New Park Court Chambers

Crime, Regulatory

Ashleigh Metcalfe has developed a strong criminal law practice that belies her level of Call.

Crime

Having been appointed as a Grade 4 prosecutor at 7 years full practice, she is routinely instructed on behalf of the prosecution in complex and multi-handed cases across the full spectrum of criminal law. She acts as junior – either leading or led – as well as alone. Her practice over recent years has involved the prosecution of wide-ranging Operation cases involving, but not limited to offences such as murder, organised crime, serious violence and drugs. Ashleigh has recently been instructed to act as prosecution Junior in a Counter-Terrorism trial lasting six weeks at Leeds Crown Court.

When defending, she is routinely instructed to represent clients charged with serious allegations including matters of sexual and violent offending. She is accustomed to dealing with young and vulnerable clients having cross-examined child witnesses as young as five-years-old.

Ashleigh is known on Circuit as being a barrister who is meticulous in her preparation and presentation of cases. Whilst being a confident and articulate advocate, she prides herself on her approachability for both lay and professional clients, maintaining her down-to-earth attitude when giving sound legal advice.

• R v OS (2025): Prosecuting a defendant who possessed an online library of extreme right-wing material showing an interest in topics such as the manufacture of firearms and explosives. Sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment.
• R v HB and AD (2025): Lead counsel when prosecuting two defendants who were the manager and Senior Care Assistants at a Rest Home, and who had both verbally and physically mistreated and abused residents. Following the trial, both defendants were convicted and imprisoned.
• R v CR (2024) – Operation Roderick: Instructed to defend in an eight-handed Operation alleging matters of conspiracy to possess firearms, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary and conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
• R v BH (2024): Represented a client charged with rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, four counts of ABH and one count of criminal damage. Through careful cross-examination of the complainant across the course of three days, Ashleigh was able to demonstrate how there had been various factual versions of the multiple incidents recorded and adduced which, when taken together, demonstrated the witness to be unreliable and lacking in credibility.

Regulatory

In 2019, Ashleigh was successful in her application to join the List of Specialist Regulatory Advocates at List C allowing her to prosecute for bodies such as the Health and Safety Executive, Environment Agency, Care Quality Commission.

Ashleigh has been regularly instructed in licensing hearings in relation to the revocation of private hire and Hackney taxi licences in both the Magistrates and Crown Court.

Ashleigh has been instructed by the Environment Agency to appear in the Magistrates’ Court. The hearings commonly related to rod licencing and relevant byelaws and rules, including cross-examination of defendants on their history of compliance with byelaws and rules and whether they had at the time of the offence the appropriate licences to fish.

Ashleigh has also been instructed by the Environment Agency to prosecute contested hearings in relation to offences under The Environmental Protection Act 1990.

• R v PG (2019) - Health and Safety: A three-day Health and Safety Executive prosecution trial involving seven count indictment. The Defendant appeared unrepresented requiring Ashleigh to liaise directly with the Defendant when considering the numerous agreed facts and trial bundle. The preparation for the trial included drafting agreed facts, preparing jury bundles with exhibiting documents and liaising with experts. Following conviction after trial, Ashleigh advanced sentencing submissions including reference to the detailed sentencing guidelines.
• R v MK (2018) - Revocation of Private Hire Licence: Appeal against the revocation of a private-hire licence. Initially instructed to provide advice in relation to contemplated judicial review proceedings; the Council had unilaterally revoked the appellant’s private-hire licence on the grounds of ‘public safety’ prohibiting him from working notwithstanding that an appeal was pending in the Crown Court. It was advised that the policy decision stood to be heavily criticised and possibly overturned in the judicial review proceedings. As a result of Ashleigh’s written advice the Council reinstated MK’s licence pending appeal.

CPS Level 4 Prosecutor CPS Specialist Counter Terrorism Panel at Level 3 Specialist Regulatory Advocate in Health & Safety and Environmental Law (List C) Member of the Criminal Bar Association Ashleigh Metcalfe is a Fee-Paid Judge of the First-tier Tribunal, assigned to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. This judicial appointment is a part-time role.