School: Altrincham Girls Grammar School
University: University of London, University of Central Lancashire
School of Law: Inns of Court School of Law
Qualifications: LL.B (Hons)
Rachel is an experienced criminal advocate practising exclusively in crime and is regularly instructed by both the prosecution and defence in serious criminal cases. In particular, she specialises in murder, violence and serious sexual offences.
Rachel is routinely instructed in cases involving a wide range of sexual offences and is well known for her experience in handling such cases, including “grooming rings”, rape, sexual assault, historic abuse and familial offences, as well as digital sexual offences.
As well as conducting legally aided work she is also regularly sought out by private paying clients.
Rachel has a reputation as a formidable opponent with a high success rate across the board. She is a persuasive jury advocate and has particular skill in dealing with vulnerable witnesses, including children as young as 3 years old and other witnesses with learning disabilities, autism and other mental health problems. She is known for her attention to detail and diligent case preparation , as well as excellent client care.
Rachel has been described as:
“hugely persuasive”; “skillful in cross examination”; and “a tenacious advocate”.
Sexual offences
Defendant
R v JD (2018) – 14 year old Defendant acquitted of the repeated stranger rape of an alcoholic woman.
R v JW (2018) – Marital rape. After cross examination of the Complainant the Prosecution offered no evidence.
R v DH (2018) – Allegation of marital rape. Bad character evidence of previous sexual assaults was admitted before the jury. Defendant acquitted.
R v B-G (2019) – Defendant acquitted of serious sexual assault which was captured on webcam video.
R v J Walsh (2019) – Rape of a male with strongly supportive forensic evidence. The Defendant had a limited recollection of events. The case involved complex expert evidence as to the hallucinogenic/psychotic effects of Ketamine. Defendant acquitted.
R v GM (2019) – Sexual assault alleged by 6 year old child against her grandfather. Defendant acquitted.
R v AG (2019) – Bus driver acquitted of sexual assault upon a Complainant with Downs Syndrome. He had faced a similar previous allegation.
R v NS (January 2020) – Allegation of rape of a child. Prosecution offer no evidence after successful legal argument to exclude the Defendant’s interview.
R v Fletcher (February 2020) – Rape and Sexual assault upon three complainants over 10 years.
R v BT (January 2021) – Church Pastor charged with sexual assaults on 33 children – guilty pleas.
R v CW (June 2021) – Female Defendant acquitted of sexual assault upon her son’s 15 year old friend.
R v AM (July 2021) – University student acquitted of sexually assaulting three female students.
R v PT (October 2021) – Historic allegations of rape and sexual assault upon the Defendant’s sister, daughter and sister-in-law who was deceased. Defendant acquitted on all counts.
R v SY (January 2023) – Four month grooming gang case involving historic rape and trafficking of a child.
R v KM (February 2023) – Defendant acquitted of stranger attempted rape.
R v CM and CM (April 2023) – Trial and re-trial of sexual allegations made by four complainants over 10 years.
R v JH (Retrial listed February 2024) – Rape and perverting the course of justice.
Prosecution
R v JG and AG (2019) – Allegation of rape, sexual assault and grooming over several years. Defendant convicted and received 21 years.
R v MB (2019) – Defendant convicted of rape and sexual assault of a child family member.
R v OH (2020) – Defendant convicted of historic sexual assault upon a child.
R v Evitt & McGlacken (October 2022) – Defendants convicted of murdering and dismembering their friend using a circular saw.
Other Cases
R v JK (March 2023) – Allegations of attempted murder by a female Defendant using an electric screwdriver to attack her neighbour. Pleas to Section 18 and aggravated burglary accepted on the day of trial.
R v Danielle McCreery (March 2020) – Defendant accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to a murder in Lancaster.
R v Raheel Khan (October 2020) – Defendant unanimously acquitted of murder by stabbing in Oldham. (Manchester Evening News) (BBC News).
R v AR (December 2020) – Allegation of murder, by repeated blows with an axe. Prosecution accepted a plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
R v David Pawluk (October 2018) – Defence murder in a domestic setting. (BBC News) (Daily Mail).
R v Diane Ingham (2017) – mother acquitted of using violence leading up to a murder involving her family members. Convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Rachel Shenton, leading Claire Brocklebank, successfully prosecuted Austin Duckworth for murdering his father, following an attack at the victim’s home. The deceased was punched repeatedly in the head by the defendant. The case, which was heard in…
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