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Archives

Lauren Manuel

nottingham criminal solicitor Lauren Manuel
Criminal solicitor advocate Lauren Manuel

Lauren Manuel qualified as a solicitor in 2005 after undertaking her training contract with Fletchers Solicitors.  Following qualification she specialised in Magistrates’ court work – with a particular focus on Youth court work – as well as providing representation at the police station.

She obtained her duty solicitor qualification in 2006 and obtained the solicitors Higher Court Qualification in 2010 enabling her to represent her clients throughout both the lower and higher courts.

In 2018 she briefly left VHS Fletchers to pursue a prosecution practice at both the Local Authority and the Crown Prosecution Service where she was responsible for prosecuting serious cases including murders, large scale drugs conspiracies and frauds, before returning to VHS Fletchers in 2023 as a Solicitor Advocate providing representation before the Crown Court. Lauren’s prosecution experience means she is uniquely placed to quickly narrow down the real issues in a case, and she has a sharp focus on disclosure of prosecution material which is often key in securing acquittals.

Lauren will work tirelessly to probe the prosecution both as to evidential weaknesses in their case and as to whether it is in the public interest to prosecute, which results in many of her cases being discontinued before trial.

She has a very down to earth and reassuring nature which enables her to immediately put her clients at ease, as well as providing advice in a manner which is easily understood by all. Her client care is exceptional, and she has an excellent reputation of representing young people and those with mental health difficulties.

Lauren is an impressive mitigation advocate, regularly persuading Judges to take an exceptional course when it comes to sentencing achieving the very best result for her clients.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: lauren.manuel@vhsfletchers.co.uk

Archives

Nicola Hunter

Nicola Hunter is a higher Court Advocate with over 25 years experience in Criminal Defence work.  For the past 15 years has specialised in Crown Court Advocacy. Nicola has a wealth of experience in dealing with all areas of Crown Court defence work including the Court of Appeal, with particular experience in cases involving Sexual Offences, Drugs, Murder, Assaults, Firearms, Public Order. She also has particular experience in dealing with those suffering from neurodiversity including autism.

Nicola has a passion for advocacy and has a reputation for being a very empathic and understanding advocate whilst always going the extra mile for clients.

In addition Nicola has had experience in defending clients in the Magistrates and Youth Court, including those who have been prosecuted for benefit fraud and motoring matters, together with almost 30 years of representing clients in the Police station.

Contact:

Derby Office:
10 St Mary’s Gate,
Derby,
DE1 3JJ

Tel: 01332 546818
Email: nicola.hunter@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v C.  (2025) Cambridge Crown Court.  Murder.  Junior advocate defending in a high profile case involving the murder of 3 women,  all family members who were stabbed and shot with a crossbow with rape of one of the females.

R v  E.  (2025) Derby Crown Court.  Assisting an Offender.  Successfully secured an acquittal after trial for an offence whereby a female had temporarily hidden a known drug dealer in her home  from police after a police pursuit. She accepted that she had hidden the male, and known that police were looking for the male, but did not know it was due to drug supply.

R v N. (2025) Nottingham Crown Court. Armed robbery. Successfully secured an acquittal in an armed robbery case where a drug dealer supposedly held a customer up at gun point and stole his vehicle. The issue was whether the complainant had agreed to give the vehicle to the Defendant to pay off a drug debt.

R v N.  (2024) Derby Crown Court.  Murder.  Junior advocate in a murder involving an intoxicated male who drove his works van through a crowded pedestrian area killing one male and injuring 2 others.

R v S. (2023) Leicester Crown Court.  Murder.  Junior advocate defending a Kurdish male accused of being involved in the fatal stabbing of another Kurdish male and causing serious injury to his brother after a dispute over the positioning of their respective Barber shops. After the presentation of the Prosecution case the Prosecution were forced to drop all charges against him.

R v W. (2023) Derby Crown Court.  Rape and Controlling and Coercive Behaviour.  Successfully defended a Polish male for marital rape and controlling behaviour. During the trial it was established that the Interpreter that had translated for the Complainant had in fact made up questions and answers and not acted properly. This evidence was therefore not relied upon in a retrial  and the complainant gave live evidence in trial. She was found not to be truthful.

R v S. (2024) Derby Crown Court.  Violent Disorder.  Defending in a large scale disorder which took place during a Kabbadi match in Derby. In the presence of 1000 spectators violence broke out between rival sides involvinh the discharge of several firearms and the use of machetes.

R v T.  Stafford Crown Court.  Possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.  Secured an acquittal of a male who had come out of his property with an imitation firearm and pointed it at police officers when they attended his home to secure an arrest. The jury accepted that he had been unaware that they were police officers and was acting in mistaken self-defence.

R  v D. Nottingham Crown Court.  Research by a Jury Member.   Secured a suspended sentence order for a Juror who conducted their own research during a murder trial. The murder trial that had run for over 5 months thereafter collapsed and had to be restarted costing the tax payer several million pounds. The case was heard by Mr Justice Eddis.

R v D.  Nottingham Crown Court.  Modern Slavery.  Defended a female in a large Latvian people trafficking case. Vulnerable males were trafficked from Latvia and placed in work with no financial gain and kept in modest homes. Managed to secure immediate release of defendant despite a conviction.

R v D.  Court of Appeal.  Sexual Assault and Rape.  Successfully argued for the immediate release of the appellant accused of sexually assaulting his ex wife. Upon release he was accused of raping the same victim with 24 hours. He was later acquitted after trial, notwithstanding the Jury being aware of the previous conviction.

R v R.  Derby Youth Court.  Rape.  Successfully secured an acquittal after trial for a 15 year old boy accused of raping a friend at a sleepover party.

R v D.  Blackmail.  Court of Appeal.  Successfully argued against an increase in sentence after the Crown Court imposed a community penalty for an offence of blackmail, where a male had demanded money after threats were made to post naked photographs of the complainant.

Archives

Kevin Waddingham

Kevin joined the growing team at VHS Fletchers in September 2024. He has been a full time Higher Courts Advocate since 2010 by which time he had already gained many years advocacy experience in the magistrates and youth courts. Since 2010 his workload has been the preparation and conduct of crown court cases from pre-trial preparation and other intervening hearings right through to trial and beyond if any appeal issues arise.

His wide ranging of caseload includes matters of the utmost seriousness. He has dealt with multi handed cases involving so-called organised crime groups in the context of not only drugs cases but also people trafficking as well as those involving serious violent and sexual offences. He has acted as junior counsel in both multi handed and murder cases in the Midlands and further afield as well as several appearances at the Court of Appeal. He is a confident and persuasive advocate both inside and outside the Courtroom.  His strength is founded on meticulous preparation together with the ability to analyse, solve problems and be decisive within a short time frame in representing his client’s best interests.

Contact:

Derby Office:
10 St Mary’s Gate,
Derby,
DE1 3JJ

Tel: 01332 546818
Email: kevin.waddingham@vhsfletchers.co.uk

Archives

Declan Smith

photograph by Thomas Wesley chesterfield criminal defence lawyer Declan Smith
Chesterfield crime solicitor Declan Smith

Declan joined VHS Fletchers in July 2021.

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

Tel: 01246 387999
Email: declan.smith@vhsfletchers.co.uk

Archives

Nick Walsh

nottingham criminal defence lawyer Nick Walsh
Nottingham partner and crime solicitor Nick Walsh

Nick has been qualified as a solicitor for nearly 30 years and has specialised in criminal law since qualification. He has been qualified as a Duty Solicitor for much of that time, and has held the solicitors’ Higher Court Qualification since 2006 which allows him to provide continuity or representation in the police station, Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.

As a result, Nick has a wealth of experience and as such is a well-respected and trusted solicitor, not only by his clients but also by his peers and other professional court users.

Nick is known for paying great attention to the detail of the case, coupled with an ability to identify the real and important issues in a case, whether it be for trial or mitigation following plea. This calm and structured approach furthers his aim to make what is often a very daunting experience as easy as possible by taking time to explain what is to happen in a simple and easy to understand way.

Nick is a partner and the departmental supervisor for Nottingham police station and Magistrates’ Court work. He is also a member of the Nottinghamshire Law Society Criminal Business Sub-Committee.

Recent cases and feedback for Nick can be found here and here.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: nick.walsh@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v M Historic Appeal against Conviction. The client was convicted of a serious wounding of a police officer in the early ‘80’s. The appeal was allowed on the basis that the police conduct in obtaining confessions was, by modern standards, so poor that the confessions should not have been before the jury and therefore the conviction was unsafe.

R v L Sexual Assault. The client was a 13 year old boy of good character facing a charge of sexual assault on an 11 year old girl. The case involved cross-examination of two vulnerable witnesses via the video link, after which the client was acquitted.

R v B Potential Driving Disqualification. The client admitted 4 further speeding offences while already having 12 penalty points on his licence. It was successfully argued that the client would suffer exceptional hardship if the defendant was disqualified and the client kept his licence.

R v S Knife Point Robbery. Careful mitigation meant that an 18 year old of good character avoided what was apparently an inevitable custodial sentence by reference to the guidelines.

R v W Murder. The client faced an allegation of murder having thrown a metal pole at a neighbour during an argument. Thorough preparation, including liaising with the police and home office pathologist to recreate the level of force required to kill using a dead pig, persuaded the prosecution to accept a plea to manslaughter instead.

Archives

Andrew Wesley

Andrew has been qualified as a solicitor for over 20 years, specialising in criminal law since qualification.

He has been qualified as a Duty Solicitor for the majority of that time, and has held the solicitors’ Higher Court Qualification since 2006, specialising in Crown Court Advocacy since then, in combination with the advocacy that sometimes follows at the Court of Appeal.

solicitor advocate andrew wesley
Managing Partner and Solicitor Advocate Andrew Wesley

The decision to transfer his skills to the Crown Court followed years of gaining substantial experience as a trial lawyer before the Magistrates’ Court, where he represented clients at contested committal proceedings for the most serious offences including murder, and undertook the preparation and advocacy in complex trials of up to 2 weeks in length. At the same time, he was providing advice and representation in the police station and having responsibility for a significant Crown Court litigator caseload.

Since he began appearing exclusively before the Crown Court in 2008, Andrew has provided the advocacy for clients who have faced the full range of criminal offences – drugs conspiracies, sexual offences, road traffic fatalities, serious incidents of public disorder and violence and associated confiscation proceedings, and murder.

In relation to management roles, Andrew is currently the Managing Partner and Training Principal for VHS Fletchers, while continuing to manage the Crown Court department across the firm. He has a responsibility for training and recruitment, as well as business planning and other partnership issues. Locally, he was instrumental in challenging the proposals for new criminal legal aid contracting which would have restricted client access to justice, being latterly a member of steering group for the Fair Crime Contracts Alliance, the limited company that brought the judicial review proceedings.

Andrew is currently the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Nottingham Law Centre, and is a member of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association, Solicitors Association of Higher Courts Advocates, the local and national Law Society, and an occasional member of the Nottinghamshire Law Society Criminal Business Sub-Committee.

Contact:

Nottingham Office:
111 Carrington Street,
Nottingham,
NG1 7FE

Tel: 0115 9599550
Email: andrew.wesley@vhsfletchers.co.uk

R v W. (2025) Rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, strangulation.  Nottingham Crown Court. Represented client at trial where client found not guilty of all allegations alleging the allegations were fabricated.

R v R. (2025) Sexual Assault.  Nottingham Crown Court. Represented client at trial where client found not guilty of sexual assaults on step-daughter claiming they had been made up.

R v F. (2025) Rape and sexual assault.  Nottingham Crown Court sitting at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court.  Represent client at trial where client found not guilty, claiming that allegations made up to support an application for leave to remain in the UK.

R v F. Murder. Litigator where a client faced a re-trial following a court decision that she was responsible for the death of her two children. This was a complex case involving the now discredited Dr Meadows and Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy. Having secured bail for the client, the crown were persuaded that there was insufficient evidence to pursue a re-trial and proceedings were stayed.

R v J. and Others. Court of Appeal. Advocate at a successful appeal to overturn a 1986 conviction for wounding with intent. The court held that applying modern standards of fairness, a conviction from 1986 for grievous bodily harm with intent was unsafe where the appellant had been denied access to a solicitor and contemporaneous records of police interviews had not been made.

R v T. and another. Aggravated Burglary. Advocate where a client faced an allegation that he and a friend had forced entry with a weapon into the home of a man in his 60s. The starting point upon conviction would have been at least 10 years. Careful analysis of additional material and cross examination of the complainant discredited his account and the client was found not guilty.

R v P. Money Laundering. Advocate where the client was a woman of good character who faced allegations that she had sent money, knowing it to be the proceeds of crime, out of the country at the request of her husband. A careful examination in chief and speech meant that the jury was not long in finding her not guilty.

R v H. Death by Dangerous Driving. Advocate where client was said to have driven a van (new to him) at excessive speed in wet conditions on roads that were not known to him, whilst drinking vodka and sniffing cocaine. Following the collision, in which others were seriously injured, he fled the scene seeking to blame the deceased for the accident. Successful negotiation of a favourable basis of plea led to a sentence of 3 years.

R v K. Affray. Advocate representing the only client to seek a trial in relation to a serious public order incident involving a member of the public being assaulted and his car seriously damaged by a group of youths. The client was found not guilty after the identification procedures adopted by the officer in the case were discredited through cross-examination.

R v L. Threats to Kill. Advocate representing client at trial for a serious allegation in a domestic setting. Thorough preparation relating to phone and social media evidence combined with appropriate cross-examination discredited the account put forward by the complainant and the client was acquitted.

R v J. Exposure. Advocate representing repeat offender at trial for exposure to his probation officer.

R v S. Perverting the Course of Justice.  Advocate in case where client found not guilty of destroying evidence in ‘cash for crash’ conspiracy.  Read more here.

R v L. Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. Advocate in case where client found not guilty of assaulting a teenager by hitting them over the head with a length of wood.  Read more here.

R v M.  Confiscation. Successful opposition to review of available amount in POCA case.

R v S.  Rape and S18.  Advocate in case where Crown persuaded to offer no evidence resulting in not guilty verdicts.  Reliability of the witness challenged early in the case.

R v D. Paedophile hunter prosecution.  Advocate in case where prosecution stayed as an abuse of process owing to disclosure failures. More here.

R v M. Paedophile hunter prosecution. Advocate in case where early request for disclosure of technical evidence led to prosecution offering no evidence and not guilty verdicts.  More here.

R v F. Supply Class A drugs. Advocate securing a suspended sentence for adult client who pleaded guilty to allegations of supply of both Class A and Class B drugs.

R v R. Sexual Assault. Trial advocate where jury found client not guilty of two sexual assaults and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

R v N. Conspiracy to Supply Class A drugs. Trial advocate for client accused of being part of a large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.  Not guilty following three days of jury deliberation.

R v M.  Murder.  Junior advocate during Covid lockdown at Peterborough Crown Court involving death of client’s husband at the hands of client and lodger.  Led by Chris Henley KC of Mountford Chambers.

R v J.  Supply Class A drugs and Fraud.  Client exploited by father to commit offences on the dark web, father taking advantage of our client’s mental frailties.  Reports obtained and Crown persuaded not to proceed as it was not in the public interest despite the serious nature of the offending.  Our client would have successfully availed himself of the Modern Slavery statutory defence.

R v P.  Conspiracy to Supply Class B drugs.  Not guilty verdicts in a multi-handed trial alleging supply of cannabis and money laundering offences.  Vacuum sealed bags of cannabis found in a cupboard in client’s flat.  Defence was lack of knowledge.

R v M.  Rape.  Not guilty verdict after trial of allegation of rape at a house party.  Evidence of 17 witnesses at the party agreed that tended to show that the evidence of the complainant could not be relied upon.  The client did not give evidence.

R v S. Murder. Junior Advocate for client accused of joint enterprise murder led by Vanessa Marshall KC of 7 Bedford Row. Not guilty verdict, re-trial ordered on manslaughter.

R v B.  Murder. Junior advocate in high profile case involving deaths of partner and three children.  Led by Vanessa Marshall KC of 7 Bedford Row.

R v B.  Murder.  Junior advocate in a case involving the deaths of a mother and her two young children.  Led by Chris Henley KC of Mountford Chambers.

R v W.  Sexual offences.  Client found not guilty after trial of sexually assaulting his stepson over a period of years.  Careful cross-examination demonstrated to the jury that the complainant was an untruthful witness.

R v N.  Production of  Cannabis.  Vietnamese national found not guilty after trial having accepted producing cannabis at a house in Nottingham but relying on the statutory Modern Slavery defence.

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