Bethany Baggaley

Barrister

Bethany is a criminal defence specialist who accepts instructions across Chambers’ criminal work including serious violence, drugs, weapons and dishonesty offences.

Bethany has a dedicated approach to client care, and is adept in representing the interests of vulnerable defendants including those with a background of mental health difficulties and young clients.

Bethany also has an interest in public law matters and those falling into the civil jurisdiction of the criminal courts. She has experience opposing Football Banning Orders, Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and appealing ACRO decisions.

Bethany acts in a range of matters as a led junior and a junior alone.

Background

Before joining Chambers’ Bethany gained experience at a public law firm bringing judicial reviews on behalf of clients in homeless and community care matters. She has considerable experience advising in public law matters, working with children and young people as well as disabled clients with complex medical needs. Bethany spent several years working for a hospital-based youth violence charity and is experienced in serious youth violence and so-called ‘gang violence’ issues.

Qualifications and Awards

LLB Law, University of Bristol (2018)
BPTC LLM, The University of Law, London (2019)
Inner Temple Exhibition Award (2018)
Inner Temple Duke of Edinburgh Award (2018)
Lamb Building Prize for Judicial Review (2019)

Memberships

The Honourable Society of Inner Temple
Criminal Bar Association
Women in Criminal Law

R v PS – Defendant charged with aggravated burglary, coercive and controlling behaviour, ABH and threats to kill. Acquitted on all counts after trial.
R v PP – Defendant charged with threatening with a bladed article. Acquitted after trial.
R v DR – Defendant charged with and pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment which included a threat to kill. Defendant had significant mental health difficulties. He was sentenced to a 12-month community order.
R v IT – Defendant was a security guard charged with assaulting a member of the public. Acquitted following a successful submission of no case to answer at trial.
R v MM – Defendant sentenced to a conditional discharge after entering guilty pleas on the day of trial to criminal damage and drunk and disorderly behaviour.
R v KC – Defendant faced trial on a two-count indictment of burglary and assault. A plea to assault was advanced and accepted with the defendant sentenced to a fine on the day of trial.
R v BM – Defendant charged with burglary. Defendant suffered with significant mental health difficulties at the time of the offending. Upon representations being made to the CPS this was dealt with as an out of court disposal.
R v ZH – Represented the defendant in FBO proceedings, following guilty pleas to communication offences relating to Hillsborough. The prosecution withdrew their application for an FBO following service of the defence skeleton.
R v IT – Defendant was a professional security guard charged with assault. The defendant was acquitted following a submission of no case to answer.
R v MA – Defendant sentenced to a conditional discharge following after pleading guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place.
R v AE – Defendant was sentenced to a suspended sentence order following guilty pleas to arson and criminal damage.
R v R – Represented a defendant charged with robbery in a multi-handed case. The defendant had neurodevelopmental difficulties making him particularly vulnerable. Following representations at court on the day of trial the prosecution offered no evidence.
R v S – S, a child, fell to be sentenced for 4 charges of assault and burglary after a trial. Following a full sentencing hearing, a YRO was imposed with less onerous conditions than those recommended by YOT.