Helen Holder | Recent Work
Serious Sexual Offences
R v H – Birmingham Crown Court
Lead solicitor on the first trial in the UK relating to sexual offences committed outside of the jurisdiction. The preparation of the defence case required Helen to travel to Kenya to collate evidence. Many Kenyan based witnesses subsequently gave evidence during the trial by video link. Following a lengthy trial, the defendant was acquitted of the most serious of the alleged offences.
R v P – Stafford Crown Court
‘Not Guilty’ verdict obtained for retired professional accused of assault by penetration and sexual assault.
R v G – Worcester Crown Court
Secured an acquittal following a contested trial for a professional defendant charged with raping his partner.
R v H – Birmingham Crown Court
Secured a suspended sentence of imprisonment for a defendant who pleaded guilty to sexual offences committed by misrepresenting gender.
R v H – Shrewsbury Crown Court
Represented a professional defendant with no previous convictions in relation to numerous offences of voyeurism.
R v JM Birmingham Magistrates Court
Secured an acquittal following a contested trial for a senior professional NHS worker charged with voyeurism allegedly committed against a serving police officer.
R v P – Warwick Crown Court
Successfully represented well-known local businessman for offences of a serious sexual nature.
R v W – Stoke Crown Court
Secured an acquittal for a defendant charged with rape and sexual assault by penetration on an ex-partner.
R v L – Warwick Crown Court
Secured a non-custodial sentence for a defendant, caught by a “paedophile hunter ring”, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a minor.
R v T – Birmingham Crown Court
Secured an acquittal for a client charged with historic familial sexual offences.
R v H – Birmingham Crown Court
Secured an acquittal for a 17-year-old defendant with mental health difficulties charged with rape of his ex-girlfriend.
R v R – Leicester Crown Court
Represented a former Magistrates’ Court Clerk accused of possession of indecent images.
R v J – Birmingham Crown Court
Acted for a defendant facing an allegation of rape against daughter, which resulted in the Prosecution offering no evidence.
R v M – Bristol Crown Court
Represented a defendant charged with committing serious sexual offences against an 8-year-old female.
R v M – Wood Green Crown Court
Represented a defendant charged with historic familial sexual assaults. During the case the defendant became unfit to stand trial. Following detailed medical reports, the indictment was stayed.
R v R – Croydon Crown Court
Prepared an application to vary the length and the prohibitions of an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to one of a fixed length and reduced prohibitions. Application granted by the Judge who praised the thoroughness of the defence application.
R v DR – Guildford Crown Court
Successful application to vary an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order to a fixed length and clarification of prohibitions imposed.
W v West Midlands Police
Currently instructed to appeal against West Midlands Police determination to refuse to allow W to be removed from the Notification requirements (Sex Offenders Register) following the minimum length of 15 years– result pending.
Serious Crime
R v P – Stafford Crown Court
Represented a defendant charged with murder. Based on numerous defence expert reports a plea to manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility was accepted by the Prosecution which led to a significantly reduced sentence.
R v P – Nottingham Crown Court
Defendant was acquitted after trial of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice connected to a murder which took place in Nottingham City Centre.
R v B – Leeds Crown Court
Secured acquittal for a Letting Agent charged with Gross Negligence Manslaughter x 2 in relation to the death of two children in a house fire.
R v R – Woolwich Crown Court
Represented a defendant in the highly publicized ‘escape from custody’ case of John Anslow, who was remanded in custody on charges of murder.
R v D – Norwich Crown Court
Represented a mature defendant charged with historic offences of child cruelty and assaults during employment in National Children’s home.
R v S – Sheffield Crown Court
Represented local businessman in relation to breaches of the Fire Safety Regulations.
R v L – Stafford Crown Court
Large scale conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.
R v A – Birmingham Crown Court
Secured acquittal for a door supervisor charged with wounding.
R v D – Birmingham Crown Court
Secured a not guilty verdict for a 15-year-old charged with robbery.
R v M – Birmingham Crown Court
Defendant of good character was found not guilty of robbery and firearms offences after a trial.
R v T – Birmingham Crown Court
Represented a defendant charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
R v M – Worcester Crown Court
Represented a Spanish Lawyer charged with dangerous driving and secured his acquittal.
R v M – Birmingham Crown Court
Successfully represented a 10-year-old charged with knife point robbery.
R v E – Warwick Crown Court
Represented a defendant charged as part of a large multi handed conspiracy to supply Class A drugs from Wolverhampton into Warwick.
R v C – Birmingham Crown Court
Acted for a defendant who was acquitted by jury for offences of racially aggravated assault and affray.
R v K – Derby Crown Court
Secured a non-custodial sentence for an 18-year-old who pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. Complex issues arose since the defendant was 17 years old at the time of committing the offence.
R v F – Manchester Magistrates Court
Involved in the representation of Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff in relation to motoring offences.
R v W – Wolverhampton Crown Court
Secured an acquittal for an NHS worker with no previous convictions charged with having a dog dangerously out of control which caused injury.
R v W – Newcastle under Lyme Magistrates’ Court
Represented a ‘designated premises supervisor’, who was of previous good character, in relation to criminal offences regarding the breach of a Premises Licence. Following representations to the Prosecution, several of the charges were dropped, and the defendant was granted an absolute discharge.
Fraud & Financial Crime
R v C – Newcastle Crown Court
Represented the lead defendant in the largest ever reported VAT MTIC fraud (Operation Fastback; allegation of £365 million VAT Fraud).
R v B – Cardiff Crown Court
Represented a defendant charged with numerous offences of fraud with a total value of circa £1 million.
R v V – Southwark Crown Court
Representing a defendant due to stand trial at Southwark Crown Court charged with money laundering following a fraud being committed against a well-established American Law firm in the City of London.
R v K – Southwark Crown Court
Successfully represented a defendant charged with money laundering, the prosecution deciding to offer no evidence before the trial commenced.
R v R – Woolwich Crown Court
Represented a Latvian national in relation to offences of Conspiracy to evade duty on cigarettes.
R v C – Stoke Crown Court
Represented a defendant accused of Cheating the Revenue. Case withdrawn by the Prosecution after medical evidence was obtained by the defence to demonstrate that the defendant was unfit to provide instructions or stand trial.
R v F – Birmingham Crown Court
Represented defendant accused of mortgage fraud alongside various other members of the family which was linked to the large-scale fraud of Thomas Scragg.
R v H – Maidstone Crown Court
Represented defendant accused of cheating the Public Revenue.
