Mollie Briggs

Mollie has a busy criminal practice, prosecuting and defending in both the Magistrates Court and Crown Court.

Mollie is increasingly building a strong reputation in her defence practice. Her 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 further, an attempted burglary. She has represented vulnerable clients with mental health issues and her personable approach means she is able to form rapports with her lay clients quickly. Mollie endeavours to achieve the best outcomes for her lay clients and has made successful arguments for the exclusion of evidence in the course of trials. Mollie has also represented the police in an application for the variation of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Mollie has established strong relationships with instructing solicitors and received positive feedback from professional and lay clients.

Mollie is keen to continue to develop a successful and busy practice in a wealth of criminal matters.

Notable cases - Prosecution

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”. Examiner Live
R v T [2023] – Dangerous driving and other driving offences (York Crown Court). 8 months’ immediate imprisonment was imposed. See the reported case – Gazette Herald

Notable Cases - Defence

R v G [2026] – Burglary (dwelling) and attempt burglary (dwelling). A 2-year sentence was imposed for a third strike burglar. Mollie successfully persuaded the court not to impose the mandatory minimum sentence despite the Defendant having 17 previous convictions for burglary offences, with six relating to dwellings.
R v L [2025] – Arson (reckless as to whether life was endangered) – following a three-day trial at Leeds Crown Court involving two Defendants, Mollie secured an acquittal for her lay client. The case against the Defendants was put on a joint enterprise basis.
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 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.
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’” – The Telegraph
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 – PSQB News report

Mollie accepts instructions in both private law and public law matters.

Mollie is regularly instructed to represent parents in private law proceedings. Her practice has included representing 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. She is able to console clients in highly emotional situations owing to her sensitive and approachable manner. 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 has previously successfully invited the court to dismiss proceedings against both of her lay clients.

Mollie has represented the Local Authority in public law cases involving the successful discharge of Care Orders and in proceedings involving care plans for Adoption and Placement Orders.

Mollie is keen to continue to develop a successful and busy practice in a wealth of family matters in both private and public law