Lucy Brown is an experienced practitioner who both defends and prosecutes. She is a Grade 3 prosecutor. She defends in a range of matters, including those involving allegations of serious violence and sexual offences.
Lucy prides herself on providing both professional and lay clients with swift and clear advice. She is recognised by those who instruct her for her excellent manner with vulnerable defendants and witnesses, particularly young people and those with mental health issues.
Lucy has experience dealing with young defendants both as assigned counsel in the Youth Court and in the Crown Court. She is a facilitator on the Inns of Court College of Advocacy Training Course, “Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law”.
Lucy has acted as led junior for the defence in a range of cases.
As a Grade 3 prosecutor, Lucy prosecutes a wide range of offences. Additionally, she has been led for the prosecution in a range of cases involving voluminous and complex evidence. Lucy has a solid grounding in disclosure work, having been involved in disclosure review for the prosecutions arising out of the Hillsborough disaster and from acting a Disclosure Counsel in a non-recent sexual abuse case which has involved a substantial amount of disclosure.
Lucy’s practice includes dealing with proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act, including confiscation and re-determination.
Lucy’s background has given her extensive experience in dealing with driving offences in both the Magistrates’ and Crown courts. She also has experience of representing defendants in Court Martial proceedings.
In addition to her practice, Lucy is keen to support those interested in pursuing a career in law. She has previously mentored BPTC students and taught on both the LPC and BPTC. She became a Pupil Supervisor in 2022.
Notable Cases
Notable Cases – Defence
- R v S [2024] – Bradford Crown Court – trial involving alleged probate fraud. Defendant convicted but suspended sentence imposed
- R v P [2024] – Leeds Crown Court – acquittal after trial of allegations of sexual abuse by step-father
- R v P [2023] – Kingston upon Hull Crown Court – acquittal after trial for a defendant who faced multiple allegations of exposure and sexual offences against two complainants
- R v P [2022] – Bradford Crown Court – acquittal at trial for a defendant who was the victim of modern slavery and faced an allegation of cannabis production
- R v A & others [2022] – Bradford Crown Court – defence junior to Glenn Parsons in a case involving allegations of money laundering and fraud, no evidence offered on day of trial
- R v M [2022] – secured acquittal after trial for a security guard alleged to have assaulted a vulnerable patient in hospital
- R v B [2022] – Leeds Youth Court – instructed as assigned counsel to represent a youth facing multiple allegations including a number of knife point robberies. The case involved dealing with the issue of Child Criminal Exploitation and psychological evidence
- R v M [2021] – Doncaster Youth Court – assigned counsel representing a youth facing an allegation of sexual activity with a child
- R v J [2021] – Leeds Crown Court – successful submission of no case to answer on behalf of a defendant who was unfit to plead
- R v T [2021] – Bradford Crown Court – successfully defending an allegation of cannabis production at trial. The defendant raised the statutory defence under the Modern Slavery Act
- R v MM [2020] – Bradford Crown Court – defence junior to Kitty Colley in a case of child cruelty with substantial unused material and complex expert evidence
- R v Awan [2019] EWCA Crim 1456 – Court of Appeal – Successful appeal against a Restraining Order. Click here to view the reported case and featured in Crime Line Update 65
- R v B [2019] – Leeds Crown Court – defence junior to Robin Frieze in a trial involving allegations of sexual abuse against 5 complainants over three decades
- R v T [2019] – Leeds Crown Court – successfully defending an allegation of sexual assault at trial
- R v K [2018] – Bradford Crown Court – Junior to Gillian Batts, defending in a case involving 24 counts of historical sexual abuse by a single defendant, against 7 complainants over a period of 30 years. The defendant was acquitted of all counts
- R v MI & others [2018] – Sheffield Crown Court – defending in a multi-handed conspiracy to defraud in relation to the repair and sale of vehicles with false histories and identities. The case involved a large volume of evidence including cell site analysis
- R v F [2016] – Sheffield Crown Court – successfully defended in a multi handed violent disorder trial arising out of clashes between far right and anti-fascist protestors. Issues arose in relation to media coverage of a related trial
Notable Cases – Prosecution
- R v C [2023] – Bradford Crown Court – secured conviction after trial for production of cannabis where case relied primarily on a fingerprint found on a moveable object at the scene
- R v A & L [2023] – Teesside Crown Court – secured convictions after trial for possession of a prohibited weapon in relation to a sawn off shot gun.
- R v L [2023] – Bradford Crown Court – Junior to Catherine Silverton in a case of causing grievous bodily harm to a 3 month old baby
- Operation Hazleshot I [2023] – Bradford Crown Court – Disclosure Junior instructed by CPS Complex Case Unit in a case of non-recent CSE which involved dealing with a vast quantity of disclosure.
- R v M [2022] – Sheffield Crown Court – multiple bogus official burglaries of elderly/vulnerable victims
- R v L & others [2022] – Leeds Crown Court – allegation of s. 18 wounding in which the vulnerable victim sustained serious head injuries. All defendants eventually entered acceptable pleas
- R v W [2021] – Leeds Crown Court – prosecution of homophobic assault during Leeds Pride
- Operation Fallstoke [2021] – Leeds Crown Court – Junior in a multi handed prosecution for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. 3 of the 4 defendants were convicted.
- R v S [2021] – Leeds Crown Court – Instructed by the CPS Complex Case Unit to prosecute allegations of perverting the course of justice. Defendant pleaded guilty during the course of the trial
- Hillsborough Disaster prosecutions [2017] – instructed to assist with the disclosure review for the prosecutions arising out of the Hillsborough disaster
Court Martial Cases
- R v Warren [2018] Catterick Military Court – representing a military police officer who faced an allegation of dishonesty, the case was discontinued on the day of trial as a result of representations made to the Service Prosecuting Authority.
- R v Thomas and others [2018] Bulford Military Court – defending at trial one of 10 army instructors alleged to have abused teenage recruits during a bayonet training exercise. Cpl Thomas was acquitted before the conclusion of the trial when the Crown reviewed the evidence against him. Link to media coverage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-43458416
Lucy draws on her extensive experience in criminal matters to enable her to act in a range of regulatory proceedings including:
- Licensing matters including appeals against Firearms licensing decisions
- Proceedings in relating to behavior orders such as Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Violent Offender Orders, Serious Crime Prevention Orders, Closure Orders.
- Disciplinary proceedings before the Farrier’s Registration Council & HCPTS;
- Enforcement proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act;
- Proceedings in the Magistrates’ Court on behalf of agencies including the Food Standards Agency and DVLA;
- Appearing before the Traffic Commissioner.
Notable Cases
- HCPTS v Ahmed [2022] – application for restoration to the register for a healthcare professional
- Traffic Commissioner v TMS Barriers [2021] – representing a transport operator in a public enquiry in respect of their operator’s licence.
- Humberside Police v B [2021] – successfully resisting a firearms licencing appeal
- G v FRC [2016] – represented a farrier who admitted gross professional misconduct following a criminal conviction which resulted in a prison sentence. He avoided suspension or termination of his registration