Steph joined VHS Fletchers in May 2024 as a Trainee Solicitor in our Nottingham office. She graduated with a degree in Psychology with Criminology from Nottingham Trent University before going on to study a Masters degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Nottingham.
Following this, Steph has completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Law at Nottingham Trent University and is undertaking the Solicitors Qualifying Examination in 2024.
Steph’s interest in criminal defence grew while writing her dissertation for her Masters degree, which examined the psychological research and moral theories supporting the ‘loss of control’ defence.
Steph is an accredited police station representative permitting her to represent her own clients and those that request a duty solicitor during interview.
Harry joined VHS Fletchers in March 2023 as a Paralegal at our Nottingham office.
Harry completed his undergraduate qualifying law degree at Nottingham Trent University in 2022, graduating with second-class Honours, First Division.
Harry’s interest in criminal defence law sparked from work experience with VHS Fletchers that he had done during his time at university. Once Harry had got a taste for the criminal defence side of the law, he took every opportunity he could to come into the office and shadow as many people he could as his interests turned into a passion.
Harry started working with VHS Fletchers as a Paralegal. In this role, Harry would chase the police for updates on their investigations, ensuring that clients were kept up to date with any progress in their cases. This role was particularly important in the maintaining of our relationship with clients, reassuring them that Harry would inform them of any updates on their case and that they would not be left in the dark.
Harry is currently completing his Legal Practice Course and Masters at Nottingham Trent University whilst he undertakes his Training Contract with us as a Trainee Solicitor in the Crown Court Department.
Harry has worked with the public throughout his whole working life and strives to ensure that client care is a priority.
Outside of work, Harry’s interests are going to the gym, hiking and watching competitive strongman events.
Patrick, known to many as Paddy, joined VHS Fletchers in July 2022 as a Trainee Solicitor in our Derby office.
He completed his undergraduate degree in Law at Nottingham Trent University, graduating in 2021 with a 2:1 classification.
Following this, he went on to complete his Legal Practice Course and Master’s Degree, continuing at Nottingham Law School. During his time at university, Patrick undertook a half year placement beginning his journey into Criminal Defence Law.
His interest in criminal justice was honed during his dissertation for his master’s degree, examining the relationship between the policing of protest and human rights, and the impact of the latest legislation, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
Paddy completed his solicitor training at VHS Fletchers and is an integral part of our Magistrates Court team.
Outside of work, Patrick is a keen athlete, competing in American Football, currently as a member of the Nottingham Caesars.
Nicola has been a solicitor since 2002. She is a Duty Solicitor and specialises in criminal defence – representing clients in police stations and magistrates courts.
Nicola represents clients accused of every type of offence, from driving offences to serious offences including murder and serious drugs offences.
R v B Murder. Client accused of murder by way of injecting a fellow drug user with heroin. An acquittal was secured.
R v C Murder. A case of a man with no prior criminal involvement who was accused of a domestic murder and whose first court appearance was therefore on a murder charge.
R v W. Sexual Offences. A multiple rape allegation involving alleged rapes from a number of counties and a series of trials.
R v C. Domestic Violence. A serving prison officer was accused of a domestic assault. An acquittal was secured after trial had been adjourned four times.
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Chloe Wright
Chesterfield crime solicitor Chloe Wright
Chloe joined VHS Fletchers in January 2022 as a Trainee Solicitor at our Chesterfield office and has now qualified and is employed as an assistant solicitor.
Chloe graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in the summer of 2020 with an undergraduate degree in Law. Chloe then continued her studies at Leeds Beckett University, completing the Legal Practice Course in the spring of 2021 and completed a masters degree in the summer of 2022.
During Chloe’s studies at Sheffield Hallam University, she took on the role as Student Legal Advisor at the Helena Kennedy Prison Clinic, where she provided free legal advice to those individuals detained in prisons across the country. This role provided Chloe with the vital knowledge and experience of managing cases and dealing with various prison law matters including re-categorisation reviews and sentence progression.
During her training, Chloe completed the Police Station Accreditation Qualification to enable her to provide advice and assistance to all clients who are detained by the police, including those requesting the duty solicitor, for the entire range of offences.
Now that Chloe has qualified as a solicitor she will begin to work towards her duty solicitor qualification permitting her to provide such representation at court. She will continue to provide advice and representation in the police station, as well as representing those charged with offences before the Magistrates’ Court. Chloe will also continue in her role as a Crown Court litigator.
Outside of work, Chloe enjoys local walks in the Peak District and baking cakes for her friends and family.
R (DVSA) v L. Crown Court. Forgery of Tachograph Records. Crown Court Litigator representing professional LGV driver charged with 39 offences of falsifying tachograph records. Allegation of forging records to enable him to work for longer hours than permitted under European driver rules and domestic legislation. Successful representations led to the prosecution dropping 17 charges. Our client pleaded guilty to the remaining 22 charges. Despite sentencing case law indicated that these offences should result in an immediate custodial sentence, a successful plea in mitigation led to a Suspended Sentence Order being imposed.
Kinga is a solicitor in our criminal defence department. She completed a law degree in her native Poland before moving to the UK. She took an access course in criminal law before completing her Law Degree at the University of Lincoln. Following that Kinga completed her Legal Practice Course and Masters in Law at Nottingham Trent University.
While studying in Lincoln, Kinga began to provide advice and assistance to those in need through the University Law Clinic. After being an adviser in her first year she became ‘Head of Firm’, managing a team of 10-15 student advisers. The pro bono advice included areas such as unfair dismissal, insolvency, data protection disputes, advice on how to open a business or landlord- tenant disputes.
Kinga is fluent in both English and Polish, and speaks Spanish at an intermediate level. She has worked as an interpreter for an agency, interpreting and translating for the NHS, local council and Coroner’s Court. Her work took her to prisons and psychiatric units, assisting the most vulnerable.
Kinga successfully completed her training with us and is a fully qualified solicitor.
He graduated from the University of Derby in 2020 with an undergraduate degree in law, before continuing his studies completing the Legal Practice Course in the spring of 2021. Declan also holds a master’s degree which focused on reflective legal practice skills.
During his studies Declan worked in the University of Derby’s Student Legal Advice Centre, where he provided free legal advice to incoming clients who were unable to pay for legal services. Declan advised on criminal and family law matters, which allowed him to work very closely with vulnerable and disadvantaged people who were in need of legal advice. Declan gained an in-depth knowledge of legal aid and gained a sense of appreciation for the importance of access to legal representation. Declan’s advice assisted multiple clients at court and has also allowed litigants in person to reliably use this advice in court.
Whilst working for VHS Fletchers Solicitors, Declan has gained an in-depth understanding of the Criminal Justice System. He has provided advice at the police station on a wide variety of criminal allegations, some being of the most serious criminal offences.
Declan has litigated cases at the Crown Court, which has included large scale drug conspiracies, fraud and murder. Declan also provides advice and representation for all matters heard before the Magistrate’s Court. Declan is well liked for his thorough approach to cases, his friendly manner, and his excellent client care.
Declan completed his training contract with us in Summer 2023 and has since gained his Duty Solicitor qualification permitting him to represent those at court who request the services of the Duty Solicitor.
Outside of work Declan is a keen sportsman having previously competed at a national level in swimming – training alongside current Olympic champion Adam Peaty
Contact:
Chesterfield Office:
5 Beetwell Street
Chesterfield,
S40 1SH
Hannah joined VHS Fletchers in May 2021 as a Trainee Solicitor.
Hannah graduated from the University of Leicester in 2015 with an undergraduate degree in Criminology, before going on to study the Graduate Diploma in Law at De Montfort University in 2016. She completed the course in 2018 achieving a Merit.
Following the Graduate Diploma in Law, Hannah went on to study a combined Masters degree with the Legal Practice Course at Nottingham Trent University achieving a distinction for both in 2020.
Hannah is able to fully advise clients about the different stages of the Court process as she has worked as a Paralegal specialising in Criminal Defence since 2016 and previously as a Court Usher at Leicester Magistrates Court in 2015. Whilst working as a Paralegal, Hannah has worked on a variety of cases heard in the Magistrates Court and Crown Court, she regularly attends upon clients remanded in custody to provide legal advice and obtain instructions to assist with preparation of their case.
Hannah works diligently to ensure that the Criminal Procedure Rules and evidential procedures are complied with by the Prosecution in order to achieve a fair hearing for all clients.
R v C – Rape. Litigator. Client had learning disabilities and was assisted by an intermediary during the trial. The Client was acquitted after half time submissions and abuse of process legal arguments.
R v S – Rape. Litigator. The offence was domestic offence which was discontinued by the prosecution shortly before trial.
R v H and another – Murder. Litigator where the client and one other were accused of joint enterprise murder that proceeded to trial.
R v S – Murder. Litigator where the client was accused of killing his partner
R v J – Malicious Communications – Client was acquitted after a trial in the Magistrates Court, the prosecution did not adduce any evidence of the alleged text messages or phone calls.
R v B – Breach of Restraining Order – Client acquitted after a trial as the Magistrates found that the client had a reasonable excuse.
