Annabel Gough accepts instructions in all areas of criminal and medical regulatory law. Annabel has particular interests in working with youth and vulnerable clients. She regularly advocates successfully for their best interests within the justice system which is not always inside a courtroom.

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Annabel is a passionate and driven barrister who prides herself on her approachable manner and ability to put clients at ease with clear and thorough legal advice. In court, Annabel will put forward the case in a relentless but respectful manner. She has a particular talent in breaking down complex, technical points into clear and compelling submissions for the jury.

Annabel is instructed in cases above her call level and ensures all matters she is involved in are presented fairly and robustly, either as defence or CPS panel advocate (2). Between 2019-2023, Annabel was seconded part time to the Financial Conduct Authority, she worked on a large investigation into offences of fraud and breaches of the Financial Services and Marketing Act as part of the Unauthorised Business Department. This long running investigation resulted in criminal charges being brought against a number of individuals in early 2023. She has also been instructed by HMRC for LPP review matters.

Before qualifying as a barrister, Annabel studied and worked in molecular biology. She specialised in DNA and forensic techniques of DNA extraction to set develop a unique expertise when dealing with cases with complex forensic evidence and expert witnesses.

Notable cases

R v JH [2023] – Aylesbury Crown Court – Represented a client for possession of mobile phones in prison, who was previously convicted for manslaughter, GBH and being unlawfully at large for over 10 years. A successful Newton Hearing meant the client received an exceptional community based sentence when immediate custody is usually imposed.

R v IB [2023] – Woolwich Crown Court – Successfully argued a case of assault on a police officer to be dropped before trial due to the client’s severe mental health problems impacting their behaviour at the time of the offence.

R v RH [2023] – Winchester Crown Court – Represented a client convicted of intentional GBH whilst in bed asleep and successfully mitigated to avoid a finding of dangerousness and be given a suspended sentence.

R v EL and others [2022] – Lewes Crown Court – Junior prosecution counsel for a 10-handed case of ‘county line’ drug supply across South London and West Sussex. Prison sentences for those involved total over 30 years.

R v RM [2022] – Isleworth Crown Court – Prosecuted a large scale drug supplier and secured a prison term after telephone evidence demonstrated the defendant was an almost daily supplier of the South West London ‘chemsex’ scene.

R v TM [2022] – Kingston Crown Court – Successfully argued a stay of indictment due to abuse of process, namely extreme delay, for a young client accused of rape and sexual assaults.

R v HH [2021] – Willesden Magistrates’ Court – Represented a client who was charged with assaulting 5 emergency workers. The client then had a serious mental health crisis at court before the trial and had to be detained under Mental Health Act powers. The trial was adjourned and when the client was well enough, entered guilty pleas but was successfully mitigated to only receive a suspended sentence.

R v YA [2020] – Snaresbrook Crown Court – Represented a Sudanese asylum seeker accused of robbery, it took nearly a year of attempts to get a psychiatric assessment and transferred to a hospital due to the severity of the mental health conditions. Eventually after being medicated in hospital they were acquitted at trial and allowed to progress through the necessary mental health treatment in hospital.

R v TB (youth) [2019] – Wood Green Crown Court – Represented a 16 year old defendant who pleaded guilty to an unprovoked section 20 GBH offence. After the Youth Court sentenced to 18 months Detention and Training order, successfully applied for bail pending appeal in the Crown Court. The appeal against sentence returned an 18 month Youth Rehabilitation Order with Intensive Supervision and Surveillance.

R v ST [2019] – Ipswich Crown Court – Represented a young woman pleading guilty to attempting to smuggle cannabis and tobacco into HMP Highpoint. Achieved a rare suspended sentence for this type of offence of 4 months suspended for 12 months.

R v SW [2019] – Kingston Crown Court – Successfully advocated for a suspended sentence for a Defendant found guilty of dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance after trial whilst having over 25 previous driving offences.

R v EG [2019] – Croydon Crown Court – Successfully defended an appeal against conviction for a neighbour harassment and assault case with a vulnerable defendant. Dealing with various mental health issues and complicated evidential chronology between the parties.

R v HH (youth) [2018] – St Albans Youth Court – Defending a 15 year old accused of 2 robbery offences as part of a 4 person group. Successfully made representations to the court and the prosecution resulting in guilty pleas to two assault by beating offences and a sentence of a 3 year conditional discharge.

Qualifications and Appointments

Criminal Bar Association Bursary Award for Excellence in Advocacy 2017 and 2018

Inner Temple Marshall Hall Trust Scholarship 2017

Civil and Commercial Mediator with the ADR Group

Bar Professional Training Court with BPP London

Graduate Diploma in Law with University of Law Bristol

BSc (Hons) Molecular and Cellular Biology with University of Bath

Affiliations

Criminal Bar Association

Level 2 CPS Panel Advocate

Trustee of Marshall Hall Trust