GABRIELLE MCAVOCK

SUMMARY OF PRACTICE AREAS

Gabrielle is a Grade 3 Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service and is on the Specialist Rape List for the London, South Eastern and Western Circuits.

Gabrielle prosecutes and defends in serious criminal cases including sexual offences, violence, dishonesty, drug offences and firearms.

Gabrielle has experience of providing advice on legal issues in the British Overseas Territories. During 2009-2010 Gabrielle was Crown Counsel attached to the Attorney General's Chambers in Ascension Island with responsibility for prosecutions, legislative drafting and advising on a wide range of legal issues for the Ascension Island Government. In March - May 2011 Gabrielle acted as Locum Crown Counsel for the St Helena Government.

Gabrielle was formerly a legal officer in the rank of Major in the Adjutant General's Corps (Army Legal Services) from 1997 to 2001. Due to her military experience she defends at Courts Martial.

Gabrielle is authorised to accept instructions under the Public Access and Direct Access schemes.

CASES OF NOTE

CRIME

• R v TB Historical Sexual AbuseOxford Crown Court Prosecuting. Gross indecency with biological daughter aged between 7-10 years old. Convicted of all counts on the indictment after trial. Historical sexual offences committed in the early 1970s by a defendant aged in his 80s at the time of trial.
  [oxfordmail.co.uk]

• R v CB Sexual Offences and Domestic ViolenceLuton Crown Court Prosecuting. Assault by penetration, sexual assault, threats to kill, ABH. Witnessed by victim's 7 year old daughter who gave evidence at trial using live link special measures. Domestic violence involving the use of a knife. Convicted after trial and sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment.
  [bedfordshire.police.uk]

• R v RH Sexual OffencesSt. Albans Crown Court Prosecuting. Sexual assault on a woman aged 94 years by gardener in his 50s using an Alsatian dog to intimidate the victim. Convicted of both offences on the indictment after trial. Elderly victim called to give evidence in court from behind a screen when aged 95 years.

• R v PH Armed robbery of a jewellery shop Cambridge Crown CourtRobbery of jewellery shop and assault. £75,000 worth of jewellery stolen using a hammer to smash the glass display cabinets and hammer used to hit the female shop owner's head and against female shop assistant and female witness who bravely intervened. Direction to High Sheriff that female witness receive a reward under section 28 of the Criminal Law Act 1826 of £250 for her "outstanding act of bravery" in closing the jewellery shop door and then trying to delay the robber's departure, for which she received a blow with a mallet to the chin. OIC was commended by HHJ Farrell KC for her work on this "difficult and substantial" case. Convicted after trial and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment.
  [BBC]

• R v B Snaresbrook Crown Court Prosecution Convictions for serious historical sexual abuse by 70-year-old father on his biological daughter when she was aged between 5 - 12 years

• R v B St Albans Crown Court Prosecution Convictions for historical sexual assaults on very young school boys by school assistant at Roman Catholic independent school for boys

• R v K Snaresbrook Crown Court Prosecution Conviction for S.18 GBH which involved the use of a broken bottle and knife to the victim’s face – imprisonment 14 years.

• R v H Central Criminal Court Prosecution Conviction for armed robbery of a bank.

• R v S Isleworth Crown Court Prosecution Convictions for multiple rape of a 12-year-old girl.

• R v AS, A & F Inner London Crown Court Prosecution Convictions for gang attack involving wounding with intent, victim was repeatedly stabbed but refused to provide a statement.

• R v S Luton Crown Court Prosecution Conviction of a Doctor for sexually assaulting a female passenger on public transport.

• R v A, B & H Luton Crown Court Prosecution Convictions for multi-handed armed robbery of a shop.

• R v Sgt B Colchester Court Martial Acquittal Defence of a Royal Air Force Sergeant accused of sexually assaulting a colleague.

• R v LCpl S Sennelager Court Martial Acquittal Defence of Army soldier accused of sexually assaulting a female soldier in Germany.

• R v O HMS Nelson Acquittal Defence of an ex-Naval rating accused of sexually assaulting a servicewoman.

• R v CPO HMS Nelson Acquittal Defence of a Royal Navy Chief Petty Officer serving policeman for allegedly wounding a Royal Marine in Diego Garcia.

• R v R & Other St Albans Crown Court Acquittal Defence in 33 count money laundering case.

• R v R & Other Central Criminal Court Acquittal Defence in stranger rape by two males.

EDUCATION

• LLB London

INN

• Lincoln's Inn (Hardwicke Scholar)