Louise Howard

Practice
Louise joined One Paper Buildings in 2010 from Devon Chambers. After successfully completing a mixed common law pupillage there, she took tenancy in 2005 and immediately set about building a Criminal practice. She was regularly instructed by local defence solicitors, in addition to the CPS, National Probation Service and the Department of Work and Pensions. Louise has gained experience in prosecution and defence work predominantly across the Western Circuit, and due to her growing reputation has been instructed to undertake cases as far afield as Wolverhampton.

She practices in all areas of crime and prison law and has experience of a wide range of matters in the Crown Court. Her Prison Law practice has encompassed everything from written advice on prisoners rights, (including the merits of judicial review) to representing prisoners at Parole Hearings, Recall Hearings and Independent adjudications. She has a particular interest in violence and sexual offences, and has dealt with some serious matters (see notable cases section below) that have attracted media interest. In this regard she has recently dealt with section 18 and section 20 offences as well as public indecency and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Louise is a Grade 2 CPS Prosecutor.

Notable cases

R v Whelan
Courts Martial – HMS Nelson, Portsmouth

Successfully defended a Petty Officer charged with five offences of ill-treatment of subordinates following a two week trial. The officer was alleged to have used unlawful violence and weapons against junior rating on board ship during deployment.

R v Lloyd
Southampton Crown Court

Prosecuted a male nurse for repeated sexual assaults on a lone female walking home in the early hours of the morning. Convicted after trial.

1. BBC

R v Virgo
Central Criminal Court, London

Successfully defended a male accused of wounding with intent (s.18) at trial. Mr Virgo was alleged to have used two weapons to attack the complainant in an unprovoked assault causing wounding to the head and chest.

R v Kent
Wolverhampton Crown Court 2010 (2 count indictment – theft and fraud)

Between September 2002 and April 2007, the defendant was employed by Wilson UK, an American based company involved in the oil industry and worked in various capacities in the finance department.  In 2007 the financial controller discovered an accounting discrepancy of £22,000.  This was investigated further and revealed that over the course of her employment, the defendant had paid £473,982.46 into her own bank accounts. On 5 January 2010 she was sentenced to a term of 2 years imprisonment to run concurrently on each count. Click this link for a press article.

R v Crawford
Plymouth Crown Court 2010

(s.20) – successfully defended at trial. During the course of a 5 aside football match, Ryan Crawford was alleged to have stamped on the leg of an opponent causing a double fracture of the tibia and fibula. Click this link for a press article.

R v Fryer
Plymouth Crown Court 2010

Indicted with s.18, pleaded guilty to s.20.Following an argument with her ex partner, Miss Fryer stabbed him once to the stomach and then pursued him brandishing 2 knives. Sentenced to 10 months. Click this link for a press article.

R v Ball
Truro Crown Court 2010

Three couples from the same family in Cornwall defrauded the Department of Work and Pensions of more than £25,000 during a three-year period.

All had genuine entitlement to various benefits – including Jobseeker’s Allowance and Disability Living Allowance – at some point, but continued to claim money when their circumstances changed.

Indicted as a conspiracy to commit benefit fraud (originally with 9 co-defendants), the prosecution accepted pleas to the substantive offences only and offered no evidence on the conspiracy. Click this link for a press article.

R v Gray
Plymouth Crown Court 2010

Outraging public decency – defended at trial. Miss Gray was convicted of masturbating her partner on the steps of a Baptist church in broad daylight in full view of a nearby hairdressers and busy main road.  Sentenced to a community order. Click this link for a press article.

R v Heald
Plymouth Crown Court 2010

A former postmistress who, following illness, stole £51.887.93 from the Post Office to pay her employees wages and maintain her business. Click this link for a press article.

R v Hicks and others
Truro Crown Court 2010

Originally indicted as violent disorder, the prosecution accepted pleas to affray. This was an organised fight in the middle of the day in a car park in Par at the same time as a charity event was being held.  It involved 2 groups of males who were armed with baseballs bats, metal poles and hammers amongst other things.  Mr Hicks was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.  Click this link for a press article.

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