Criminal Defence
Our expert team specialises in privately funded criminal defence work, providing advice and representation at both the police investigation stage and in the Magistrates' and Crown Courts.
We recognise that facing a criminal allegation is one of the most stressful experiences which a person can face. Investigations and prosecutions will take a significant period of time to reach a conclusion. The potential impact of being convicted can be terrifying, both in terms of sentence and the effect upon reputation and employment.
We provide a service which is akin to choosing private health care when you are in need of medical assistance. You will have the reassurance of dealing with the same solicitor throughout your case: a trusted advisor available to speak and meet with at a time and place to suit you. Our Criminal Defence Team can assist from both our Norwich and Ipswich offices, allowing us to provide our services to clients across Norfolk, Suffolk and North Essex.
How we can help
Investigations
We provide specialist advice and representation if you are facing investigation and interview by the police.
Facing a criminal allegation and an interview under caution is an extremely stressful experience. We will be alongside you throughout. We will advise you whether it is in your best interests to answer questions, provide a written statement or exercise your right to silence.
In some instances there will be an opportunity for us to make submissions to the police that a case shouldn’t proceed to court. Providing the police with an early indication of how the defence sees the case and identify shortcomings in the prosecution’s evidence can sometimes prevent an investigation from progressing to court.
Court Proceedings
We will consider the prosecution evidence, meet with you to take your instructions and provide you with clear advice upon plea and prospects.
If you have to plead guilty, we will carefully prepare your case in order to present your mitigation to the court at the very first hearing date and to seek to minimise the sentence.
If it’s a not guilty plea, there will be thorough preparation of your case for trial, whether it’s at the Magistrates’ Court or the Crown Court. This will include taking you through all aspects of the prosecution evidence, engaging with independent experts and conducting site visits where appropriate and taking statements from potential defence witnesses.
We have a long-standing close relationship with one of the top sets of criminal defence barristers. If your trial is in the Crown Court you will have the considerable reassurance of knowing that a trusted and experienced barrister will be acting on your behalf throughout the trial; someone with whom you will have met on a number of occasions during the course of preparing your case.
You will be given the choice of instructing a barrister if your trial is in the Magistrates’ Court.
Offences which we deal with
We provide advice and representation to clients facing any criminal allegation.
These are some of the most common offences which we have dealt with:
Assaults (common assault, ABH, GBH)
Animal welfare
Benefit fraud
Burglary
Criminal damage
Drugs offences (cultivation, importation, possession, supply)
Firearms offences
Fraud
Harassment and stalking
Malicious communications
Manslaughter
Murder
Perverting the course of justice
Proceeds of crime / Money laundering
Public order offences (affray, disorderly conduct, threatening behaviour)
Road traffic and transport offences
Sexual offences
Theft
Get in Touch
What our clients say
My experience from start to finish was professional and thorough.
I am very grateful to Joanne Henderson for offering me invaluable advice and guidance and for preparing an excellent carefully considered statement of mitigation for submission to the Court.
Howard, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, and the barristers involved, for all your hard work in fighting my son’s case and ensuring he was exonerated from all criminal charges.
I am happy with the outcome and more than happy with your dealing of the matter. I found your manner and attitude absolutely as I would have liked it to be. I do not have any criticisms at all. Thank you for all your energy and attention to our case.
Matthew's dealing with my speeding situation was excellent. He maintained great communication and made sure that we were prepared for every eventuality. The result was better than expected and very much a surprise, which gave me huge relief and has had a huge impact on my life. The service and professionalism that Matthew and Diane provided was excellent.
I am really pleased with this outcome and hopefully now breathe a sigh of relief and continue with life as normal with my family from now on. I have always regarded Leathes Prior to be one of the best solicitors in Norwich and was very pleased with the service received.
Please accept my thanks for the excellent legal service you have provided. I've long suspected that I was extremely fortunate to discover your practice here in Norwich and events of the last few weeks have only served to confirm that impression.
I know it cost a few quid, but I’m chuffed beyond words with the result!
Just want to say thank you for all your hard work and you made it so much easier having you to represent us as we wouldn’t have got the same result without you. I would recommend you to anyone who need your services and I would certainly use you if I did need a solicitor.
Outstanding, we were in very good hands from the first contact with Leathes Prior Solicitors. I know we wouldn't have had the outcome without Diane and Joanne. A lot of hard work went into the case. Joanne knew exactly who to contact for my son's Barrister.
Howard, we would like to thank you for guiding us through a very challenging and emotional time. We were very much out of our depth and appreciated your advice and guidance and much-needed support and expertise. It was a huge relief to have matters brought to a swift and successful conclusion.
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