and Police. She will occasionally prosecute lists in the Magistrates Court.

Rebecca is currently on part-time secondment as Disclosure Counsel to the Serious Fraud Office.

Prior to being called to the Bar, Rebecca enjoyed a successful career in the Civil Service where her final role was working as Product Owner at the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). This involved launching a new digital platform for the JAC, as well as being involved in the selection process for judicial candidates.

Outside of life at the Criminal Bar, Rebecca enjoys singing both in the less serious setting of karaoke with friends and in a more formal environment where she occasionally sings with a choir. She loves travelling and spent some time living and working in Vietnam.

Crime 

Rebecca accepts instructions in general crime, both prosecuting and defending, regulatory and court martial work. Her respectful and fair approach allows her to form strong relationships with clients and across the criminal justice system.

Rebecca enjoys working in the youth courts and has a straightforward, personable and patient manner which allows clients to be made to feel at ease and to understand the process.

Recent criminal law cases include:

R v AT Goodyear indication would have meant a further period in custody, successfully persuading the judge that given strong mitigation the defendant could be released that day.
R v JS defended in affray and possession of blade jury trial in the Crown Court.
R v HA defended in an ABH jury trial in the Crown Court
R v GB represented a client in an ABH allegation.
R v MN after discussions with the prosecution they agreed to discontinue an ABH case.
R v TDB Successful application for bail following 2 previous breaches of bail.
R v JMC acquittal for threats to kill after half time submissions of no case to answer.
R v JH acquittal for theft from a vehicle.
R v MS acquittal for assault against an emergency worker.
R v SK written submissions persuaded the Crown to discontinue a case.
R v EC sentence for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, significant role and fell into category 3. Suspended sentence received by defendant.
R v PB successful submission of no case to answer in a breach of Criminal Behaviour Order.
R v LG successfully opposed a bad character application and res gestae argument and then made a successful submission of no case to answer.
R v RE representations successfully made to the Crown to accept an out of court disposal for a youth involved in a serious affray.
R v OL persuaded the Judge to impose a lower custodial sentence for client, compared to the co-defendants, by distinguishing their circumstances and offending from the others in a very high value theft.
R v MS & NC successfully argued to the Crown, YOT and police that a caution could be given for one of my clients and a referral order for the other in a serious ABH.

Motoring Offences 

Rebecca frequently represents individuals accused of motoring offences, from defending them at trial to arguing special reasons and exceptional hardship to prevent disqualification or reduce penalty points.

R v NI client acquitted following trial of speeding and failure to provide identity.
R v JW successful exceptional hardship argument prevented disqualification.
R v RW persuaded the court that there were special reasons present on appeal, no points and therefore they retained their licence.
R v SS represented a client in a Newton Hearing for dangerous driving.

Career

Year of Call: 2016

Memberships

• Member of Lincoln’s Inn
• Level 1, CPS Advocate Panel, General Crime
• Level 2, CPS Advocate Panel, General Crime

Education

• BPTC, City Law School, Very Competent
• BA (Hons) in Law, Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge – 2:1