Background

Jemima Stephenson-Finn

Year of call 2018

Jemima Stephenson-Finn practises in Crime and regularly appears for both Prosecution and Defence in the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court.

Jemima joined New Park Court in March 2020. She was previously a Tenant at Zenith Chambers, having successfully completed pupillage there.

During 2020, Jemima completed a secondment with the Care Quality Commission, carrying out advisory work in relation to potential criminal prosecutions by the CQC. During the secondment, Jemima also represented the CQC at a number of hearings, including the CQC’s first prosecution for breach of the duty of candour obligations.

Expertise

Jemima regularly prosecutes and defends cases in both the Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court. Jemima has acted in a number of Crown Court trials, including for offences of s.18 GBH, robbery, burglary, the production and supply of controlled drugs, domestic violence and dangerous driving. Jemima is currently a CPS grade 3 prosecutor.

Jemima has experience of proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Jemima has acted as defence counsel in a number of confiscation hearings involving drug-related offences and fraud. Jemima was also instructed as junior counsel for the prosecution for confiscation proceedings relating to a large scale conspiracy to supply psychoactive substances.

Jemima has acted on a number of occasions as junior counsel. Jemima was instructed as junior counsel in a case involving a conspiracy to cause explosions, where the Defendants attacked a number of ATM machines, taking just under £250,000. Jemima acted as disclosure junior on a Class A drugs conspiracy involving the importation of drugs, which required examination of material obtained from the USA and European countries. She is currently instructed as disclosure junior on a case involving a serious violent disorder, resulting in the death of a young male.

Jemima represented at trial a Defendant charged with possession with intent to supply Class B drugs. On the day of trial, the prosecution accepted a plea to simple possession, and the Defendant received a conditional discharge.

Jemima represented at trial a Defendant charged with an offence of robbery, involving the use of significant violence against a vulnerable male in his home. Jemima successfully argued that the Defendant’s previous convictions for violent offences should be excluded as bad character evidence. At the subsequent sentencing hearing, where the Defendant was also sentenced for an offence of GBH relating to a group stabbing, Jemima avoided a finding of dangerousness being made.

Jemima represented a defendant for sentence for an offence of robbery, which resulted in serious injuries to an elderly female. Jemima appeared at the Court of Appeal when the case was subsequently referred by the Attorney General as being unduly lenient.

Jemima prosecuted a trial involving a large scale cannabis grow. The Defendant was convicted after trial. Jemima successfully applied to admit the Defendant’s bad character evidence during the course of his cross-examination.

Jemima prosecuted a dangerous driving trial, where the Defendant was convicted after trial of deliberately driving his vehicle at another motorist.

Jemima secured the acquittal of a Defendant charged with assaulting his daughter. The case involved evidence from two child witnesses. The bench found the defence of reasonable chastisement was made out.

Jemima was instructed to prosecute at trial a two-handed burglary of a dwelling, where the Defendants targeted a valuable motorbike. Both Defendants were convicted after trial.

Jemima prosecuted a trial of dangerous driving. The Defendant driver was under the influence of alcohol which resulted in a significant collision, leaving the passenger with serious injuries. The Defendant was convicted after trial.

During 2020, Jemima completed a secondment with the Care Quality Commission, carrying out advisory work in relation to potential criminal prosecutions by the CQC. During the secondment, Jemima also represented the CQC at a number of hearings, including the CQC’s first prosecution for breach of the duty of candour obligations.

Jemima is regularly instructed by the Care Quality Commission to carry out pre-charge advisory work on behalf of the CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, relating to a range of health and social care providers, eg care homes, NHS and private hospitals. Jemima has appeared on behalf of the Care Quality Commission for plea and sentence hearings in relation to breaches of Regulation 12 safe care and treatment and Regulation 13 safeguarding service users from improper treatment.

Jemima was led by Paul Greaney KC in a case involving a legal argument regarding the nullity of proceedings and the interpretation of the recent High Court decision in Food Standards Agency v Bakers of Nailsea Ltd.

Jemima was recently instructed by the Care Quality Commission in a 4 day trial at Beverley Magistrates’ Court. The case related to an incident at a private care home where a service user with a known previous conviction for a sexual offence committed a serious sexual assault on another vulnerable service user. The case involved consideration of expert evidence on the appropriate management of individuals with previous convictions for sexual offences. The Registered Provider entered a guilty plea on the day of trial, and the Registered Manager was convicted after trial. The Registered Provider was sentenced to a fine of £128,000.

Press coverage of the case is available here and here

Additional Information

  • CPS RASSO Panel Advocate
  • CPS Level 3 Prosecutor

  • BPTC (Outstanding), BPP University (2017-2018)
  • LLM (First Class), Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge (2016-2017)
  • BA Law (First Class), Gonville & Caius College, University of Cambridge (2013-2016)

Portfolio Builder

Select the practice areas that you would like to download or add to the portfolio

Download    Add to portfolio   
Portfolio
Title Type CV Email

Remove All

Download


Click here to share this shortlist.
(It will expire after 30 days.)