Jemima Stephenson > New Park Court Chambers > Leeds, England > Barrister Profile

Jemima Stephenson

Work Department

Crime

Position

Jemima Stephenson practises in Crime and regularly appears for both Prosecution and Defence in the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court.

Jemima joined New Park Court in March 2020. She was previously a Tenant at Zenith Chambers, having successfully completed pupillage there.

During 2020, Jemima completed a secondment with the Care Quality Commission, carrying out advisory work in relation to potential criminal prosecutions by the CQC. During the secondment, Jemima also represented the CQC at a number of hearings, including the CQC’s first prosecution for breach of the duty of candour obligations.

Crime

Jemima regularly prosecutes and defends cases in both the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court. Jemima has acted in a number of Crown Court trials, including for offences of s.18 GBH, robbery, burglary, the production and supply of controlled drugs, domestic violence and dangerous driving. Jemima is currently a CPS grade 3 prosecutor.

Jemima has experience of proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Jemima has acted as defence counsel in a number of confiscation hearings involving drug-related offences and fraud. Jemima was also instructed as junior counsel for the prosecution for confiscation proceedings relating to a large scale conspiracy to supply psychoactive substances.

Jemima has acted on a number of occasions as junior counsel. Jemima was instructed as junior counsel in a case involving a conspiracy to cause explosions, where the Defendants attacked a number of ATM machines, taking just under £250,000. Jemima acted as disclosure junior on a Class A drugs conspiracy involving the importation of drugs, which required examination of material obtained from the USA and European countries. She is currently instructed as disclosure junior on a case involving a serious violent disorder, resulting in the death of a young male.

Regulatory

During 2020, Jemima completed a secondment with the Care Quality Commission, carrying out advisory work in relation to potential criminal prosecutions by the CQC.  During the secondment, Jemima also represented the CQC at a number of hearings, including the CQC’s first prosecution for breach of the duty of candour obligations.

Jemima is regularly instructed by the Care Quality Commission to carry out pre-charge advisory work on behalf of the CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, relating to a range of health and social care providers, eg care homes, NHS and private hospitals. Jemima has appeared on behalf of the Care Quality Commission for plea and sentence hearings in relation to breaches of Regulation 12 safe care and treatment and Regulation 13 safeguarding service users from improper treatment.

Jemima was led by Paul Greaney KC in a case involving a legal argument regarding the nullity of proceedings and the interpretation of the recent High Court decision in Food Standards Agency v Bakers of Nailsea Ltd.

Jemima was recently instructed by the Care Quality Commission in a 4 day trial at Beverley Magistrates’ Court. The case related to an incident at a private care home where a service user with a known previous conviction for a sexual offence committed a serious sexual assault on another vulnerable service user. The case involved consideration of expert evidence on the appropriate management of individuals with previous convictions for sexual offences. The Registered Provider entered a guilty plea on the day of trial, and the Registered Manager was convicted after trial. The Registered Provider was sentenced to a fine of £128,000.

Press coverage of the case is available here and here

Memberships

CPS Level 3 Prosecutor