Criminal Defence

In this section

Meet the team

Our Services

At Berry Redmond Gordon and Penney, we understand that facing criminal charges will often lead to feelings of anxiety, stress and uncertainty. Our criminal defence team provide comprehensive legal support and representation to people throughout the South-West. We represent clients at the police station, Magistrates’ Court and Crown Court.

Our criminal defence team are experienced in dealing with a wide range of criminal matters, including:

Assault offences
Drug offences
Theft and Fraud Allegations
Firearms Offences
Sexual Offences
Youth Offences
Driving Offences.
Appeals

If your case is an emergency, we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our after-hours service can be accessed by just phoning our regular number and you will receive instructions on how to contact us.

For free informal advice please email us on [email protected] for more details.

Meet the team

Legal Aid Funding

Our defence team will discuss options for publicly funding your criminal case. Legal aid funding is available in the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court.

You may be eligible for legal aid to fund your case in full or with a financial contribution.

Privately Funded

If you are not eligible for legal aid, we can represent you on a private paying basis. We offer most services at a fixed fee however we reserve the right to adjust our fees depending on the complexity of your case. Our fees will depend on your intended plea and the complexity of your case.

Please see below a table with examples of our fixed fee services:

Guilty Plea

Our fee

VAT

Total

Our fee includes:

Considering the evidence in your case.
Taking your instructions. If we are instructed at an early stage, and provided the evidence is available, we can meet with you to take instructions ahead of the first hearing.
Advising on the strength of the evidence and likely sentence.
Attendance and representation at one hearing at the Magistrates' Court.

£600

£120

£720

Your case may not resolve at the first hearing. For example, it may be adjourned for the following reasons:

The Magistrates order a pre-sentence report to be complied by The Probation Service to assist in sentence, so your hearing cannot be dealt with on the same day.
The Magistrates may decide your case is too serious to be sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court and commit the case for sentence to the Crown Court.
Your hearing may also be adjourned due to lack of court time or other matters outside of our control.

Please see our table below for our fees for each additional hearing following your first appearance in the Magistrates Court. These fees are in addition to the fee set out above.

Guilty Plea – additional hearings at the Magistrates’ Court

Our Fee

VAT

Total

Our fee includes:

Preparation and review of your case.
Review of the Pre-sentence report if the next hearing is a sentencing hearing.
Pre-hearing conference ahead of your hearing
Attendance and representation at one hearing at the Magistrates’ Court
Preparation and review of your case.
Obtaining quotes from Chambers for representation by a barrister.
Liaising with the barrister on your behalf.
Managing your case through the Crown Court.
Considering the evidence in your case.
Taking your instructions. If we are instructed at an early stage, and provided the evidence is available, we can meet with you to take instructions ahead of the first hearing.
Advising on the strength of the evidence and likely sentence.
Attendance and representation at one hearing at the Magistrates' Court.

£200

£40

£240

Guilty Plea – cases committed to the Crown Court for sentence

Our Fee

VAT

Total

Our fee includes:

Preparation and review of your case.
Obtaining quotes from Chambers for representation by a barrister.
Liaising with the barrister on your behalf.

Managing your case through the Crown Court.

£350

£70

£420

Not Guilty Plea

Our Fee

VAT

Total

Our fee includes:

Considering the evidence in your case.
Taking your instructions. If we are instructed at an early stage, and provided the evidence is available, we can meet with you to take instructions ahead of the first hearing.
Advising on the strength of the evidence and likely sentence.

Attendance and representation at one hearing at the Magistrates' Court.

£600

£120

£720

If your trial proceeds in the Magistrates’ Court, the cost to cover your trial will depend on the complexity of the trial. In addition to our fixed fee for the first appearance, costs for a trial range from £1,000 - £2,000 plus VAT (£1,200 - £2,400).

If your trial proceeds in the Crown Court. We will provide you with a cost estimate for our work. You will also be required to instruct a barrister for your trial. We can assist you with selecting a barrister and will obtain quotes for their services. In supporting your selection, we will provide you with links to their resumes.

Please also note, legal aid funding may be available to cover the cost of your Crown Court trial even though you were ineligible for legal aid funding at the Magistrates Court.

Please note travel costs may be additional, depending on court location.

Exclusions

Our fee does not include any additional costs incurred in respect of the following:

Instruction of any expert witnesses.
Taking statements from witnesses.
Advice and assistance in relation to special reasons, exceptional hardship and appeals

Police Interview

If you are being interviewed by the police, you are eligible to free and independent legal advice and representation, no matter what your income.

If you have any questions in relation to any of the above information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01934 414161.

Contact