Clare Walsh
Call: 2009
Clare Walsh
M.A. (Hons) Classics, University of Cambridge (2007, Upper Second Class)
Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP Law School, Leeds (2008)
Bar Vocational Course, BPP Law School, Leeds (2009, Very Competent)
Legal Aid Supplier Number 245TY
Clare is a member of the Criminal Bar Association.
In 2022, Clare was appointed as Deputy District Judge (Magistrates Courts)
Grade 3 Prosecutor
RASSO Panel
Contact
T: 01274 722 560 or 0113 246 2600
Clare Walsh (née Benson) first joined Broadway House Chambers in 2009 as a pupil to Sophie Drake, now HHJ Sophie McKone. She accepted tenancy in 2010 and has remained at Broadway House Chambers ever since.
Clare practices predominantly in criminal law and is a regular feature in the Crown Courts of Yorkshire. She also has significant experience in regulatory matters, as well as mental health and prison law.
In addition to her busy practice, Clare now sits as a Deputy District Judge in the Magistrates’ Courts.
Clare is on the RASSO panel and is a Grade 3 prosecutor.
Reputation
In May 2017, Clare wrote an article entitled “The impact of the Ched Evans case on the law surrounding a Complainant’s sexual history” which can be found on the Broadway House website.
In July 2020 Clare gave a presentation on Cross-Admissibility at the Broadway House Annual Prosecution Seminar.
Expertise
Crime
Clare prosecutes and defends in the Crown Court in all areas of crime. She regularly deals with cases involving violence and is often instructed in matters involving young and vulnerable witnesses. Clare’s experience in the Crown Court ranges all the way from cases involving assault occasioning actual bodily harm, robbery, benefit fraud and indecent image offences, to s.18 wounding with intent, aggravated burglary and armed robbery, the supply of drugs, possession of firearms, high value fraud and serious sexual offences.
Clare has recent experience as Led Junior for both the Prosecution and the Defence.
Clare is on the RASSO panel and is a Grade 3 prosecutor.
Clare is also often instructed for the Defence as lone Junior in matters of serious sexual offences.
Sports Law
Clare joined the Sports Law Team as a consequence of her experience in disciplinary and regulatory proceedings in other professional fields. She also has a keen interest in Anti-Doping.
Clare’s experience as a criminal advocate has meant she has developed a particular interest in how the media treat those involved in sport who are accused of crimes and how this affects their careers.
Regulation + Judicial Review
In addition to her busy criminal law practice Clare has experience of representing lay clients and Local Authorities in taxi licensing matters and in environmental law cases. She has significant experience representing clients in Mental Health Act tribunals. Clare also practices in prison law and has appeared in Disciplinary and Parole Board hearings. Clare has also appeared before the Nursing and Midwifery Council on behalf of registrants in both interim and full hearings.
Notable Cases
COURT OF APPEAL (Criminal Division)
R v Iqbal (Rashid) [2022] – Clare represented this Appellant convicted of historical sexual offences. The appeal centred on the way the sentencing Judge had dealt with the issue of totality. The Court of Appeal agreed with her submissions in this regard and reduced the overall sentence from 12 to 10 years.
R v Craggs (Patrick John) [2018] EWCA Crim 1117 - Clare represented this Defendant, charged with Causing Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving and multiple Hanoi burglaries. The case involved issues surrounding fitness to plead, credit for plea and ultimately, when it came to sentence, matters of totality. There were sensitive matters to raise in mitigation. Following sentencing in the Crown Court, Clare took the case to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division), where she successfully persuaded the Court that the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive, resulting in the total period of imprisonment being reduced from 12 years 2 months to 7 years 2 months.
CROWN COURT
R v Feve, Wattam and ors (2023) Led junior and successfully prosecuted defendants for Murder, Manslaughter and Perverting the Course of Justice.News coverage: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/kian-feve-guilty-murdering-jack-8960407 and https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2e20rv7g22o
R v W (2021) Clare was led Junior for the Defence in this trial for Murder.
R v C (2021) Clare represented a young woman who pleaded guilty on the day of trial to a matter of Assisting an Offender, where her co-accused stood convicted of Attempt Murder and ultimately received a sentence exceeding 15 years. Clares client was made subject of a Suspended Sentence Order.
R v C (2021) Clare was led Junior for the Prosecution in this trial involving historical serious sexual offences against multiple victims. There were issues involving loss of historical ABE interviews and accounts, as well as hearsay and cross-admissibility. The case resulted in convictions on all Counts and the Defendant receiving a sentence of over 28 years’ imprisonment.
R v W (2018) Clare represented the Defendant in this complex POCA matter in which the benefit figure exceeded £4,000,000 and in which it was alleged there were hidden assets. Ultimately the available amount was agreed at just over £85,000, which was half what the Prosecution had originally applied for.
R v H & B (2017) Clare prosecuted this case in which a firearm was discharged in a busy nightclub, causing injury to a bystander. One of the Defendants, H, took the matter to trial. The case involved consideration of a large amount of CCTV, all of which had to be presented to a jury. Furthermore, following sentencing, Clare advised the Crown as to the unduly lenient sentencing of H. Based on this advice, the case was taken up by Treasury Counsel who successfully presented the matter before the Court of Appeal.
Clerks
