Gabriella Lewis

Gabriella Lewis

YEAR OF CALL 2018

Education

2015: BA (Hons) French, Italian and European Studies, University of Bath – 2.1
2017: Graduate Diploma in Law, University of Law – Commendation
2018: Bar Professional Training Course, City University of Law – Very Competent

Appointments

CPS Advocate Panel – Level 3

Memberships

The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Criminal Bar Association
Women in Criminal Law

Languages Spoken

French
Italian

Overview

Gabriella has developed a busy practice prosecuting and defending in the Crown, Magistrates’ and Youth Courts.

Gabriella has conducted a broad range of criminal cases, many involving allegations of violence, drugs, dishonesty, and sexual offences. Gabriella has particular experience representing children and young people charged with serious crimes and has frequently appeared as appointed counsel for the defence in such matters. She has a strong grasp of the full range of issues that routinely arise in these cases including; DNA and fingerprint evidence, identification evidence, telephone download and cell site evidence, and evidence of bad character and hearsay.

Prior to commencing practice, Gabriella worked as a paralegal at a large criminal defence solicitors’ firm. Whilst there, she worked on Appeals to the Court of Appeal on the full range of criminal offences, often of the most serious kind. She also represented prisoners charged under the Prison Rules at Adjudication Hearings. In addition, she previously worked for the Financial Ombudsman Service as an investigator in their Fraud and Financial Crime Team.

Gabriella has also acted as a legal researcher to the online edition of Blackstone’s Criminal Practice, with particular contributions to the Road Traffic and Evidence sections.

Notable Cases

R v H (Southwark Crown Court, 2024) – Unanimous acquittal for youth running a s.45 Modern Slavery defence in drug supply case.

R v S (Stratford Youth Court, 2023) – Successful representation on a certificate for counsel of a boy of 14 charged with serious sexual offences.

R v A (Isleworth Crown Court, 2023) – Acting for the defendant charged with s.18 where a successful submission of no case to answer was made where there were flaws in the Crown’s identification evidence.

R v T & A (Isleworth Crown Court, 2023) – Successful appeal against conviction from the youth court, for an offence of s.18 GBH where the defendants were accused of setting fire to the complainant.

R v MT (Court of Appeal, 2023) – Successful appeal against sentence. The sentence was reduced from 6 years to 4 years in a dwelling burglary case where the mandatory minimum provisions applied. A link to the judgment can be found here: https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Crim/2023/543.html

R v AS (Lewes Crown Court, 2023) – AS was tried for multiple racially aggravated public order offences. All three complainants gave evidence that the same racial slurs were used against them by the Defendant who was a relative. AS was acquitted on all counts.

R v IM (Kingston Crown Court, 2023) – IM was accused of five counts of ABH and criminal damage by his ex-partner. IM was acquitted of all but one charge of criminal damage, receiving a small fine.

R v LP (Southwark Crown Court, 2022) – LP was accused of possessing criminal property in relation to a robbery at which he was not present. LP gave evidence to show that the money was received legitimately and was acquitted in under an hour, preserving his good character.

R v AR (Bromley Youth Court, 2022) – Instructed to represent AR, aged 17, was charged with PWITS Class A and possession of criminal property. He raised a s45 defence. Following written representations and a modern slavery expert’s report from the Defence, the Crown discontinued proceedings against AR, preserving his good character.

R v JM (Aldersgate House Nightingale Court, 2022) – Represented JM, charged with 4 counts of assaulting an emergency worker. At trial, self-defence was raised. All of the offences were captured on the officers’ body worn video cameras and all 3 officers were witnesses for the Crown. He was acquitted by the jury.