Pump Court Chambers has ‘a strong criminal team on the Western Circuit, with strength across all levels of call’. Sarah Jones KC represented a former Mayor of Winchester, who was acquitted of attempted murder after admitting to smothering his 92-year-old terminally ill mother on a telephone call to the emergency services. Rebecca Fairbairn who is ’a highly articulate and hard-working advocate’, successfully prosecuted a historic case of involving rape and sexual abuse of a child, with charges for offences both before and after the 2003 Sexual Offences Act 2003, securing a conviction and a 21-year sentence. Mark Ruffell has prosecuted a number of cases regarding organised crime in Portsmouth.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Profile
Position
Sarah made her mark in prosecuting and defending in cases involving multiple allegations of historic sexual abuse and other serious sexual allegations. Having taken silk, she now undertakes the most serious and complex of cases and is routinely instructed by both prosecution and defence in cases of fatal violence, complex child cruelty and neglect, serious sexual violence and fraud. She accepts publicly and privately funded work and can in suitable cases be instructed on a direct access basis.
She is expert in the questioning or representation of those considered vulnerable either by reason of their extreme youth or age, capabilities, health or the nature of the offences with which the case is concerned. She is often instructed for challenging clients – those requiring careful handling due to psychiatric or other reasons. She has an approachable manner but can be firm or authoritative as required.
Career
Called 1996, Lincoln’s Inn.
Education
BA (Hons).
Content supplied by Pump Court Chambers
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Pump Court Chambers has an efficient clerking team.'
- 'The clerks are very helpful and are approachable, which makes working with them a pleasure.'
- ‘Pump Court Chambers is the go-to set for a variety of clients.’
- ‘Pump Court Chambers is a friendly local set which provides a good service to the local CPS and defence solicitors.’
- ‘Pump Court Chambers is a well-known and respected set on the western circuit.’
- ‘Pump Court Chambers is a top quality and go-to set.’