Mollie regularly prosecutes and defends in a wide variety of matters in both the Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court. She is a Grade 2 Prosecutor. Mollie’s attention to detail and thorough case preparation has secured acquittals including in a successful run of self-defence against a charge of assault, a case involving a domestic assault and intentional strangulation, and most recently, an attempted burglary. Mollie also secured an acquittal in a robbery trial in the Youth Court and is keen to develop this practice further. She has represented vulnerable clients with various mental health issues and her personable approach means she is able to form rapports with her lay clients quickly. Mollie has established strong relationships with instructing solicitors and received positive feedback from professional and lay clients.
Aside from other criminal matters, Mollie deals with driving matters in the Magistrates’ Court and has been successful in advancing arguments for exceptional hardship. She has previously represented the police in an application for the variation of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Mollie also receives instructions in Parole Board hearings, representing lay clients facing decisions as to their release.
Mollie is keen to continue to develop a successful and busy practice in a wealth of criminal matters.
Notable cases
Prosecution:
R v T [2023] – Dangerous driving and other driving offences (York Crown Court). 8 months’ immediate imprisonment was imposed. See the reported case here – https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/23926893.alexander-taylor-jailed-a64-east-york-police-pursuit/?ref=rss
R v R [2024] – Coercive and Controlling behaviour, Assault, 2 x Threaten with an Offensive Weapon (Sheffield Magistrates’ Court). The Defendant was found guilty of all offences following a two day trial.
R v L & M [2024] – Robbery and Possession with Intent to Supply Class A drugs (Bradford Crown Court). One Defendant received a total of four years and nine months’ imprisonment for all the offences, whilst the other received two years and three months’ imprisonment for one of the robberies. See the case here – “Gang member’s chilling ‘bang’ threat as he robbed teenage boys of bikes” – https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/gang-members-chilling-bang-threat-29531568
Defence:
R v L [2024] – Assault against a child (Kirklees’ Magistrates’ Court). Mollie cross-examined a child with severe neurological difficulties. The Defendant was acquitted following trial.
R v S [2024] – Section 18 Assault and Sexual Assault (Leeds Crown Court). The Defendant received a total sentence of 4 years’ imprisonment (Section 18 Assault: 3 years and 8 months, Sexual Assault: 4 months’ consecutive). Mollie successfully persuaded the Court not to make a finding of dangerousness.
R v M [2024] – Dangerous Driving (Leeds Crown Court). The offence involved driving with no insurance, to excessive speeds, damage being caused to vehicles and property, with a passenger and animal present in the vehicle, and was committed in the course of evading police and whilst the Defendant was under the influence of Cocaine. A 14 month Suspended Sentence Order was imposed for a period of 2 years.
R v R [2024] – Affray and Possession of Cocaine (Bradford Crown Court). A Suspended Sentence Order was imposed. See the reported case here – https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/24468837.shakil-roy-sentenced-fracas-outside-top-club-halifax/
R v W [2023] – Breach of a Restraining Order and Stalking involving serious alarm/distress (Bradford Crown Court). See the reported case here – “Nightmare neighbour made Bradford woman’s life an ‘absolute misery’” – https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/23439701.nightmare-neighbour-made-bradfordwomans-life-an-absolute-misery/
R v T [2023] – Assault (Leeds Magistrates’ Court). The defence pursued was one of self-defence. The Defendant was acquitted following trial.
R v C [2023] – Assault and Intentional Strangulation (Kirklees’ Magistrates’ Court). Following trial, the Defendant was found not guilty of both offences.
R v G [2023] – Attempt Burglary (Leeds Magistrates’ Court). The Defendant was acquitted after trial.
R v S [2023] – Youth Robbery Trial (Bradford Youth Court). The Defendant was acquitted following trial. The case was put on the basis of joint enterprise. See Mollie’s article about the case here – https://www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk/news/mollie-briggs-secures-acquittal-for-youth-charged-with-robbery-and-attempted-robbery/
R v C [2024] – Three charges of Assault, one against a child (Leeds Magistrates’ Court). Mollie made a successful application for the exclusion hearsay evidence in respect of body worn footage of a child providing an account to the police.
R v B [2024] – Assault and criminal damage (Leeds Magistrates’ Court). Mollie successfully opposed a hearsay application to adduce evidence on the basis that the witness was unavailable through fear. This resulted in no evidence being offered by the Prosecution in respect of the offences for which the Defendant was to be tried.
R v K [2024] – Possession of a knife and stalking (Leeds Crown Court). Mollie successfully persuaded the court to impose a Community Order.
Contact Mollie’s clerks
Mollie receives regular instructions on behalf of parents in private law proceedings. She has successfully represented a Mother in a successful application for the immediate return of her child. Recently, Mollie acted in an ongoing case where early Final Orders were made in favour of her lay client, in a case involving allegations of domestic abuse. Mollie has received positive feedback from professional clients and members of the judiciary for her handling of cases. Mollie frequently acts in proceedings involving applications for Non-Molestation Orders and Occupation Orders and has successfully invited the court to dismiss proceedings against both of her lay clients in one case.
Mollie welcomes instructions in public law care proceedings. She has previously represented the Local Authority in cases involving the successful discharge of Care Orders and in proceedings involving final care plans for Adoption and Placement Orders. She has also represented Mothers in contested interim removal hearings. She is able to console lay clients in highly emotional situations owing to her sensitive and approachable manner.
Contact Mollie’s clerks
Claudine Cooper on 0113 202 8604
Paul Foster on 0113 213 5209
Arnela Siranovic on 0113 213 5212