Hannah Williams > 3TG Barristers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Hannah Williams

Career

Hannah is instructed in all areas of criminal law and is confident to deal with complex legal and factual issues. She has extensive experience in a broad range of criminal offences including violence, sexual offences, drugs, dishonesty and road traffic offences.

Hannah receives instructions in confiscation proceedings as well as civil matters such as CBO applications and has assisted in extradition cases. She has a particular interest and expertise in representing young people and vulnerable defendants.

Before joining Chambers, Hannah worked at Kingsley Napley LLP as a Regulatory Legal Assistant. Hannah had a mixed practise, investigating and preparing fitness to practise cases on behalf of regulatory bodies (the HCPC and EWC) as well as the defence of professionals (doctors before the GMC and teachers before the NCTL).

Hannah previously lived in Accra (Ghana) completing a placement for an NGO supporting the economic participation of women and promoting gender equality. She has also been heavily involved in local community projects in South London with young people and vulnerable adults. She has co-ordinated programs in mentoring teenagers and been a mentor herself. She was a team leader for Trussell Trust Foodbanks and is currently a Co-opted Governor at a local primary school.

Notable Cases:

R v V [2020] – Hannah is currently instructed as sole counsel to defend D1 who is accused of running a drugs line in a county lines conspiracy case. In the early stages of the case, there is already a wealth of complex documentation – evidence extracted from various burner telephones, £30,000 seized as suspected criminal property, the alleged trafficking of young people from London and a large quantity of drugs.

R v S [2020] – Hannah is currently representing S, a young person, who currently has three ongoing cases including several charges of class A PWITS and affray. There is a complex factual background over a long time period and a positive NRM referral.

R v B [2020] – B faced two counts of possession of bladed articles which raised interesting arguments in relation to joint enterprise with the co-defendants. The trial lasted four days before the Crown Court in Bristol.

R v W [2020] – W was found not guilty of harassment after a two-day trial.

R v A [2020] – Hannah defended A who faced an indictment with counts of fraud and ill-treatment/ wilful neglect of an individual in A’s care. No evidence was offered on all counts shortly before the trial commenced.

R v S [2019]- Hannah succeeded in running the defence of non-insane automatism and S was acquitted of all offences.

R v Q [2019] – The defendant faced a historic multiple count indictment of ill-treatment/ neglect of care home residents lacking capacity whilst working as a mental health nurse. Hannah was junior defence counsel in the 7-week trial before the Crown Court in Newcastle.

R v D [2019] – D faced multiple counts of fraud to a total value of approximately £500,000 and possession of false identification documents with intent to use them. D pleaded guilty to all counts on a basis of coercion that did not amount to duress which the Crown accepted. He was also in breach of an 18-month SSO and received a total sentence of 46 months custody.

R v B [2019] – B was charged with one count of harassment. Hannah succeeded in a half time submission highlighting the inconsistency between the Complainant’s evidence and the phone records relied upon by the Crown.

R v R [2019] – In this youth case, Hannah successfully opposed an application to adduce hearsay evidence which resulted in the Crown offering no evidence on all offences, including a section 20 GBH and possession of an offensive weapon.

R v D [2018] – D was charged with ABH in relation to an allegation he had repeatedly punched his ex-partner. There was extensive evidence of injuries. D was acquitted after running self-defence at trial.

R v A [2018] – A was a youth who pleaded guilty to a gang related affray and possession of an offensive weapon. A was sentenced to an 18-month DTO in the youth court. Hannah successfully appealed this to the Crown Court where it was reduced to a 12-month DTO.

R v W [2018] – W was found not guilty after trial of possession of an offensive weapon and assault charges.

R v R [2018] – Hannah successfully made a half time submission in a theft case on the basis there had been no appropriation or dishonesty.

 

Memberships

Gray’s Inn
Criminal Bar Association
Young Legal Aid Lawyers

Education

LLB Law (Hons) – University of Manchester
BPTC (Very Competent) – University of Law
Prize winner for achieving the highest mark in the Advanced Criminal Practice BPTC module – University of Law