7 Harrington Street

Criminal

Barrister

Call: 2017

Crown Prosecution Service Category 2

Verity accepts instructions in all areas of crime, both prosecuting and defending. She has experience of cases involving violence, drugs, dishonesty and sexual offences, in the Magistrates’, Youth and Crown Courts and has had success in the Court of Appeal. She is recognised as a leading junior in the Legal 500, described as ‘outstanding’.   

Verity has a particular interest in financial crime. She is a Corporate Crime contributor to Lexis PSL and a former Committee Member of the North West Fraud Forum. She has experience of disclosure heavy cases through her involvement in the defence team for ENRC (the longest running SFO investigation into bribery and corruption which was closed without charge), work on the  Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry as an employed barrister at Fieldfisher, and her current instruction assisting in the defence of the former Finance Director of Patissere Valerie.

Verity has represented HMRC and the Home Office in forfeiture and condemnation proceedings, has represented both local authorities and appellants in taxi licence appeals  and has experience in corporate governance, having spent six months on secondment to the Ethics & Compliance department of a multi-national corporation, where she was responsible for managing and conducting internal investigations into over 40 allegations, ranging from Employment law issues to allegations of criminal offences such as theft, bribery and corruption.

Notable Cases

R v M [2025] – Successful submission of no case to answer in respect of an allegation of coercive controlling behaviour. 

R v M [2025] – Led by Andy Evans in multi-million-pound confiscation proceedings.

R v R&D [2025] – Represented Defendant charged with multiple counts of fraud. Defendant received a suspended sentence following conviction for the lesser offences of engaging in an unfair commercial practice.

R v Youth [2025] – Defendant was acquitted of multiple counts of vaginal and oral rape after trial. The issue for trial was consent. All parties were vulnerable and required intermediaries. 

R v M [2025] – Defendant acquitted of fraudulent evasion of duty after trial. Defendant received a community disposal following conviction for money laundering. 

R v AE [2025] – Prosecuted Defendant who was convicted after trial of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, strangulation, stalking and burglary.

R v J [2025] – Represented Defendant at trial for sexual assault by penetration. Pursued multiple applications, which ultimately resulted in the Prosecution offering no evidence. 

R v L [2024] – Successful appeal to the Court of Appeal against the imposition of a confiscation order.

R v F [2024] – Led by Nicola Carroll in the successful prosecution of the Defendant for multiple counts of rape, coercive controlling behaviour strangulation and wounding.

R v F [2024] – Secured the acquittal of Defendant charged with coercive controlling behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and witness intimidation. The Complainant’s credibility was so undermined that the Prosecution ultimately offered no evidence.

R v F [2024] – Following various written applications, including an application to dismiss, s.8  CPIA 1996 and abuse of process argument, Prosecution offered no evidence on all counts.

R v Youth [2024]  – Successfully represented youth charged with s.18 OAPA 1861.

S v DPP [2022] – Drafted advice and grounds in successful appeal to the Court of Appeal against sentence and imposition of an indefinite restraining order.

R v Youth – Successfully defended youth charged with joint enterprise arson in multi-handed trial.

AC (Parole Board) – Made a successful application for release of prison serving an IPP sentence.

Northern Circuit

Bar Professional Training Course (Very Competent)
Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)
MA Music, Culture and Politics
BA Music (First Class Honours)

Shelford Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
Hardwick Entrance Award, Lincoln’s Inn